The Survivor - Veil Walkers Book One

Chapter Twelve

Home, Modern Era - Danika

DESPITE the simulated ground feeling rough under Danika's feet when they arrived, it passed under Cahya's wheels smoothly. She watched him approach the gazebo with little effort and, with a hand flick from Irem, the structure lowered itself so the handsome man could enter without assistance.

Danika's breath caught at her own thoughts. Handsome? Well, yes, he was, but such thoughts were unbecoming of a recent widow. It was bad enough she had fallen asleep with him in the lounge, and, as she reminded herself of the shameful activity, she lowered her eyes to avoid giving him the wrong impression.

Irem cleared her throat, which caught her attention again. Eyes on her teacher, she thought. Make this professional. Cahya was here as an assistant, nothing more. She could handle this.

"Turns out Danika is defensive," Irem announced.

The smile that crept over Cahya's face could melt the village pond in January.

"Is she, now?" he turned to face her as those chestnut eyes settled on her. "I guess that means I'll be seeing a lot of her during training. What point are you caught on?"

Danika glanced up at him, then away quickly. "I, um,"

"Centering," Irem answered for her. "I explained it in every way I can think of from an offensive standpoint, and it just wasn't clicking. That's when I checked."

Cahya gave a nod, locked the brakes on his chair, and slid to a pillow between Irem and Danika. If a fourth person had joined on the open side, they would have made a circle.

He spoke as he got comfortable, shifting a pillow under his legs several times. "So, you've tried the apples, the grains, the firewood, and the book page?"

Irem offered Cahya a pillow to rest his arms on. "Yes. We even compared it to preparing fiber for spinning, but that moment of true understanding never came."

Cahya studied Danika for a long moment, and she averted her eyes from him.

"Look at me," he instructed.

Danika turned her face in his direction, but kept her eyes on the pillows. If she looked up, she would blush, and if she blushed, he would misunderstand it.

"Danika, look at me."

She took a shaky breath and raised her eyes to him.

"I don't know what's brought about this shyness, but there's no reason for it. I need to see your face if I'm going to help you through this, okay?"

She gave a meek nod and felt her face flush. The others must think her ungodly, and she wondered what the visiting monk would think of her right now.

"I think she likes you," Irem declared as she drew her knee to her chest again to rub at the bandaged area. "Look at her blushing."

This only made her blush more. Danika grabbed a nearby pillow and threw it at Irem. "I am not!"

Cahya and Irem burst into laughter, which, oddly enough, made her feel more at home.

When the laughter died away, Cahya placed a hand on her knee. She looked at his hand, then up to him, and swallowed hard.

"Danika, nothing is going to happen here unless you wish it. Not with me, not with any of the others. You must understand this before you can understand your training. Your defensive nature means that you will have to put aside the offensive thoughts, all of them, before any of this will work."

Irem raised an eyebrow, but held her tongue. Danika wondered if the statement made as little sense to the teacher as it did to her student.

"I understand," Danika lied.