A Court of Love and Devotion - Novellas

My Mother's Strength

If there was one thing about Gwyneth Berdara that set her apart from everyone, it was her ability to rile up her mate.

The sneaky female had begun to know the Shadowsinger inside and out and it was now too easy for her to beat him at basically anything. That caused Azriel to get all flustered and moody. Like now, as the couple practiced with their staff in the garden of their house.

Catrin was sitting on the bench of the veranda, her feet crossed on the table in front of her, eating leftover cookies as she watched her mother kick her father's ass. It was peak entertainment for her.

Gwyn whirled on her feet in a pirouette, confusing her opponent, and slammed the staff right on Azriel's ass. Catrin laughed, earning her a glare from her father.

"I'm taking you in the ring with me once I'm done with your mother," he warned his daughter. But Catrin only shrugged.

"If that's how you fight, I have nothing to be scared of, Daddy," she shot back.

Gwyn laughed and the couple got back into stance.

"You're asking for trouble, you know," Callum scoffed from behind her. He sat next to her and dared to try and put his muddy paws in her bag of cookies. She pulled it away from his reach quickly. "Hey," he complained. "Sharing is caring. Give me that." He lunged for the bag but Catrin laid back.

Only that was a stupid move. Her chair toppled and she fell on her back. Callum, the asshole, took that opportunity to swap the bag from her hands and look at her as if she was a mere inconvenience on his path.

Azriel smirked as he walked to the veranda, his bare chest covered in sweat and red marks from the staff. "If that's how you defend your cookies, you have a lot to be scared of," he mocked. "Get up and get in the ring now, little lady."

Callum laughed and Catrin stuck her tongue out at him before she rose.

"Your great cookie dispute made you miss my winning strike," Gwyn grinned.

"That's only because you were sneaky, Gwyneth," Azriel muttered.

Gwyneth? Oh, he was annoyed.

"I pretended I was going to kiss him," her mother explained smugly. Catrin snorted.

"In the ring," her father said through his teeth. Catrin obeyed, clamping her lips to contain her smile. "And just so we're clear, this only worked because I'm in love with your mother. Pretending to kiss someone doesn't win duels and even less battles." He looked back at his mate. "And it's cruel," he muttered.

Catrin picked up the staff and got into position. Her and her father circled each other, and she knew from the look in his eyes that she was in big trouble. Why did she have to run her mouth like this?

She fully blamed her mother for this, that was definitely her side of the family. Only Gwyn could actually back it up. A confirmed Valkyrie and Carynthian. Catrin was still training.

The fight probably lasted about thirty seconds before Azriel swiped his staff toward his daughter's calves, making her lose her balance before she fell on her ass...again.

A laugh resonated from the veranda. Catrin looked over to her brother laughing at her while eating her bag of cookies.

"Callum," her father called. "Your turn."

Callum swallowed and put the bag down before making his way to the ring.

Catrin handed him the staff. "I look forward to your humiliation," she sneered at him.

She walked over to where her mother stood, watching the two males. "You're still shifting your weight onto your heels," Gwyn told her gently but firmly. "Your center of gravity was off and it enabled your father to make you lose your balance with one simple move. And you need to remain focused."

"I am focused," Catrin argued.

"You allowed your brother to get on your nerves," she explained.

"Like that Dad allowed you to get on his?" Catrin smirked.

Her mother's eyes turned mischievous. "You have no idea the things I can make your father do."

Catrin closed her eyes for a moment. "And I truly, badly don't want to know."

Gwyn laughed. In the ring, Azriel shivered at the sound, his face lightened just a bit. "Like he said, it only works cause I'm his mate."

"And he's in love," Catrin added. "Doesn't seem to work the other way around, though."

"That's because males are weak," Gwyn raised her chin.

"We heard that," her mate and son said in unison. But the two females only laughed anew.

Gwyn took her daughter's hand and brought her back to the veranda. She put two cushions on the floor and they both sat.

"Do you practice your Mind-Stilling everyday?" she asked.

Catrin rolled her shoulders back. "Often. But no, not everyday," the young female admitted.

"Mind-Stilling is a crucial part of Valkyrie training," Gwyn pointed out. "You can spend as many hours as you like in the ring but if you don't train your mind, you'll never be a Valkyrie, Catrin." Catrin nodded and straightened on her cushion as her mother guided her through the technique. "Close your eyes. Tune into your body. Focus on your breathing."

Catrin obeyed her every order.

"Notice every thought that comes to mind but don't focus on it. Let it drift away."

So Catrin did. She didn't know how long they sat there, with her mother running her through her breathing. All Catrin knew was that, when she opened her eyes again, her mind was clear and focused. And she was determined.

The two females rose and walked back to the ring. The males gave them the staffs and space to practice.

"Remember your balance," her mother reminded her. Catrin placed her feet firmly on the ground, careful to distribute her weight evenly and not shift on her heels.

This time, it didn't take thirty seconds. Rather thirty minutes where the two went at each other until Catrin tired out and yielded. But her mother congratulated her all the same. Not just with her words but with the sparkle in her eyes. The one Catrin loved so much.

There were still times when her mother wasn't feeling good. There were still bad days and there always would be.

Catrin sometimes noticed the shaking hands of her mother when they were in over-crowded spaces. Or how her teal eyes darkened when someone mentioned Sangravah. But she never let anything deter her. She always welcomed her feelings but didn't let them control her.

Gwyneth Berdara was always in control. And as Callum emulated his father, Catrin looked up to her mother.

"Can we go to the service tonight?" She asked her mother.

Gwyn beamed. "Of course." She hooked her elbow with her daughter's as they walked back into the house.

"Go clean up and relax," Azriel said. "I'm in charge of dinner tonight."

"Mother help us," Gwyn sighed. Her mates flattened his brows and her children snorted. She turned back to her daughter. "Indeed, we'll need all the prayers we can get tonight."