A Court of Stars and Shadow

Chapter 15

I managed to get at least three hours of sleep before waking up for practice with Cassian. I knew there were dark circles and small bags forming under my eyes, but my steps were light, despite the recent events. 'Myths of the fae' laid on my bed, in the same place as where I left it last night when my eyes grew so heavy, I couldn't even bring myself to finish the last page of chapter 8. I did manage to finish the page however while I strapped on my fighting leathers but reading over on how the myth of some creatures that roamed were a product of fae reproducing with the monsters... not the way I would have chosen to start my morning but it at least earned me a chocolate croissant personally delivered by Amren on my way to the roof.

I stepped outside to see Cassian talking with Az at the edge. I plopped the last bite of croissant into my mouth and savored the sticky chocolate, praying that it all stayed down in my stomach during training. Both males turned their heads to me but didn't stop talking so I took the motion from Cassian to start stretching and wrapping my hands for pad practice. It didn't seem like they were purposely excluding me from the conversation but whatever they were talking about they spoke low enough that even as I strained my fae ears I could not pick up anything other than some mumbling. A minute later Cassian patted Az on the back, the latter flying into the sky.

"What was all that about" I asked innocently.

"Nothing". Short and tense. Not in the mood I realized to play with me. Fine, I'll give him the space he needs even if my heart strained to make sure that the reason, he's upset is not because of me or the carranam bond but something else; please be something else.

"100 pushups before we start then we're going straight to pads and you are going to do 100 of each swing."

I looked at him, my mouth partly open. "Are you serious?"

"Deadly?"

My eyes narrowed slightly but I dropped to the floor and placed my arms under me, starting the pushups. I would have fought it more, but he did tell me practice was going to be painful after my little comment last night... no, this morning. By 70 pushups my arms were wobbling, and my body shook every time I lowered myself to the floor, taking more energy and strength to push myself up again. I had so many things I wanted to ask him, to tell him but all my focus was all on these damn pushups. I don't know if it was that I hadn't fully settled into my fae body yet or that I was just that weak, but I was struggling, my breaths coming in loud rasps. Even as a human I could only do maybe 30 pushups without stopping, 40 by the end of volleyball season and my muscles were at their peak strength but even then, I struggled.

"So, are you the only one who is allowed to run off with information or do you plan on expanding that courtesy to all of us too?"

I dropped to the floor with a thud and turned to him, laying on my side. He towered over me, blocking the sun with his giant toned body. Shit, he was mad at me. To be honest I hadn't even realized I had done that but.... Over 500 years old and that was what he was mad at me about?

"I... I'm sorry, I didn't even realize that I did that"

He sighed and reached out a hand to lift me up, luckily, he didn't comment that I hadn't finished my pushups, but I probably wouldn't have lasted the last 20 anyways.

"Is that why you're upset with me though? Or is it that you don't want the carranam bond between us?"

His brows scrunched in confusion for a second before his eyes softened. "No L, I'm not mad at you, or about the bond. I meant what I said last night, I see you as a sister. Sure, I was annoyed that you left me without explaining what the hell the performance you put on was but I'm not mad at you."

I couldn't help the little smile that grew on my face.

"So, what are you mad at?"

He ran a hand across his face. "I'm mad at the fact that I always seem to attract the crazy females and that just means more people I have to protect."