chapter 5
Even though Addy had a killer headache, she knew there was no cancelling her practice with Bernard, especially since it was her own fault for drinking. Headache or not, Bernard’s combat lessons would be a good distraction. Her mind had been racing since meeting Tanner.
“Bye Moose,” she said to the cat and scratched his head.
Addy grabbed her gym bag and started to head out. When she opened her door she found a note stuck to her screen. She unfolded it, surprised to see who left it.
Tonight, same place.
-T
Tanner. When she told Kim about him on the way home from the beach the night before, she made Addy promise not to meet him. Addy didn’t tell her about his strange pulling feeling. She figured that would set Kim off and she’d end up telling Matt about him.
Tanner was becoming more and more intriguing. After getting the note, Addy didn’t think it was possible to pass up meeting with him. She was curious to know how he knew where she lived. He seemed harmless and just wanted answers, which she wanted too. If she stayed away from him neither one of them would get what they wanted.
As much as she hated being the girl who hid things from her friends and family, like the ones in the books and movies she wanted to kick for never sharing important information, it couldn’t be helped. She dropped his note on the table by her door and headed out.
They trained in the ballroom of the main house that had been converted into a makeshift gymnasium. It’s not as if they had use for a ballroom anyway, but Addy always thought it was strange learning hand-to-hand combat moves surrounded by beautiful paintings, with sparkling crystal chandeliers hanging from the thirty-foot ceilings.
In school, Stubbs told the kids that the ballroom was built to hold the Reunion Ball. It was a spectacular event held whenever Eva and Andrew came home to Tremain. The Akori would converge on the estate from around the world to attend. Stubbs talked about it as if he’d actually attended once or twice.
The celebrations stopped when a group of humans who were obsessed with controlling the Akori’s powers attacked the ball. From what Stubbs described, it was a slaughter. The Akori, two Akori actually, Andrew and Eva, killed all the human attackers. He couldn’t—or wouldn’t tell them how they did it, but apparently being the most powerful Akori came with more than just lame event shifting power.
Checking the time, Addy stopped in the dining room and grabbed a bagel and a cup of coffee, then made her way to practice. When she opened the doors to the ballroom, Gage was the only one there.
“Hey.” Addy greeted him and looked around. She dropped her bag, then sat on the mat farthest from him and began her stretching routine. “Where’s Bernard?”
“Fate called for him when he and I finished our practice. He told me to stay and work with you,” Gage said as he finished lining up the remaining mats.
“That’s strange—are you sure he didn’t want me to train you?” she asked, trying not to smile.
He came over and began stretching alongside her. “You’re really funny this morning for a girl running on four hours of sleep with a hangover.”
“Right,” she said, pressing her hand to her temple. “I should’ve known better than to try to keep up with Matt where drinking’s concerned.”
For the second day in a row she found herself alone with Gage. She’d tried to stay mad about what he’d said to her on their way down to the beach, but it really wasn’t worth all the effort it was taking.
At first they just practiced taking easy shots at each other and blocking. It was pretty basic stuff they could both do in their sleep.
“So what were you doing up in the bushes last night when Matt and I found you?” Gage asked between jabs at her.
She quickly countered with a kick at his ribs that he easily blocked.
“Just getting away, thinking.”
He smirked at her. “You run off and think in the bushes often?”
”Every chance I get,” she said, swinging her foot around from the other side so fast he couldn’t get his forearm up to block its contact with his ribs.
He retreated only long enough to get his balance, and then shot back with a blow to her midsection that she tried to block too late. She responded with a fast kick, but he knocked it aside.
“Your kicks are becoming predictable,” he said, dodging her foot.
She knew he was just trying to get her mad so she ignored him.
Gage put his hands up. Moving closer to her, he leaned down. “You don’t have to hide anything. Besides, I know you were up to something.” He suddenly hooked his arm securely under hers and rolled her face first on the mat. “Pay attention,” he said, giving her ponytail a little tug.
His plan to get her mad was working. She reared back, catching him in the face with her head. It stunned him enough for her to slip out from under him and jump to her feet. He swept her legs out from under her, but she was able to catch him with a hard hit to the side of his head on her way down to the mat.
Hurrying to get up, she didn’t realize how close she was to the edge of the mat and slipped, knocking her already hurting head on the marble floor. She quickly shook it off and got to her feet.
“You caught me, I was meeting a guy.” She tried to kick him, but wasn’t fast enough, and he skillfully blocked her. “You and Matt aren’t the only ones who shop the locals.”
He grabbed her from behind, holding her arms at her chest. “We all learned that a few months back at the ski lodge—remember?”
The night Matt and Kim’s date got in the fight, Gage was the one who called Addy out of her date’s room at the lodge to deal with Kim, while he dragged Matt out of there. She wasn’t actually doing anything with the guy other than listening to how awesome he thought he was on a snowboard. The call to get Kim under control was more like a rescue than an interruption.
Twisting in his arms, she dug the heel of her foot into his knee and he released her.
Gage quickly recovered and tried to flip her to the mat again, but Addy was ready for him. She used his weight against him and flipped him over her body. He landed on his back with a thud.
She smiled at him, sticking her tongue out.
He pointed at her and grinned. “That was a nice move,” he said, laughing as he jumped to his feet.
There was no more talking. Back and forth, they knocked each other down, blocked, and counter attacked.
Sweeping her feet out from under her again, Gage pinned Addy down on her back. He sat on top of her, easily holding her hands down above her head. He was out of breath and soaked with sweat.
“You give up yet?” he asked, smiling down at her.
Addy shifted under his weight. “No way.”
Gage smiled, tipping his head back. “Of course you don’t—what was I thinking?”
She could barely breathe and was completely dizzy. It was hard to think straight.
“Hey, you’re bleeding.” He frowned and leaned down close to see where the blood was coming from. His breath on her neck made her shiver even though she wasn’t even close to cold.
Addy cut her eyes toward him and saw blood was smeared across his cheek. “I’m fine.”
He moved his head and they were nose to nose, looking to each other’s eyes.
“Pay attention,” she said, thrusting her body up suddenly.
He was caught off guard and thrown to the side. She worked to get to her feet, as he sprang at her, knocking them both back down.
“Both of you get to your feet!”
They froze at the angry sound of Bernard’s voice.
Gage stood up first, looking embarrassed. He reached down and pulled Addy up. She was pretty unsteady on her feet, and she grabbed his shoulder to brace herself. They were soaked with sweat and blood. His nose was bleeding and blood was dripping from the back of her head. Each had red welts that would probably be deep bruises before long, and both of them were trying to hold back smiles.
“That wasn’t what I had in mind when I asked you to work with her,” Bernard said, scowling at Gage.
Addy locked her eyes on the grey marble floor. She was afraid if she looked at Gage she wouldn’t be able to hold back her laughter.
“And you…” Bernard sighed as he put his index finger under Addy’s chin, tipping back her blood smeared face to examine it. “Do either of you require medical attention?”
“No.” They both said at the same time. It felt like the time he caught them throwing snowballs at cars as they drove by the estate when they were kids.
“Alright then, put the mats away. Then head back to your rooms to get cleaned up. Fate wants to see both of you in an hour.”
With that Bernard turned and headed for the door, but she saw him smiling as he walked away. When she was sure he was gone, Addy busted out laughing.
“I totally had you,” she said, grinning.
“Really?” Gage gave up trying not to laugh. “It looked to me like you were about to give up when Bernard came in.” He glanced over at her smiling, but his face quickly changed to a look of concern. “Are you sure your head’s ok? That seems like a lot of blood,” he said, reaching for her, “let me take a look.”
“It’ll be alright.” Addy ducked from his grasp and felt the trickle of blood down her neck as she pulled her ponytail out. She was feeling a little lightheaded, but really didn’t want him picking through her bloody hair.
“Seriously, let me see.” He already had a hold of her shoulder, turning her around. Gage took a deep breath. “Oh hell, it looks pretty bad. Let’s go see—”