Learning a Magic: The Dragon God's Wife Book 4 (Dragon Shifter Romance) E-Book

Mac Flynn

• Herausgeber: Crescent Moon Studios, Inc.
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

Eastwei takes Anna to a secluded cabin deep in a forest of the land realm to teach her how to control her magic. While there, more than magic sparks begin to fly between the pair.

Unfortunately, Eastwei isn't the only one with plans for Anna and himself. Their lessons are interrupted by reports of trouble at the borders of the forest. A quick trip to investigate the problems turns into a fight for survival against an old foe.

The battle leaves Eastwei infected by a terrible poison. All manner of medicines fail to work but legends speak of a rare blood that once healed Eastwei as a child. The only problem is the creature with the blood died many millions of years ago, taking the secret of its healing magic with it.

Anna is left with a terrible choice. She must risk her life in a dangerous attempt to retrieve the precious blood and if she fails they will both die.

Leseprobe

LEARNING A MAGIC

THE DRAGON GOD’S WIFE

BOOK 4

MAC FLYNN

CONTENTS

Copyright

Author’s Note

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Sneak Peek: Defying a Creator

A Small Favor

When’s the Next Book?

Series by Mac Flynn

About Mac Flynn

COPYRIGHT

Learning a Magic (The Dragon God’s Wife Book 4). Copyright © 2025 by Mac Flynn.

Published by Crescent Moon Studios, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, disseminated, or transmitted in any form or by any or for any use, including recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written consent of the author and/or artist. The only except ions shirt excerpts or the cover image in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All the names, characters, organizations, places and events portrayed in this novel or on the cover are either products of the author’s or artist’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author or artist.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Dear Reader,

Thank you so much for joining me on a journey through my imagination. If you’re looking for romance and adventure with a guaranteed Happily Ever After, then you’ve come to the right place. My books contain paranormal plotting and fantastical action, and I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.

* * *

You can keep in touch with me by joining my newsletter or checking out my website for the latest updates.

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Thank you for giving my book a chance, and Happy Reading!

- Mac Flynn

CHAPTERONE

Sunny. Peaceful. It was a perfect day in the heaven realm.

That’s why it had to be ruined.

I sat on one of the benches scattered around my modest palace with my hands in my lap and a smile on my face. The high sun warmed my cheeks and tried to tan their unhealthy pallor. I raised one hand and turned it over. The muscles were still stiff and sore even after three long weeks of recuperating.

“Does it still hurt?”

I jumped and whipped my head to my right. Arian stood there with two cups in her hand and a worried look on her face. I dropped my hand into my lap and shrugged. “A little.”

“You would not give your hands so much attention for a little pain,” Arian countered as she took a seat beside me and held out the steaming cup of tea.

I gladly accepted the cup and clasped it between both hands. “I’m fine, really.”

She nodded down at my cup. “Then why are you using the warm tea to soothe the soreness in your hands?”

My face fell and I looked at my hands. The heat had indeed unconsciously tempted me to dampen the ache. I sighed and my shoulders drooped. “I guess it does bother me-”

“More than a little,” she finished for me.

“More than a little,” I repeated with a faint smile. “Anyway, I’m sure I’ll be better in a week or two. I only just got out of bed three days ago, after all. Everything’s still a little stiff from laying in bed for so long.”

“Lady Anna! Lady Anna!”

The shout came from the archway to my palace grounds, and a tiny shadow darted down the path and crashed into me. My arms shot up to prevent a terrible spill on the tiny creature that now hugged me about the waist.

“And a warm hello to you, too, Lia,” I returned with a faint laugh.

“You need to be more gentle with her, Lia,” Kean scolded her as he trotted down the path. “She’s still sick and needs to be treated like glass.”

“Who told you that?” I wondered as Lia wriggled her way onto the bench between Arain and me.

“Uncle Yushir,” Kean told me as he stopped before us. The young lad folded his arms over his chest and looked me over with as serious an expression as he could manage. “You look really pale.”

“You should have seen me a few days ago,” I replied as I took a sip of my tea. The warm drink soothed my recuperating stomach. “I could have passed as a ghost.”

The color drained from Lia’s face. “Did you die?”

I laughed and bopped a finger against her nose. “No, but I was very sad because I hadn’t seen you two for so long. What have you been up to?”

Her face drooped and she hung her head. “We popped all of your ‘boons.”

It took me a second to translate her child’s speak. “Well, I can make you more balloons, and more chocolates, too.”

Arian looked over Lia’s head and frowned at me. “You should save your strength.”

“Surely I can make a little chocolate bar,” I insisted.

Lia’s face perked up. “Chocolate! I want chocolate!”

“You should refrain from such magical arts.” The scolding voice came from the arch and Prince Yushir appeared. He strolled up to his nephew’s side and inclined his head to Arian and me. “Good morning to you, ladies. How are you both feeling this lovely day? Are you well-rested for your journey to your homeland, Lady Arian?”

My eyes widened and I whipped my head around to face my friend. “You’re going home?”

She dropped her gaze to her cup and sighed. “Father wishes for me to return, at least until the meeting of the clans in six months.”

“I will guarantee you the time will not be any longer than that,” Yushir swore to her as he placed a hand over his heart. “As the second son of the king of heaven, you have my promise that you will return in that time.”

“That is very kind of you to guarantee but you have not even ventured to the other clans to seek their agreement,” she pointed out.

His face fell and he sighed. “Unfortunately, I too will leave tomorrow for the turtle clan, and then to the others to seek their help in this matter. King Wearg and your father have promised to put in a good word for me among their allied clans which will greatly hasten my mission.”

My heart dropped as I realized the consequences of their responsibilities. “So I won’t see you guys for a while.”

“You might come home with me,” Arian offered.

Yushir closed his eyes and shook his head. “You are forgetting Lord Eastwei’s promise, Lady Arian. He is to take Lady Roberts to instruct her in how to use her unique skills.”

I gripped the cup tighter and bit my lower lip. Dadan. I hadn’t seen him since I left his palace four days prior.

A small hand tugged on my sleeve and I looked down to see Lia with a worried expression on her face. “Are you feeling alright, Lady Anna? You don’t look so good.”

I offered her a smile and tapped the rim of my cup. “My tea is a little warm and it didn’t go down very nicely, that’s all.” Lia didn’t look convinced, and neither did anyone else around me.

“We should get going, Lia,” Kean scolded her as he pointed at the arch. “The others are waiting for us at the park.”

Lia reluctantly slid off the bench but she turned and set her adorable hands one on top of the other on my knee. “Please take good care of yourself, Lady Anna. I’d be very sad to see you hurt again.”

I rubbed my hand on the top of her head. “I’ll take very good care of myself just for you.”

Her face brightened a little before Kean snatched one of her hands. He bowed his head to us as he pulled her along, and little Lia waved. “Goodbye!”

“Bye,” I called back while Arian waved.

Yushir clasped his hands behind his back and studied me. “Little Lia is quite right to worry. Your color is still not healthy.”

“It’s the lack of sun,” I mused as I blinked up at the bright sky. “A few days in this will brighten me back up.”

He didn’t look convinced but he bowed his head. “Then I will unfortunately take my leave of you ladies. There are preparations for my travels that must be made.”

“Good luck to you and I hope you return safely,” Arian told him.

Her good wishes perked up the prince. “Do you truly mean that, Lady Arian?”

Arian’s cheeks reddened slightly. “Of course I do. You are a good friend.”

I hid my smile in my cup of tea as Yushir’s face drooped. “A. . .a friend. Yes, of course. Well, if you will excuse me.” He hung his head and slouched out of the gardens.

I couldn’t suppress it any longer and had to snort into my cup. “I think he was looking for something more than being a friend.”

She sighed. “Yes, but I cannot give that to anyone, not while I worry about you.”

I nudged her arm with my elbow. “You can stop worrying about me. I’m fine, just a little tired, that’s all.”

“Perhaps you would like some food? Or maybe more tea?” Arian inquired as she leaned forward to peer into my cup.

I laughed and sloshed around the contents. “I think I’m good with this for a while, but you can get another cup for yourself.”

She bit her lower lip. “Are you sure?”

I clapped a hand on her shoulder and looked her in the eyes. “I think I’ll be fine for a few minutes alone again.”

Arian reluctantly stood and slipped back into the house. I sighed and dropped my gaze to the steaming cup of tea. The sweet aroma surrounded me, wrapping me in a comfortable fog of indifference.

Until a shadow fell over my tranquility. I frowned and whipped my head up.

And found myself staring into the handsome face of the former emperor of everything, Lord Eastwei.

“Are you ready?” he asked me.

I blinked at him. “Ready? Ready for what?

“For your training. We leave today.”

CHAPTERTWO

My mouth dropped open. “Today?”

“Is that a problem?”

I used a hand to gesture down at myself. “I’m not exactly ready for a long walk, or even a short one.”

“You need only have a short one. I will fly you most of the way to the nook.”

I blinked at him. “Where are we going?”

“I have a small cluster of buildings at the edge of a forest in the land realm,” he explained with a slight touch of impatience in his voice. “We will practice your training there.”

“Training?!” The exclamation came from the front doors of my home where Arian stood, a steaming cup of tea grasped in her hands. Her face had blanched and her hands shook. She hurried over to us and bowed her head to Eastwei. “Forgive me, Lord Eastwei, but I could not help but overhear your conversation. Surely you do not intend to take Anna-that is, Lady Roberts so soon.”

“That is exactly what I mean to do. I have heard you are leaving on the morrow, as is Prince Yushir. Lady Roberts will be without company and thus with plenty of spare time.”

Arian bit her lower lip. “That is true, but her condition. . .I believe she is far too frail to travel.”

Dadan’s movements were so quick that I could barely follow them much less dodge. He scooped me into his arms and tucked me against his chest before he presented me to my friend. “Her feet will hardly touch the ground.”

Arian’s mouth dropped open. “B-but Lord Eastwei, you cannot be serious! Anna is a lady and-”

“Then I will be sure not to drop her,” Dadan countered with a touch of mischief at the corners of his lips. He turned and marched away with me.

I glanced over his shoulder and could only give my friend a tiny wave. Arian waved back with the same apprehensive look on her face that I had on mine.

What had I gotten myself into?

That got my mind thinking and I frowned at him. “You know, I didn’t agree to your training.”

“You can do naught else but agree,” came the brash response.

I had to snap my agape mouth shut. “Really? And why is that?”

“Who would refuse me?”

I couldn’t stop my mouth from dropping open that time. My blood boiled and I wiggled in his arms. “Let me down!”

We had already gone some ways from the arch. “You cannot turn back now.”

“Watch me!”

“Very well.”

Dadan leaped into the air and the faint mist of his magic surrounded us. I yelped as we left the ground. Instinct and panic demanded I cling to him, and cling I did with all the strength my tired arms could muster. Even in my panic I detected a hint of amusement dancing around in those bright red eyes of his.

“I can release you now.”

I glared at him. “You’d better not!”

“Then you propose to go with me to train?” he wondered as we floated across the sky.

I glanced over my shoulder at the ground. We were some four hundred feet away from it. My face blanched. “How can I refuse you when we’re this high up?”

“You might reconsider refusing me completely,” he suggested.

There was something in his words and voice that piqued my interest. I turned to him and lifted an eyebrow. “Why are you being so stubborn about you training me? I don’t have any talent except making trouble.”

I noticed a flicker of some emotion pass over his bright eyes. Was it a hint of sheepish guilt?

“That is exactly why you must be trained,” he insisted, and I was glad when he flew us a little lower. “You have relied too long on luck to help you on your way. I will train you to rely on yourself.”

What about relying on you?

My face drooped at my naughty inner voice. He’s not that kind of guy.

Are you sure? He seemed pretty interested in you at Banhar.

I slumped lower in his arms and scowled at my lap. Where was she getting these ideas? He was only being nice.

“Is something the matter?”

I started from my inner melancholy and found Dadan staring down at me with a slightly raised eyebrow. I sheepishly smiled at him. “It’s, um, nothing. I was just thinking about your offer.”

“You still refuse?”

I sighed and my hands fidgeted in my lap. “I. . .I guess I could give it a try.”

“I would expect better from you.”

I whipped my head up and blinked at him. “Better from me? Why?”

He averted my gaze by staring ahead of us. “You have a tenacity for life or you would not have survived the trials you have faced.”

“I had a lot of help,” I pointed out.

“And now I will train you to be the one who helps,” he countered as we landed in front of the gates to heaven. His bright steady gaze studied me. “Will you have with me?”

I bit my lower lip and my eyes flickered between the gate and the serene life at his back. One was a life of ease and comfort. Another was an unknown toil with a man who wasn’t known for his tender touch.

Then again, what use would I be to my friends during these troubles if I sat around doing nothing?

I took a deep breath and exhaled. “Alright, I’ll do it, but-”

“Excellent,” he replied as he strode forward.

His step was so quick that I grabbed a hold of the front of his robes to keep myself from bouncing around. “I wasn’t done yet!”

“You have agreed. Nothing else need be said.”

Oh boy. What had I gotten myself into?

We hurried past the two guards and through the familiar magical portal. The scent of the land realm wrapped around me once more, reminding me of all the adventures I’d had in those lands. Memories flashed across my mind’s eye of the wonderful Banhar and its friendly people and the determined King Wearg and his men who were willing to distract the bears to kidnap me.

That brought a question to my mind. “The wolf boy who survived the attack on his village. Did he tell anyone what he saw?”

“The story was much the same as you and I witnessed with the plant,” Dadan told me. “The creature came from the ground without warning and killed the others. He himself was touched by some of its foul blood and left mentally paralyzed.”

My heart fell as I imagined that horror. “The poor boy. To be left all alone at such a young age. It’s a terrible feeling.”

Dadan stopped his march down the gentle slope toward the bridge and cocked his head to one side. “You know from experience?”

I dropped my eyes to my lap and gave a small nod. “I was orphaned at a young age, as well. My parents were in a car-that is, they were in an accident.”

Dadan’s tender eyes studied me. “I am sorry.”

I shrugged and a faint smile graced my lips. “It’s okay. I accepted it a long time ago. Besides, I had a nice place to grow up in and I have a family here.” I lifted my smiling face to him. “That more than makes up for what happened then.”

My carrier stared at me a moment longer before he inclined his head. “I see. We had better be on our way.”

Dadan leaped into the air and flying toward the river. We floated higher and higher, passing over the rough waters and arched bridge. The cliff walls loomed up over us but we flew above their jagged sides. I gripped tightly to him and risked leaning over to get my first look at the western lands.

The area was thick with woods like around Banhar, but these weren’t the rustic pines of the bear lands. White-barked marsh trees dotted the landscape and little pools of crystal-clear water glistened in the early morning sun. Tall green grass covered the ground between the black-marble-hued trunks and swept over the gentle up and down flow of the landscape. The white forest stretched out of sight but I beheld a plateau above the low valley. The distance was some hundred miles off so I couldn’t see any details, but the flat-topped hill rose up from the plains and had a backdrop of steep mountains beyond it. Their white-capped craggy tops were a start contrast to the gentle beauty of the white forest.

“That is where we are going.”

Dadan’s voice shook me out of me admiring the view and I blinked at him. “The mountains?”

He nodded at the way ahead. “The plateau. My lodge is nestled among those trees.”

I squinted for a moment before I shook my head. “I don’t see anything there.”

“You will.”

And with that enigmatic reply we continued on our way.

CHAPTERTHREE

The distance was far, even for the mighty Lord Eastwei, and though I was being carried, the fatigue of new scenery and anxiety about the destination wore me out. I was glad when Eastwei landed us in a lovely little grove surrounded by the white-barked trees.

He sat me on a downed log and inspected the area. “Stay here.”

I perked my ears up at his command. “Why? You’re not leaving me, are you?”

“For the moment.”

My mouth dropped open, which meant I didn’t have a chance to argue before he took off into the air. “H-hey!” I stammered out as I leaped to my feet. “What about me?!”

He didn’t even glance over his shoulder at me before he disappeared behind the canopy. I made to start after him but my wobbly legs told me that was a bad idea. The world spun a little and I was forced to drop back onto the log.

I clutched my head and gritted my teeth. I’d never been sick very often in my entire life, so to be so useless was frustrating beyond belief.

Frustrating and a little frightening, especially considering my surroundings. The world eventually stopped spinning but I still found myself alone in the wilderness. Every unfamiliar noise made me jump and every wave of a blade of grass made me do a double-take. My hands fidgeted in my lap as I tried not to imagine what horrible monsters lurked in the shadows of this strange forest.

Trying not to think about them made me think about them more, especially since my last adventure with the locals had been so harrowing. Bears and wolves and the hideous face of Lord Wyrmir blended together to create a tapestry of unspeakable and unimaginable creatures.

That’s why the bush shaking in front of me made me start. My heart pounded in my chest as visions of goblins and vampires danced in my head. I gripped the log tight and stretched my neck.

The bush shook again, more violently than before. I froze and my eyes grew as large as saucers. My shaky legs reminded me that I had only one option for danger, and flight was definitely not in the running.

That’s when it bounded out of the bush, some shadowy creature with sharp, pointy fangs. I screamed and in my panic I toppled over the back of the log. My back hit the ground hard, knocking the air out of my lungs.

Laughter broke through my frazzled mind. It was childlike, mischievous laughter. My eyebrows crashed down as I recalled Eastwei’s ability to transform into an imp.

“That’s not funny!” I shouted as I struggled to pull myself up.

A shadow fell over me and I froze. The sun cast the figure in heavy darkness before they leaned over. I could then clearly see Dadan’s amused expression.

“Are you more comfortable on the ground?” he wondered.

My eyebrows crashed down and my hands shot up to try to grab the front of his robe. “Where the hell have you been and why are you scaring me like that?”

He cocked his head to one side. “I have not frightened you.”

I flopped about and succeeded in tangling my legs over the log. My weakened body finally gave up and I slumped back onto the ground. I had enough strength to shoot him my best death glare. “Then why’d you leave me?”

He held up his hand which contained a stick with a few limbs still attached. Two fish still flopped about, stuck on the limbs. “I fetched us some food.”

I dropped my arms on either side of me and sighed. “They do look nice.”

His eyes sparkled with mischief as he looked over my sprawled form. “Shall you be eating on the ground?”

“Only if I want to guarantee I’ll choke on a fish bone,” I quipped as I tried to roll onto my side. My frail muscles couldn’t even do that and I ended up falling back with a frustrated grunt. “Or maybe I’ll give that a try.”

Dadan stooped and slipped his arm under my back and his hand gripped my other side. “Allow me.”

I yelped as he lifted me with his prodigious strength and pinned me against his side. Our faces were nearly level and I blushed at being so close to those brilliant scarlet eyes. He carried me over the log and set me on the fallen tree. I used both hands to grasp the barkless surface while he stabbed the stick of fish in the ground in front of me.

It was frustrating and interesting to watch the dragon god move about the small grove picking up stones and using them to create a ring a yard in front of me.

“You are staring,” he lightly scolded me as he picked up a rather large rock and held it in the palm of a single hand.

I blushed under the gentle comment. “I-I’m sorry.”

He knelt on the ground and set the stone in place before he turned his full attention to me. “Am I that interesting that you would find my picking up stones that entertaining?”

I dropped my gaze to the ground and squirmed atop the log. “I-that is, it’s just, well, I never imagined you’d like to do that kind of stuff.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “Stuff?”

I nodded at the ring of stones. “Picking up stones. Or just doing any kind of manual labor.”

“You would prefer I use my magic?”

I blinked at him. “Your magic? To move stones?”

His eyes danced with mischief. “You doubt my ability?”

I snorted and readjusted my position. “I haven’t really seen too much of what you can do besides some fireworks and what you did in the mists of the Tianfeld.”

“And whatever I would have done during your stay in my palace.”

There it was. The subject I’d been trying desperately to avoid. I squirmed atop my log as my mind tried to think of some reply. “I, um, couldn’t really tell you who I was, could I? I couldn’t even talk and I was worried Prince Yushir would find out who I was.” Or Shian would find out who I was and finish the job I thought to myself.

“You never thought to seek my confidence?”

The question startled me so much that I stared at him for a moment before I could speak. “I. . .I didn’t really think about it. I mean, we don’t know each other that well even now.”

His scarlet eyes studied me for a long moment before he returned his focus to the partial ring of stones. He had set the stones far enough apart that there were large gaps between them. “That is true.”

“I’m sorry.” I wasn’t sure if I should have been apologizing, but the expression on his face made me think I’d said something wrong.

“There is no need for that.” He held a hand over the stones with his palm facing them.

A wave of heat flowed from his palm and settled on the stones. My eyes widened as all the rocks cracked in two, and he used the new pieces to finish creating the ring.

I realized my mouth was agape and snapped my jaw shut. “So is there any way to tell what I can do? I mean, besides turn into a cat or blast people apart.”

“You healed the Tianfeld, as well,” he reminded me.

I wrinkled my nose. “I still can’t quite believe it was me who did that.”

“That is the only plausible explanation.”

I furrowed my brow as I thought back to all the strangeness. “So I can turn into a cat and heal people? Those things don’t sound like they go together.”

“Magic is more than a single skill,” he countered as he stood and raised his hand.

A flame danced in his palm before he flicked his wrist and tossed it toward the perimeter. Rather than drop to the ground like a rock, the fire shot across the edges of the forest in a counter-clockwise route. A small tailwind followed the flame and picked up all the loose limbs that were scattered about the area. The flame zipped back to Eastwei and dropped into the ring of stones, dragging the sticks in with it. The sticks were ignited by the flame and created a friendly fire.

I stared in bewilderment at the crackling branches. “How did you do that? Can you control the wind?”

“Fire creates its own wind if powerful enough,” he mused as he took the fish on a stick and set the branch close to the fire. “A novice would assume I could control wind when all I did was merely use my fire ability.”

My face drooped and I frowned at him. “Of course I’d think that. I never had anyone but Yushir teach me how to use my magic.”

“That was your first mistake,” he scolded me, but I noticed his teasing eyes flicker in my direction.

Two could play at that game and I grinned at him. “So you’ve always been willing to teach people? I’ll have to tell Lia and Kean about your lessons.”

He cleared his throat. “My skills as a teacher are limited to those who I believe are gifted enough to deserve them.”

“And you think I’m one of those people?” I wondered as I studied myself. A snort escaped me. “I think you have the wrong girl. I’m just little old plain me.”

Eastwei stood and turned to face me. I tried not to shrink beneath that bright, firm gaze. His voice was low and stern. “I would not waste my time with you if I did not believe you worth the effort. You fail me and yourself with your self-doubt. Discard it. It will only hinder your progress.”

“I’ll try-” He narrowed his eyes slightly and I shot up like a board. “That is, I’ll take your words to heart.”

“Good.” He knelt and drew the stick from the flames. The wood and fish were charred. He removed one of the scaled creatures and held it out to me. “Eat. We will leave soon.”

CHAPTERFOUR

I gingerly took the crispy critter and eyed the black flesh with some doubt. Eastwei took a seat at the end of the log and stretched out the pointer finger of his empty hand. My eyes bulged out of my head as I watched the fingernail lengthen into a razor sharp claw. He used his newly grown claw to cut through the burnt exterior and revealed the dark pink meat.

The savory scent of cooked fish wafted over to me and teased my nose. My stomach rumbled in chorus with my twitching nose. I slapped my hand over my stomach to control it but a sly look from Dadan told me the cat was out of the bag. He took a bite of the meat and my mouth practically salivated at the sight.

I returned my focus to my fish and pinched the blackened skin between two fingers. The flesh crinkled and blackened my digits. I wrinkled my nose but pulled. The skin broke off, leaving me without even a hint of the tasty treat in the wrapper.

This was going to be a long trip.

“Would you like some help?”

The offer startled me out of my reverie. I sheepishly smiled at my companion and held out the fish to him. “As much as I can get.”

Dadan took the fish and skinned it, leaving only the delicious pink meat. He soon held out the meal to me. “You fear asking people for help.”

“It’s more like I don’t want to bother people,” I countered as I accepted the food. I stared down at the fish lying in my palms and sighed. “Besides, I’ve been doing a lot of that since I was dropped in here. I don’t want to do it anymore.”

“Hold that desire.”

I looked up and blinked at him. “Come again?”

“That desire to stand on your own. Keep it ever on your mind and you will not fail to achieve mastery of your magic.”

I perked up and a smile spread across your face. “You’re right. If I learn how to control this magic then maybe I can finally start helping people.” Dadan opened his mouth and I grinned. “More than just by accident, I mean.”

“Then eat and we will finish the journey.”

I gladly scarfed down my food in front of the warm fire and was almost sad when Dadan swept his hand over the flames a few minutes later. The heat was immediately extinguished, leaving only a patch of gray ash in the ring of stones. I stood and my legs actually held me up.

For all of three seconds.

I yelped and tumbled forward. Dadan was there to catch me in his strong arms. I sheepishly smiled up at him. “I think I’ll have to start that helping others plan after I get my strength back.”

“We will see what we can do,” Dadan enigmatically replied as he scooped me into his arms.

I yelped and looped my limbs around his neck as he flew into the air. We zoomed over the white forest and neared the plateau. A spot a few miles to the south of the flat hill caught my attention and I looked to see a small town nestled among the marbled trees. The town was centered around a wide road that ran through the middle, and I glimpsed a steady flow of wagons, horses, and pedestrians weaving their way through one another.

“What’s over there?” I asked him as I craned my neck to get a better view.

Dadan turned a little northward so that my view of the city was blocked. “Tuhara, the capital of the local clan.”

I tried to peek over his shoulder but the town was quickly fading into the background. “And that is?”

“The hare clan.”

My ears perked up at the reveal. “Hare? Like bunny?”

“They prefer the name ‘hare,’” he advised me.

“It’s a good name,” I mused as I settled back down into his arms. I turned my sights on the plateau. We were close enough that the details of a cluster of buildings could be seen. “Is that where we’re going?”

“Yes. That will be our home for the next several months.”

My cheeks reddened when my mind conjured up images of a happy family life between Eastwei and me. Get a hold of yourself, Anna! I shouted at myself. He’s taking you to train, not to court!

Things didn’t improve my naughty imagination when we landed in front of the complex. The trees had been cleared ages ago to make room for a high wall of logs. A large gate of wrought iron hung in front of us and allowed me a view of a large courtyard surrounded by four buildings. One was obviously a stable with large barn doors set below its peaked roof. Another on the right appeared to be a small shop with a heavy wooden door shut with a huge metal lock. The fourth was located to the right of the residence and had a small chimney out one side.

The last building was the stately home. It was two floors with a deep covered front porch.

However, the courtyard was the crown of the compound. A few of the white trees had been allowed to grow thick and tall, casting their soft shade over the grassy ground. A path of heavy and wide stones led from the gate to the buildings, connecting at the very center where a large pond offered the sweet scent of blooming lilies and bright purple water irises. Small bushes dotted the stone path here and there, exuding lovely fragrances that even from that distance tickled my nose.

The buildings weren’t without their own charm. Vines grew up trellises and showed off their flowers of oranges and reds. Green moss dotted the roofs and their white flowers added a gentle color to the forest hues. Paned windows revealed the quaint interior of the stately home with clapboard floors covered in rugs and wooden furniture.

Dadan carried me to the gate and my eyes widened when they parted for him. We strolled through without lifting a finger. “Are they magic?” I asked him as I twisted around and watched the gates shut behind us.

“Of course.”

“Do they open for just anyone?”

“Only me and my guests.”

I lifted an eyebrow as he strolled along the stone path. “So I can use it?”

His eyes twinkled with that wicked light again. “When I give you permission.”

“And until then?”

“You may leave but you cannot reenter without me.”

My face drooped. “So I’d be locked out?”

“Precisely.”

“Couldn’t you give me permission to open them right now?”

“Later,” he insisted as he turned left to the house.

The porch was only two short steps off the ground and an assortment of wooden furniture stood on its floorboards. A long bench reminded me of those in the heaven realm where Dadan so often lay, and a few chairs were pushed back into the far corner on the opposite side.

“Can you walk on your own?” he asked me as we reached the porch.

I wiggled my legs a little. “I can try.”

Dadan gently set my feet on the ground and I took a hesitant step forward. My left leg buckled and I would have fallen if Dadan hadn’t looped an arm around my waist. He drew me against his side and I hung my head.

“This is just not my day. . .” I mumbled.

“There is no need to worry. You will soon be walking on your own,” he encouraged me.

I cocked my head to one side to stare up at him. “But how am I going to do any training if I can’t even stand?”

“Your training will start with you sitting.”

“Come again?”

“Stay here.”

Dadan leaned me against one of the porch posts and I gladly wrapped my arms around the wood. He slipped over to one of the chairs and snatched the plush cushion from its seat. I watched in curiosity as he tossed the cushion just to the right of the door a few feet from the clawed feet of the lounging chair.

He returned to me and guided me over to the cushion where he set me down. “You will remain here and practice.”

I studied the area around me. “Practice what? Admiring the view?”

“Controlling your magic,” he revealed as he strode past me and took a seat on the couch. He set his chin against his fisted hand and looked down at me with a faint mischievous smile. “Can you call forth a strand?”

“I think so,” I replied as I held up one palm. My silver light flowed from my hand and twisted into the familiar strand. The sight brightened my face with a smile. “Now what?”

“Now keep it still.”

I stared ahead for a moment before I whipped my head around to face him. “Say what?”

He nodded at the strand that twisted about like a snake above my palm. “Force your magic to remain still.”

My mouth dropped open. “Still? Like not moving at all?”

“Correct.”

I blinked at him. “Is that possible?”

He held up his own hand and a single red strand floated out of his palm. The thread stretched to about a foot before freezing in place. “I believe so. Now try.”

My face drooped but I dutifully returned my attention to my light. The thread still twisted about like an exotic dancer. I furrowed my brow and narrowed my eyes, focusing only on that curling light.

And nothing happened.

I broke my concentration with a gasp and frowned. “Are you sure I should be able to do that? My magic is different from yours.” Dadan stared at me a moment which made me squirm. “What? Did I-”

He slid off his comfortable couch and knelt beside me. “Let me show you.”

Dadan slipped his hand under mine and I shuddered at the feel of his warmth. Things got even hotter when his red magic glowed from between our hands. His thread floated through my hand and twined itself around mine. The brilliant colors of silver and scarlet twisted around for a moment before my strand began to slow, soothed by his magic until it stopped completely. The two strands froze, entwined together like a vein of jewels in a silver bracelet.

“Wow,” I breathed.

“Indeed.”

There was something in his voice that made me turn my head, and I found myself staring directly into his eyes. They were so beautiful and steady, like a pool reflecting a blood moon. A lump settled in my throat which I was forced to swallow hard to get rid of.

A heavy blush accented my cheeks and I could only stammer out a few words. “I-is something wrong?”

My words broke the spell. Dadan drew his hand away from mine and both our magics vanished. He stood and brushed down the creases in his robe. “Quite the contrary. Now you know what you must do so I shall leave you to it.” He returned to his seat and lounged on the couch.

A part of my wished he would sit back down by my side but asking him to do that would be silly. I mean, how would I even explain that? That I felt comfortable with him at my side? That I wanted him to stay there?

“Now try again.”

I lifted my chin and steadied my mind and my upraised hand. My magic floated out and twisted and bent itself into all kinds of shapes, doing everything except what I wanted it to do. After a minute, I dropped my hand into my lap. The muscles in my arm were already complaining. “How long am I supposed to try this?”

“Until you succeed.”

Oh boy.