âI understand this is difficult,â Jophiel said, the rapid thinning of her patience evident in her voice. âThis is your gift, however, and you are perfectly capable of mastering it.â
Kaetheâs whole body was shaking with exhaustion. She didnât feel particularly gifted, not at that moment.
âAgain.â Jophielâs voice rang out like a command. Biting back a whimper, Kaethe focused all the energy she had left and stepped forward.
Her legs gave out underneath her, barely a foot and a half away from where sheâd been. The voices of the medic sounded warped as he rushed to her side. As much as she would have liked to understand what he was saying to her, it was all she could do to keep herself from sliding out of consciousness.
Whatever he was saying sounded like a rebuke, though not one directed at her. It took longer than she would have liked, but eventually she managed to sit up on her own. Even with two hands she couldnât keep the flask of water from shaking as she lifted it to her lips.
Jophiel was deep in conversation with her assistant when Kaethe finally looked over at her. The medic followed her gaze and shook his head.
âYou would expect the archangel of wisdom to know better,â he muttered, mostly to himself, before helping Kaethe get to her feet. He watched her closely to make sure she was steady before nodding.
âGood,â Jophielâs voice in her ear cut through her internal complaining. âWeâll go again.â
This time, Kaethe didnât manage to keep her protests internal. Thankfully, she wasnât the only one.
âMy lady,â the medicâs voice was far from restrained. âWith all due respect, this has gone on long enough. She needs rest.â
âThere will be time for her to rest when training has concluded.â Jophielâs tone clearly indicated she wouldnât change her mind. âShe is using her gift for a fraction of what it is capable of.â
âKilling her isnât going to do you much good,â the medic snapped.
âMy lady, please,â Kaethe interjected. âWeâve been doing this for hours.â Iâm exhausted. Her breath caught in her throat when Jophiel changed the target of her ire.
âEnough.â The archangelâs gaze was stony. âWe will continue until your training is complete.â
She felt like her brain was shutting down. Everything hurt, her body was exhausted, she wanted nothing more than to go back to her apartments and soak in a warm bath. Jophielâs indifferent face was framed in her eyeline.
âAgain, Kaethe.â The voice cut into her mind like a shard of ice. She snapped.
âI said no!â Her vision turned red as she reached out, knocking both the medic and assistant backwards with little effort. All of her attention was for the archangel before her.
Her gift may have been teleportation, but her true power was in blood.
A spell died on Jophielâs lips as Kaethe latched onto her, stealing control of her body. From across the room, Kaethe could feel the burn of power. Angel blood was potent, but archangels were on a completely different level.
She was saved from having to actually make a decision when someone slammed into her from behind, breaking her already fragile concentration. Her heart stuttered in her chest: it had stopped beating as soon as she had reached out. Why hadnât she noticed?
Jophiel had fallen as soon as their connection had broken. Kaethe took some small measure of comfort from it. She wouldnât stay down long, but even a moment soothed her after the morning of training sheâd had.
Francisâ face soon blocked her vision, her friendâs tight smile easing the pain of having face-planted for the second time that day.
âYou really shouldnât do that,â he told her, voice both chastising and gentle as he helped her roll onto her back. âYou know how dangerous it is.â
âI know,â she agreed. Her voice sounded faint, even to her.
âFrancis,â Jophielâs voice was strikingly neutral. âPerfect timing, as usual.â
âLady Jophiel.â He bowed his head, but made no move to stand and greet her. A subtle choosing of sides that the archangel did not miss.
âIf you could please return Kaethe to her home,â the archangelâs gaze slid over to her for just a moment before returning to their new addition, âas we have completed her training for the day.â A portal crackled open beside them, the waves distorting the view of Kaetheâs bedroom.
âIt would be my pleasure.â Francis nodded before helping Kaethe up, leaning most of her weight against him as he half-carried her through the portal. It snapped shut as soon as they were clear on the other side.
âThat could have ended very badly.â Francis eased her down onto the bed. âYou know better than to pull blood rites, especially on an archangel.â He paused. âOur mentor, I might add.â
âI know,â Kaethe muttered into her duvet. âI just kind of⊠snapped.â
âAt an archangel?â His voice was somehow incredulous and unimpressed. Kaethe hated it when he used that tone of voice.
Francis sighed, sitting down on the edge of the bed next to her. She couldnât see his face, so she couldnât judge his mood. It was probably not good.
âThank you for the save,â she said into the silence that followed. âI donât know what would have happened if you hadnât shown up.â
âYou would be a pile of goo,â Francis lamented. âAnd I wouldnât have anyone to debate cave drawing with.â
Despite her exhaustion, Kaethe managed a small laugh. âCave drawing are the best.â