Free Shattered by Kailin Gow Page A

the space beside him and leaned heavily into him. “What else did you want to teach me?”
    “We’l take a break, relax and make sure you don’t over-exert yourself. Then we’l take a stab at corporal displacement.”
    “Corporal what?”
    “To shift your body from place to another.”
    “Sounds complicated.”
    “A bit, but it’s vital, especial y these days.’
    “Especial y with Dr. Sanz on my back.” Torrid remained silent and I could feel the tension. His fingers threaded through mine and he fiddled and fidgeted with my fingers.
    “I’l learn, Torrid,” I final y said, sensing his fear for me.
    “I don’t want you to go back,” he said, his voice a soft whisper. “I know you’re already good with levitation and blocking thoughts, and I have no concerns regarding the setup of barriers… I know you’l get the hang of it in no time. But there’s so much out there; Catchers and Magical Ones who’l want to destroy you. Catchers are so tricky, their magic, their ability to transcend physics. It’s not too much of a big deal for experienced djins, but many inexperienced or careless djins have gotten caught.”
    “I wil learn, Torrid, and I’l never be careless.
    I’ve seen up close what Magical Ones can do. I won’t let it happen to me, I promise.” His tight hug spoke of his fear… and his growing love. I felt the emotions mirrored in my own heart, but was stil reluctant to speak them aloud.
    A tug of guilt touched my heart and I knew it was Liam. I shouldn’t be here, so happy, so secure and safe. I shouldn’t be learning magic from a perfectly divine looking djin. I had to go back to help Liam, to help Jocelyn and Matthew. Despite my fear of Dr. Sanz, I had to face him again. That was my destiny.

Chapter 10

    “Good morning, beautiful.”
    I recognized his voice, even his scent before turning to greet Torrid. Like clockwork he arrived every morning just as I finished my breakfast, ready to perfect every lesson he’d taught me. Though proud of what I’d achieved so far, I felt increasingly eager to get to Arcadia and the battle that continued to be waged.
    Every day I heard a little of what was happening in my homeland. Warriors arrived every evening and reported to the king and queen of the Nethers, but the tidbits of information I picked up on were unsatisfactory, contradictory or unclear.
    Overal , the only thing I concluded was how badly things were going.
    “You looked miles away when I came up.” Torrid pul ed up a chair and sat beside me. “What’s going on your mind?”

    I wanted to smile, wanted t figho be cheerful at the sight of him, but my heart wasn’t in it. “The same thing that’s been on my mind since I arrived here… Arcadia. You said I could go back once I’d perfected my skil s. When is that going to be?”
    “I didn’t quite say you could go back. I said you’d be better prepared should we need to have you there. But the risk is stil too high, despite the advancements you’ve made.”
    “I’m trying to be patient and understanding, Torrid, but…”
    “I know. You want to return to your home, you want to fight your fight. Now is just not the time.”
    “My mother is there. I feel like I’ve abandoned her. She has no idea where I am and she must be a wreck… and my friends, Jocelyn and Matthew and Sarah and…”
    “Liam?”
    I looked at him, my love for him surging, but my need to help those I’d left behind surpassing that growing love. “Is that what this is real y al about?
    Liam? Is that the risk you're worried about? Is that why you don’t want me going back?”
    He reached for an orange and proceeded to peel it, his frustration dripping from his fingertips. “I know how you feel about Liam. Do I feel threatened by that? Not entirely. Do I want you spending time with him? Not real y. Is that the reason I don’t want you back? I can’t deny that it’s somewhere in the back of my mind, but no. The real threat is to your safety.”
    “But