Free Braving the Elements by K. F. Breene Page B

about cutting it with your sword? You have higher magic.”
    “What about yours ? You can do more powerful magic than I can.”
    My gaze flicked to my dagger, lying forgotten near my hoodie on the other side of the classroom. “I didn’t think we’d need it.”
    Charles sighed and dropped his head, his hands finding purchase on his hips. “Well, what if the blade goes through and cuts you?”
    I showed my teeth. “That would be bad. Okay, try your knife, and do it really easy-like.”
    Charles took out his dagger, waited until it glowed orange, and then gingerly sliced into the box. Sparks lit up the side like a sparkler, but the orange knife parted the red.
    “Does it hurt when those sparks touch your skin?” Charles asked, stopping the cutting.
    “Yes , it hurts! But keep going. I don’t want to be trapped in here forever, and I don’t want to have to get some human-hating clan member to break me free. I’d look like the clown I am.”
    “You aren’t a clown.” He kept cutting, spraying me with burning magic shrapnel. At least, that’s what it felt like. “You need to tell the Boss to have her stop. You’ll never learn this way.”
    “No way am I running to my master. She’d just find some other way to be a vindictive bitch. At least this way, I know it’s coming.”
    “I guess.”
    *****
    Jessiah followed as the human and her bodyguard sauntered into the woods, each with a plate of food. He’d gotten nervous when they didn’t emerge from Darla’s class, thinking he lost them already, but a half-hour later, when Sasha staggered out with her face and arms full of burn marks, he figured Darla took some sort of petty revenge for the human getting blood from her man.
    Jessiah waited patiently near one of the back doors of the mansion, needing to leave time and space between him and his prey so Charles didn’t hear him. Despite the immaturity, and Jessiah’s taunting, Charles could hold his own better than most guys in the Watch Command. He’d gotten his role guarding the human because he could be relied on and do serious damage when pushed into a corner. Jessiah wanted anything but to push him into a corner.
    When the sky began to lighten, and the sun threatened to peek above the horizon, Jessiah left the shadow of the doorway. With soft steps, he rounded the trees and searched for a trail. Not seeing one—the human stepped lighter than he anticipated—Jessiah snuck forward another few paces, listening for voices or sounds of life.
    Birds chirped out a good morning. The distant thrush of cars and the city quietly drifted by, but no other sounds of life or nature greeted his ears.
    He kept walking, looking for tracks, signs, anything that might direct him to his quandary. After a half-hour of looking, however, he found nothing.
    Stopping in the middle of the cluster of trees and brush, he took out his phone and dialed the number. After four rings , a gruff voice answered. “Yeah?”
    “I followed them into the woods , but they disappeared.” Jessiah turned where he stood and looked out at the trees, squinting into the first rays of the sun.
    “She couldn’t have just disappeared. Where did she go?”
    “I don’t know. She had that kid Watch Commander with her. He’s good at melting into the trees.”
    “Did they know you followed them?”
    “No. They seemed disgruntled from their last class.”
    The silence hung on the line for a moment. “Fine. Keep tabs on her. Figure out where she goes when she isn’t in class. Figure out where she’s sleeping. Most importantly, get close to her. Get her to trust you.”
    “She’s the Boss’ pet. He’s not going to let any harm come to her ; and if it does, and he catches me, he’ll kill me. I need a guarantee I’ll be taken care of.”
    “You received the packet?”
    Jessiah squeezed the phone. A packet of money had awaited him in his room. Tucked into the bills was an organizational chart of the Eastern Territory’s guard. His name had