Blaze of Secrets (Asylums for Magical Threats 1)
“Does it matter? She gave it to me, therefore it’s mine.”
Jaxton raised an eyebrow. “You’re turning into a greedy one, aren’t you?”
“If wanting to keep the first present I’ve received in my adult life is greedy, then so be it.” She put out her palm and waited.
When she put it like that, it made him feel like a bit of a bastard. “You can have it back if”—he stooped down and fished out Millie’s favorite book—“you take this one too.”
Kiarra took both books. After reading the title and taking a look at the cover image of the romance book, her cheeks turned red.
Jaxton stood up and tapped the cover of The Dark Warrior’s Secret. “My sister has read this at least four times, so I reckon it’s good smut.”
Her cheeks turned a brighter shade of red. “Smut?”
He was enjoying her discomfiture and couldn’t seem to stop himself. “A book full of sex and the like. She swears it has a good story, but I bet she only reads it for the sex scenes.”
She stared at the cover, unwilling to meet his eye. “Normally I’d thank you for the book, but I’m not sure you deserve it.”
Jaxton snorted. “Spot on, pet.”
She looked up. “Spot on,” she mimicked in a horrible British accent. “Who talks like that?”
“The people who speak English properly.”
“You are less than helpful.”
Jaxton fought a smile. “Maybe if you didn’t make fun of my accent, I would be more helpful.”
She hugged the books to her chest. “I didn’t know you were so sensitive.”
“I’m not the one who goes red at the sight of two people going at it on a book cover.”
She peeked at the cover again, but this time, her expression remained neutral. “See, I can do it.”
He leaned in. “That is what you should’ve done the first time. A second of hesitation when someone attacks and it’s game over, pet.”
As they stared at each other, Jaxton was overly aware of Kiarra’s breath on his cheek, the sweet scent of her skin. She leaned in a fraction, only to take three steps back. “If the lesson is over, Mr.—”
“Ward.”
“Mr. Ward, then I have some studying to do.”
While she was trying to be distant, her actions were amusing. Jaxton motioned to the couch. “You can read here, I’ve things to do.”
“I prefer to read in my room, really—”
“Enjoy the sunshine. You need it more than I.” He turned and left the room, not quite sure if he’d been as successful with Kiarra as he’d planned. Men, women, teenagers, he’d trained them all over the years, but never before had he had the urge to kiss one of them. If he wasn’t careful, Kiarra might ruin his reputation.
With Jaxton gone, Kiarra plopped onto the couch and punched of the pillows. Why did the man insist on making everything into a training lesson? He purposely antagonized her, only to lecture her about it afterward.
Her three months of training couldn’t be over soon enough.
Kiarra stared at the two books in her lap. She needed a distraction, and while the cover with “two people going at it” would be more entertaining, the book about DEFEND was more important for her future. After getting comfortable on the couch, she opened Neena’s book.
The title page was cove
red in random handwritten words, such as Cantabria, Edinburgh, and Victoria Falls. Hearts adorned all the i’s on the page, and there were several words written in a language she couldn’t understand. Curious to see what made Neena’s copy of the book so famous, she flipped to the first page of text and started reading:
DEFEND is a volunteer organization whose aim is to promote equality for all Feiru, regardless of birth order or unusual abilities. By reading this guide of rules and regulations, you agree to keep this information secret and away from those who would wish to harm our organization. Violation of your silence will result in consequences put forth in Section Three.