1737

~Tove

A week eventually passes, and once Keo returns, he takes me away to another territory for training immediately.

"Seven. Really?" I question, turning around in place.

He did tell me to put on a thick coat and boots. It's the only real thing he's said to me since returning. And now, we are in the icy tundra that is Territory Seven.

At this point I'm convinced Keo is trying to find the most creative way to kill me.

"The cold may help you concentrate," he notes, shuffling through the snow as he looks over the bleak environment.

I want to ask him about the other week. He acted so strangely, but by the distant look in his eyes, he isn't in the mood to explain himself.

I've spent the entire week simmering in my own thoughts and theories about that night.

"This is ridiculous," I mutter, feeling the bitter chill of the icy air sting my cheeks.

"No one shall bother us here. No Noble's, especially," Keo explains.

I laugh breathily. There is no form of life for miles - just an endless expanse of snow and ice. Why anyone decided to settle in this Territory is beyond me.

"I still don't understand what your expect me to do."

He looks over me, as if he is deciding my potential for success. "This is the final test before I introduce another layer to this."

I sigh, my breath clouding in front of me. This feels like there is no end to it.

"Are you going to tell me why I am ultimately needed by you?" I ask sardonically, entirely aware that he isn't going to reveal the true motivation until he can trust me.

Which will be never, knowing him.

"Have I not told you?" He tilts his head to the side. "You're my plaything until I find someone with working powers."

I roll my eyes, kicking at a clump of snow in front of me. "Bastard. I can't stand you."

"Prove to me you're worth investing in, and you won't need to worry about the state of your life beyond this work you are doing for me," Keo exclaims, tucking his hands behind his back.

"I don't need to prove anything to you," I growl back at him, my cold fingers rolling up into fists.

He frowns a little. "Cool down, Tove."

I step forward, wishing my words bothered him as much as his do me. Nothing gets to him, nothing irritates him. His masterful ability at controlling his emotions would be admirable, if he didn't use it as a weapon against me.

"How can I, when every word out of your mouth is meant to irritate me?" I snap.

Keo taps his chin, as if considering everything he has said that has made me angry.

"You are very much capable of doing this, you just need to get out of your head. And as much as I would enjoy your presence in my bed, your value to me goes far beyond that."

My jaw clenches. It's his empty flirting that gets to me the most. He does it so effortlessly it makes me wonder who else has been subjected to this.

I rest my hand over my chest, plastering on the fakest smile I can muster. "I'm so honoured."

His smile vanishes. The banter gathered up from a week of being apart has officially came out, and now, he is ready to start the training.

"This time, I want you to transport me."

I blink. "I...I've never transported someone else before."

"I know. Now you will," he responds simply.

When I was in training as a child, I was told early on that I couldn't transport others. I was told that was reserved only for the most powerful, like the Noble's.

Now, Keo is telling me it's possible. My mind can't comprehend it.

"Keo. I can't," I stutter, taking a few uneasy steps away.

He shifts his hands to his pockets, not relenting. "Yes you can. You need to get this doubt from your head. Success comes first from believing you are capable."

I summon a breath. I hate when he sounds reasonable.

He isn't a fool, he knows I am capable of this. Keo is the last person to waste his time on a pointless endeavour, which means I have to at least try.

"Alright. I'll give it a go," I breath.

Keo smiles, holding out his arm. I loop mine around him, only grumbling a little as he tugs me closer. At least he's warm.

Closing my eyes, I reach for the magic I am so used to utilising.

And nothing happens.

Shaking my head, I breathe in deeply, trying to imagine myself and Keo landing a few feet away. But still, my magic doesn't answer my silent command.

"I'm getting cold," Keo voices.

"Quiet. I'm concentrating."

"Drive all thoughts from your head. Dig deeper into your magic. What you are used to isn't enough," he orders lowly.

I do as he instructs, searching for magic within myself that I'm not sure even exists. However, the moment I grasp it, I manage to transport us both a few feet away.

"A good beginning attempt," Keo says casually, clearly not impressed.

I fidget uncomfortably, trying to ignore the presence of his body. "It's hard when you're so close."

He smirks down at me. "That's the entire point."

"Quiet, Keo," I grumble, closing my eyes.

Now that I've felt that magic, it's easier to find it again, using it to transport Keo and I further. I imagine our feet touching down far from where we are.

When I open my eyes, I realise I've transported us closer to the mountains. I turn, seeing that I've managed to get us a decent distance away from where we were.

"Well done," Keo praises.

My elation at my achievement is short lived, as a bout of dizziness strikes me. I hold either side of my head, waiting for the feeling to pass.

"My head is spinning," I gasp out.

Keo holds my arm, steadying me. When I look up at him, he doesn't look concerned. He likely expected this to happen.

"Come on. You need to try one last time," he prompts firmly.

"I don't feel so good." I sway on my feet, even with Keo holding me up. Without him so close, I would fall straight into the snow.

"One last try. Push yourself beyond what you've ever done before," he insists lowly, practically whispering his command in my ear.

Gritting my teeth, I close my eyes. He's right, I need to push myself, but if I die from this, I doubt he would care...

Still, I gather up as much magic as my exhausted body can manage, forcing our bodies as far as I can get them.

The world dissolves around us, but all to soon my feet touch the ground, my magic halting short.

We didn't make it more than a few steps. Every ounce of energy has been seeped from my body, causing my legs to crumple out from under me.

"Woah...Tove." Keo grabs me right before I hit the ice.

"I don't feel so good, Keo." I can hardly see in front of me, my vision spiralling with vivid colours. I've pushed myself too far, with magic I didn't even know existed within me.

"Look at me." Keo tilts my head, examining my face.

Blinking through my hazy vision, I see him pull his hand away from where he drew a thumb beneath my nose. My stomach turns at the sight of blood on the leather of his glove.

"Has this happened before?" He questions, concern buried deep in his features.

"No." I shiver. "I'm so cold."

The cold has nestled deep under my clothes, haunting my limbs. I want to be far from here...I'm not even sure I want to touch my magic again.

"I'm taking you home," he murmurs.

I clutch his arm as the world disappears, the ice and snow of the tundra left behind as we arrive back in Territory Two, right in front of a fire that is already blazing.

"Don't close your eyes. Concentrate on me," Keo instructs smoothly.

I fall hopelessly against him, resting my head on my chest. I feel him tense, but he doesn't pull me away. There's no energy in me to care that being this close to him is a bad idea.

I'm so tired...

"Something doesn't feel right," I complain quietly, feeling his heart beating steadily in his chest that I rest against.

Despite the warmth of the fire, there is a coldness in me that cannot be answered. I've never pushed myself this hard before. I've never even gotten close to this kind of power...

"You pushed hard today, alright? You did well," he says gently, his arm wrapping around me.

I blink warily, soothed by his warmth, his soft but strong voice.

"But you will not be doing that again," I hear him mumble under his breath.

Something blooms within me. I shouldn't answer my feelings, because Keo is only caring for me because of my worth to him. He couldn't possibly be this gentle and sweet for any other reason, right?

"Careful, Keo. Someone may think you care about me," I mutter, laughing a little under my breath before wincing, hating how achy my body feels.

"You do serve a purpose, after all," he says, humour playing in his voice.

"Ouch."

"And that purpose is to be here, now, with me. Healthy and okay," he adds gently.

He doesn't let me go. He keeps me pressed against him, his warmth seeping into me more so than the fire.

How many others have been this close to him? How many others have breathed in his scent like this? How many others has he cared for?

"Can I sleep?" I ask, adjusting so my head lays on his lap, bathing in the warmth of the fire. I'm so tired, I don't want to make the trek up the stairs to my bed.

To my surprise, Keo nods. "Yes Tove. You can sleep."

He doesn't make any move to carry away to bed. He just sits, playing with the ends of my hair mindlessly until I fall asleep.

🧡••🧡

~Midika 💜🐼