CHAPTER NINE

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          SWEAT WAS DRIPPING DOWN HER FOREHEAD AND SHE GRABBED AT HER SIDE WITH LONG HEAVING BREATHS. Willow stood in the large training ring that was positioned on the top of the roof of the House of Wind, completely exposed to the elements. Nearby, a rack of weapons stood ready, swords, staffs and other sorts of weapons but she was yet to use any of them. 

Cassian had been pushing her through a series of relentless exercises and despite the fact she was all healed up from her injuries she had zero stamina for any of this. It seemed like he wasn't focusing on self-defense techniques as she had expected, but rather on exhausting her with physical drills and she was utterly done. 

She had run sprints, performed countless squats and practiced multiple endurance exercises, all under his watchful eye.

Willow wiped the sweat from her brow, her frustration growing as she shot the Illyrian warrior a glare over her shoulder. Her muscles ached, her breath was ragged and every part of her body was begging for a break. "I thought you were going to teach me self defense? I'm not sure how running myself into the ground is going to help me defend myself."

Cassian looked every bit the warrior he was as he looked at her with his arms crossed over his chest. "The exercises are meant to build your strength and endurance, which are just as important for self defense. You can't defend yourself if you can't build stamina."

Willow's frustration didn't waver, but she took a deep breath. "I get that strength and endurance are important, but we've been doing this for hours. I thought we'd at least get to some practical techniques today."

His expression softened and he uncrossed his arms as he leaned against one of the benches. "You're right. We've been focusing on conditioning, but self defense is about more than just physical strength. It's also about being prepared and reacting quickly when it counts."

"I can do that." she placed her hands against her hips.

"Can you?" he chimed, lips quirking up into a grin. 

"Yes, I can—" Willow started but before she could finish Cassian had lunged at her, his movement swift and fluid. 

Her eyes widened in shock as she barely registered what was happening. One moment she stood and the next she was on her back, pinned against the training mat with Cassian looming above her. His hands held hers firmly above her head, his body hovering just close enough to remind her of the immense power he held but not enough to hurt her. Willow's breath hitched, her heart pounding as she stared up at him momentarily stunned.

"You weren't ready," Cassian said, his voice low and serious though there was a glint of amusement in his eyes. "You've got to stay alert. Anyone can catch you off guard, even when you think you're prepared."

Willow's chest heaved, her pulse racing from the sudden move and the closeness of their bodies. "You could've warned me."

He smiled, still holding her firmly. "The whole point of self defense is to expect the unexpected. Now, let's see how you handle this."

Willow blinked up at the warrior and squirmed beneath him, testing his hold but he would not budge. 

"You're not exactly giving me a chance." she said, a hint of irritation lacing her words.

Cassian's grin widened slightly, though there was no mistaking the seriousness in his eyes. "The world won't give you a chance either. You need to fight for it."

Willow's gaze narrowed, and a spark of determination flared deep within her chest. Without warning, she twisted her hips as she tried to leverage her weight and break his hold but Cassian was ready. He shifted, adjusting easily to her movement and pressed her back against the mat his grip unyielding.

"Good effort, but not good enough." he said. "You're strong, Willow. Stronger than you think. But you've got to think faster, trust your instincts."

Willow's frustration morphed into something darker, her chest tightening as her awareness of Cassian's closeness became overwhelming. The warmth of his breath on her skin, the weight of his body against hers—everything started to blur. Her vision slowly ebbed away, her heartbeat thundered in her ears and suddenly the training ring vanished around her. 

She was back in the forest. Near that Illyrian warm camp and she was running as fast as she could with blood soaking her torn dress.

The cold, damp air of the late afternoon surrounded her as leaves crunched underneath her feet as she ran. Her breathing was ragged as she heard the flap of wings above her and the sound of Roman's voice echoing somewhere behind her deep behind the trees. Panic surged through her veins like wildfire, the trees around her closing in. She could feel his presence—he was right there, just out of sight but too close.

Willow stumbled over a root, her knees hitting the ground hard as she gasped for air. Her heart pounded, her body frozen in terror as she waited for the inevitable moment he would reach her, and ...

"Willow."

Cassian's voice broke through the chaos, like a distant call from another world and she blinked hard.

Willow's breath came in shallow gasps as the forest dissolved around her, replaced by the sight of Cassian's worried gaze. She blinked rapidly, trying to shake off the grip of the flashback, her body trembling beneath him. Her hands were still pinned, but the way Cassian held her now was different—no longer just a sparring maneuver. He was trying to bring her back to reality, to ground her.

"Willow, it's okay." he said, his voice steady but soft. "You're safe."

Her eyes darted from his face to the sky above, the expanse of the training ring slowly coming back into focus. But her heart still pounded as if she were in that forest, still running from Roman.

"I... I'm sorry," she choked, her voice shaky and barely above a whisper.

Cassian's expression softened even more, his grip on her wrists loosening. He shifted, giving her more space. "You don't have to be sorry," he murmured, his voice so gentle now it sent a wave of warmth through her. "Willow, what happened just now?"

Cassian was still too close, and Willow's panic surged uncontrollably. She felt the energy ripple through her veins, a force she hadn't managed to get under control yet and before she could stop herself, sparks flickered at the tops of her fingers and crackled into full blown lighting.

A burst of electricity shot from her palms and slammed into the Illyrian's chest, sending him flying backwards and across the training ring. He landed with a thud, skidding a few feet before coming to a stop.

The brunette gasped, horrified. Her hands were still full of electricity when she scrambled to her feet in a hurry. "Cassian!"

The warrior groaned as he slowly rolled onto his back, wings twitching uncomfortably behind him as he blinked up at the sky. He was winded, but as he sat up he looked at her with a mix of shock and awe.

Willow's heart pounded even harder, her panic intensifying. "I—I didn't mean to—are you—"

Cassian held up a hand to stop her from speaking, a grin breaking across his face despite the situation. Cauldron, boil me. "Well... that's one hell of a way to tell me you need space." he said, coughing as he got to his feet as he rubbed his chest where the lightning had hit him.

"I... I didn't know that would happen." Willow stammered, her hands trembling as she backed away.

He held up his hands as she stumbled further back, afraid to hurt him again. "It's okay, Willow. I'm okay."

Willow's heart pounded in her chest, guilt washing over her as she looked at Cassian. The thought of hurting him, of losing control so completely, sent a wave of nausea through her. "I'm so sorry," she repeated, her voice shaky as she took another step back. "I didn't mean to... I don't even know how it happened."

Cassian took a cautious step closer, hands raised in reassurance. "Hey, hey, don't worry. I'm fine. It was just a shock, literally." he added, giving her a soft smile. "You didn't hurt me. Not really. And if you did, trust me, I've been through worse."

Willow's eyes filled with tears, but she blinked them away, unwilling to cry in front of him. "I could've... I could've seriously hurt you, Cassian."

Cassian shook his head as his expression softened. "Willow, I'm impressed. Not scared. That kind of power? It's incredible. You've just got to learn how to control it. And that's what I'm here for, to help you with that. But you've got nothing to apologise for. I didn't even know you could do this."

Willow bit her lip, still feeling the weight of what had just happened. "I don't want to be dangerous... I don't want to hurt anyone."

"You're not dangerous, Willow. You're powerful, and that's not the same thing. Power can be controlled."

The brunette met his unwavering gaze and the sparks at her fingers fell away, disappearing completely. Maybe he was right. Maybe she wasn't a threat, just someone who needed to learn how to control this. But still, she couldn't shake the fear.

He noticed the sparks fading from her fingers and his wings twitched in slight relief, because if he was honest that little event had startled him. He tilted his head to the side, studying the female before him with curiosity. "When did this start, Willow? These powers... Have you had them for long?"

Willow swallowed hard, her gaze shifting to her hands as if they might betray her again. She shook her head. "Not long, no. It started a few months ago and I don't know how or why."

Cassian nodded his head with understanding as he observed her unease. He mulled over her words in his head as his gaze lingered on her pale face. "It must have been overwhelming, dealing with something so new and powerful by yourself."

The woman shrugged her shoulders. "I'd barely notice it. I've only had it happen a handful of times. When I try to find it, there's nothing there."

Cassian frowned, his brow furrowing with concern. "I can imagine how frustrating that must be. Powers like yours can be unpredictable, especially when you're still learning to harness them. It's not uncommon for them to show up when you're under stress or in danger."

Willow's eyes met his. "It's like I have this power inside me that I can't fully understand or control. I'm afraid of what might happen if it gets out of hand. I could have killed you over nothing." Willow glanced down at her hands again, her frustration clear. "I just want to be able to use it when I need it, without accidentally hurting someone."

He looked at her with earnest eyes. "We'll take it one step at a time. And if you ever feel overwhelmed, just remember I'm here to help you through it. You don't have to face this alone."

Willow nodded slowly, her expression softening as she absorbed his words. "Thank you, Cassian. It means a lot to hear that."

"C'mon," he said. "that's enough for today. Want some lunch?"

Willow's stomach growled in response, reminding her just how hungry she was. "I'd love that. I'm starving."

Cassian's grin widened as he turned to lead her back towards the House of Wind. "Great. Let's get some food and you can relax a bit."

As they walked, Cassian chatted casually as he tried to lighten the mood and help Willow unwind after the intense training session. Willow found herself enjoying the conversation. She felt a growing sense of comfort in Cassian's presence, grateful for his support and the kindness he had shown her.