Chapter 24

(Snowe's POV)

"Okay... we don't have time to waste since there's a lot you need to learn," Zai began.

"Didn't we just waste a lot of time just now?" My question made him gasp dramatically.

"What kind of teacher do you take me for? I am stunned and appalled that you would accuse me of slacking off. What we just did was a very important first step of your training," he argued.

"How so?" I inquired.

"I'm helping you build stamina, flexibility, and endurance. You should have noticed it takes you longer to get tired, right? And you recover faster too." …I have noticed that, but it still feels like he's just making up an excuse that's convenient for him.

"Anyway, you telegraph all of your attacks. Your eyes always give you away, and your punches have no force behind them. You just throw out your arm when the power should come from your shoulders and hips too. Your footwork is sloppy... looks like we'll be stuck on the basics for a while." I sulked.

"I was never good at fighting... even in school," I admitted. Zai stroked my head, then pulled me into a one-armed hug.

"It's alright... I'll teach you. And if anything happens, I'm on your side." My face heated up, but then he let me go and said, "Before we move on to the next part, I'm going to need you to tie up my other arm."

How bad is his impulse control?! After I had him tied up, Zai sat cross-legged and said, "Now close your eyes." I copied him and closed mine.

"Your element is no longer water. You are wind, and you are light. The lightning chose you because you are my wife." His voice sounded softer than usual, and I blushed at the word wife. "You have to change your perspective on how to use your power. The limits you once had are gone."

"I don't understand," I whispered.

"You will. Open your eyes."

I opened them and saw the vast forest in front of us.

"Now focus on the air—the space between the trees. See the path ahead, and know you're already there."

As he spoke, my body grew weightless. Everything went still. The trees rushed past like I was in a vehicle. I felt like I was flying. The thrill ended abruptly as I slammed face-first into a tree. I bounced off and fell to the ground, stunned. Zai was at my side immediately, laughing heartily.

"Good… you did so well," he praised, trying to stifle his laughter.

"Don't laugh at me!"

"Why not?!" he said, still laughing with no sign of stopping.

I pouted and glanced at the tree I hit. It was massive, and there was a dent where I'd crashed. Inside that dent was a burn mark, still smoking. I looked around—no house in sight.

"Where are we?" I asked.

Zai flopped down beside me and said, "We're about two miles from home."

Two miles?! I got here faster than I could blink.

"You did well for your first time. Back when I was training, we had limited space. I ran into a wall so many times… until I learned that gravity is no longer a factor when it comes to speed. If a wall is in front of you, run on it or over it. It takes time to really believe that." He turned to me and smiled. "I'm proud of you."

I wanted to ask him to elaborate, but more than that—

"I want to go home," I said.

Zai laid his head on my shoulder and whispered, "Then you know what to do." Even with both hands tied, he stood effortlessly. There was a flash of light—just a flicker—and he was gone. The only thing left was the thunderous sound in his wake.

I took a deep breath, stood up, and faced the direction I'd come from. I visualized home, and like before, the obstacles moved out of my way—then I was on the back porch, standing beside Zai.

"You took your time..." he said, tapping his foot.

"It literally took two seconds! Weren't you just praising me?!"

Zai sighed and sat down on the porch.

"I'm just cranky... because you bound my hands."

"You asked me to!"

He sighed again and leaned on the railing.

"Fine. I need you to move from here to that tree until you feel tired."

I didn't feel tired at all yet, so I didn't hesitate to begin. It took me three more tries to stop slamming into that same tree. I slowed just before impact but panicked every time—it was too wide to run around. But on the third attempt, when the tree came into sight, I looked up instead—and ended up in the branches.

I saw that tree a hundred times before I finally collapsed in front of Zai, sweating and panting. I hadn't been this tired since my wedding night.

"Good work, Snowe. You lasted five minutes."

I wheezed in response.

"Your max velocity is about 9,258 miles per hour… It's slow, but this is your first day."

"How… do… you… keep up? Aren't your powers suppressed?!" I asked while catching my breath.

"It doesn't take much to keep up with you," he teased.

I glared at him, but looked away when he refused to break eye contact. He was staring so intensely...

"Snowe... untie me."

"You're going to have to wait a moment!" I shouted. Once I could breathe, I moved to where he sat. He looked so calm... so vulnerable. I couldn't help myself.

"What are you thinking?" he asked, giving me a smug look.

I sat in his lap and kissed him. "I'm thinking… you look really sexy tied up."

His eyes lit up, and I didn't need to see them to know what kind of mood he was in.

"Untie me," he said again, more firmly.

"No." I kissed him again.

In response, he smiled and looked at my lips. "Oh... then once I get free, I'm going to make you pay. You'll wish you'd listened to me."

I was suddenly very afraid—and also intrigued.

A throat cleared behind me. I looked up to see Valin standing on the porch, watching us. My face turned scarlet.

"Hey, are you done yet?" he asked.

I didn't reply, but he took my silence as a yes and continued, "I need your help. As a friend."

"Valin, untie me," Zai ordered.

Valin began undoing the binds without hesitation.

"Wait... wait, um, I'm going to help Valin, so... don't do anything," I pleaded.

"Are you scared right now?" Zai asked, smiling sweetly. "That's cute. Fine. Your punishment is postponed. For now." He lifted me from his lap and rose to his feet.

"What do you need?" I asked Valin.

"Can you… go with me to buy a frappe?! Jey already said no and I can't go alone! Please?"

"Why didn't you ask me?" Zai cut in.

"Will you go with me?" Valin asked him.

Zai frowned. "No. Go by yourself."

"See?! Only Snowe is such a people-pleasing pushover that she'd agree to do something she doesn't even want to do just to spare my feelings!"

"I am literally right here... I can hear everything you're saying."

"I know you can hear me—wait, you're not going to go? I thought we were friends, Snowe!" His large eyes welled up with tears...

...And that's how I ended up in a café wearing shades, next to my brother-in-law who was wearing a fedora, shades, and a trench coat. Zai was there too, but he refused to play dress-up for Valin.

"So... why are you dressed like a cliché detective?" I whispered.

Valin leaned over and whispered back, "You can't possibly expect me to walk out in public and make direct eye contact with strangers!"

"Then why did you make me wear shades too?"

"Because I'd stand out too much if only I wore them!"

…Fair point.

I sighed and glanced at Zai, who looked thoroughly uninterested in the conversation.

"It's almost our turn. Do you know what you're going to order?"

Valin smiled and showed me his phone. "I ordered online," he announced proudly.

"Then why am I here?"

"For moral support."

"Wouldn't it have been easier to just send me to pick it up?!"

"But I have to check if it's made right!"

Then it was our turn in line.

"Hello! Welcome to Happy Café! How may I help you?" the cashier greeted cheerfully.

Valin turned to her and said in disgust, "Bitch, why the f**k are you talking to me?!"

…Okay. His people skills are terrible.

I quickly intervened, grabbing his phone to show the order number.

"Sorry about my brother—we placed an order online," I said.

The cashier looked like she wanted to say something rude, but held it in. "Okay, wait over there," she said, pointing to a pickup counter. "We'll have it ready shortly."

Once we were away from her, Valin sniffled and wiped his eyes.

"Did you see how she looked at me?! What's her problem?"

…This guy is unbelievable.