LOI RELAXED AGAINST SABYN WHILE they listened to Elena's debriefing and new outline for the weeks leading up to the ball.'We will continue to alternate days. Yakov and I feel you'll be able to focus better if one day is devoted to physical activity and the other to mental. The last day of each week will be your free day. Try to get to bed early and I will see you at the Griffon quarters tomorrow, straight after breakfast.' With the debriefing finished, they all headed off.Kassie and Rumal wandered to their favourite turret in the inner gate and Sian and Daron disappeared to visit Nesha.Sabyn turned to Loi. 'Would you like to walk in the courtyard?'Loi flashed him a smile and nodded; they did it each evening, and she'd looked forward to it all day. Cat and Alek seemed happy to stay put. Both still wore an aura of absolute contentment and Audi snored in front of the fireplace.When they settled into their favourite spot beneath a huge tree, Loi leaned back into Sabyn's arms.'W

ELENA INFORMED US OF THE change of plans when we arrived at the training site the next day.'It'll give you a chance to meet more of the castle inhabitants,' Elena said. 'You only really get to see them at the table. I have arranged for Ada to meet you at your room before dinner. She will create something suitable for you each to wear.''She can create something that quickly?' I asked, astonished.'Oh, she is exceptionally gifted,' Elena said with a smug smile. 'I am so glad to have discovered her before any of the other houses.'She set to casting the circle then turned back to us.'Today I want you to learn even more control over your gifts. We will practice creating an energy ball and moving it away from us. Then, at a selected distance, I want you to expand it suddenly like an explosion. Unlike an explosion, however, I want you to control the energy while it expands so it slips over everything in its path without really touching it.'We stared at her for a moment.Hmm. That

A NAGGING NEED TO USE the bathroom woke Sian and she slipped out of bed, wincing at the pain in her legs. Ouch, she thought as she paused to massage the backs of her calves, guess I haven't worn heels for a while. She snuck through the room. Climbing back into her nice warm bed and knowing that today was their free day felt fantastic. She stretched out, trying to relieve some of the tightness in her legs.Last night was so enjoyable.She ran through the evening in her mind. Daron had led her through nearly every dance and at the end of the evening they'd enjoyed a walk on the inner gate. It had been very romantic.Mmm and he's such a good kisser. She giggled to herself then rolled over.'Guys, wake up!'EHHH. 'WHAT?' I GROANED. WHY is Sian bugging us? It's our free day.'Where's Kassie?' Sian sounded panicked.'What'dya mean?' mumbled Loi, pushing herself up and looking about with bleary eyes.'Where's Kassie? Her bed hasn't been touched.'Struggling to sit up, I stopped and

I GRABBED LOI BY THE arm and pulled her behind me then Sian, Kassie and I moved toward it. The freakiest looking thing I'd seen yet. Its head looked similar to a crocodile, with a long snout and jagged teeth, but its body was human-like in form. Covered in scaly skin, its hands were strange curled claws. It hissed at us then opened its mouth and spat. We jerked our shields up and the nasty brackish scum that splattered over them dissolved away. I could feel the acidic properties in it and shuddered. Kassie gave me a hard look then began to concentrate an intense wind tunnel, directly onto the creature. I knew what she wanted and focused my energy.FEAR STREAKED THROUGH SABYN AS he sprinted for the girls' room with the other men. Nnelg had burst into their quarters, screaming that a koratil attacked Loi, and the girls couldn't stop it. They'd bolted from their quarters and met Elena and Yakov racing down the turret stairs. When they reached the suite, Elena extended a hand and the do

ALEK HELPED ME INTO A heavy overcoat when Sabyn and Loi came out of the back room. We could see she'd been crying, but the smile she gave us seemed brighter. I caught Sabyn's eye, mouthing 'thanks' once Loi had walked past.'Hurry up people!'We turned and laughed at Citaan, all ready and waiting on Phroma's back, bouncing with excitement. The heavy overcoat she wore concealed her baby bump and at the moment she looked like an over-tall, impatient child. Alek still hadn't told me where we were going, but if I went by Citaan's reaction, it would be good.ALEK SNAPPED SHUT THE LAST clasp on Cat's overcoat and tossed her up on to Loushka's back.'Hey! Manners much.' Cat poked her tongue out at him. He glowered at her. You can't actually die from sexual frustration, the annoying voice in his mind pointed out. A certain part of his anatomy disagreed.It didn't seem fair that she could strut around in that and still have the go-slow rule in place. Really, those thigh high boots ought