~~

Reece

~~

When I arrived for training after breakfast I was still grinning. I got to have dessert before breakfast today and it had left me very hungry and very happy. The others noticed the smile on my face, but they said nothing.

They didn't have that close relationship I had with Noah. He was my best friend and we would always rag on each other like we were kids. It was just the way things were and I wouldn't have it any other way. We'd be proper and professional when we had to, but when it came to off time or when we were around just friends and family it was all fair game.

I also noticed I wasn't the only one walking around with a big satisfied grin this morning. Dietrich was as well and Shawn blushed a lot every time he saw that grin. He knew that we all knew, but it was not a big deal to us. Sex was sex after all, as long as you were happy and it was between consentual adults who cared who it was between.

In this moment I truly felt sorry for the others. The three of us had our partners with us, but Shane, David, and Vincent were all alone and missing their mates and family. I knew how that felt too and I wished I didn't have to put them through this.

I didn't have time to worry about that too much. Soon Lucas came into the training room with Nick and Grant. They had all worked together to take the traitors out of the country and our guards went with them, apparently they all got to know each other and we would all be training together now.

I had met and approved of Nick and Grant before. They seemed like strong and capable men. There was also something familiar about Grant. He just looked similar to the twins.

"Hey Grant.

" I called out to him when he came into the room.

"Yes, King Reece?

" He asked me, I wanted to wince at the title. I still wasn't used to that.

"What is your family name?

" I asked him.

"Is that relevant?

" He seemed confused.

'It is.

" I nodded to him. I had a feeling I knew what it would be.

"It's Asher, Sir.

"

"I knew it.

" I grinned.

"What, really?

" Both Shane and Shawn said at the same time. They really could act like real twins from time to time. That made me laugh.

"Is that a problem?

" Grant looked worried.

"That's our name.

" They spoke at the same time again, in a rare show of perfect unison.

"You are Ashers?

" Grant asked them.

"From where is your family from?

"

The three of them talked for a few moments while the rest of us watched on with curiosity. They were related. Grant was their great great great great uncle. Apparently, before joining the Sentinelle, Grant had had a massive falling out with his family and left home. He didn't think things would ever be reconciled so when he was offered a position in the Sentinelle he took it without hesitation.

"To think that my kin would end up in the service of the Goddess when that was the life I chose for myself all those years ago.

" Grant seemed happy to have reconnected with his bloodline. This couldn't be a coincidence, could it?

After the excitement of the reunion, we got down to work for the day. Those of us with combat abilities were trying our hardest to use them in new ways. But we could all feel new magic running through us on this day.

As I was practicing I felt myself wanting to feel a sword in my hand. I could imagine it perfectly, the smooth grip that was perfectly shaped for my hand, the blade extending far away from the handle flickering with light and heat as the flames moved gently. Flames? Why was I imagining a sword made of fire?

Just as I had thought those words I heard the gasps around me as I felt the firm grip in my hands and saw the light flickering through my closed eyes.

When I opened my eyes I saw a sword with a black onyx handle and a ruby red blade engulfed in swirling flames. I had made this sword appear. Was this part of my fire abilities I had? My wolf could turn into flames and I could howl fireballs, and now I could summon a fire sword. This was awesome.

"Holy **, Reece, that's awesome.

" Shane exclaimed as he saw my blade.

"It's like mine, only fire.

" He smiled as he summoned his own sword.

"So you've got a fire ability?

" Lucas asked me.

"Can you do anything else?

"

"My wolf turns into fire and I howl fireballs.

" I grinned, happy to have this power.

"Anything else?

" He asked.

"I haven't tried.

" I admitted.

"Try now. You never know until you try, right?

" He was grinning, this was starting to get interesting. I nodded and decided I would just try imagining more things like I did the sword.

I imagined arrows, my Little Bunny could use them with her elements, maybe I could too. I closed my eyes and imagined how they would look. When I opened my eyes the red and orange arrow was hovering in front of my face.

"Amazing.

" Dietrich's voice was full of approval and happiness as he watched on.

"Try hitting a target.

"

"Hit that target on the wall, we'll be ready with water.

" Nick told me.

I nodded and did as he wanted. I looked at the target and aimed for the center. But, it seemed like shooting these arrows was not as easy as making them. When I finally got it to move it went way off course.

The arrow was shooting straight toward Vincent with incredible speed.

"Shit!

" He threw his hands up the split second before it hit him but the arrow was knocked off course. No one saw anything, but the arrow had moved away and landed on the floor, only to be extinguished by Nick's bucket of water a second later.

"What was that?

" David asked.

"I don't know.

" Vincent looked shocked.

"No, he got another level up.

" Shane joked with a fake petulant voice.

"I want one too.

"

"What exactly did you think about when you threw your hands up?

" Grant asked him.

"Just that I wanted to send that arrow away from me.

"

"Let's try it again.

" Grant told him.

"I don't want to be burned if I can't do it again.

" I heard the desperation in his voice.

"We will throw something else at you, it will be safer.

" Vincent nodded at Grant and went with him to practice.

I decided to watch on for a little while as the others trained. Shawn and Dietrich worked together, David and Lucas were practicing hand to hand combat, and Shane was practicing with Nick all while Vincent was practicing deflecting items that Grant threw at him. That last one was kind of funny to watch.

Grant was throwing different sized rocks and chunks of wood at Vincent. He wasn't having much luck summoning the power he had used before, but he was trying. I watched him close his eyes to think for a moment before nodding at Grant. Grant then threw the rock in his hand and Vincent did his best to fling it away. Unfortunately the rock just flew straight and hit him in the head.

"Ouch.

" Vincent seemed mad.

"Dammit, how did I do it before?

"

"You were in real danger.

" I told him.

"You need to think about that. Imagine that the rocks are something else.

"

"Like what?

" He wondered aloud.

"Like these.

" I grinned and summoned another arrow. At the same time I winked at Grant who understood what I wanted him to do. I concentrated on the arrow and started it moving forward and Grant threw another rock.

Vincent saw the arrow coming toward him and closed his eyes, flinging his hand like he did before. I dissolved the arrow and heard the rock that Grant threw smack against the far wall. Vincent had successfully managed to block it.

"You did it.

" I smirked at him.

"You tricked me.

" He looked at me like he was upset for a minute.

"Would you rather I had kept the arrow and risked you not blocking it?

"

"NO!

" He yelled in response.

"But how did you know that I would do it this time?

"

"You managed it the first time because you were in danger and, admit it, you were scared. I had to invoke that same feeling.

"

"I was not scared.

" He snapped back at me.

"I just didn't want to be set on fire.

"

"Fine, whatever the reason, you did it. And for what it's worth, I know you're a strong, capable, and very brave warrior.

"

"I wasn't scared.

" He insisted again.

"I know.

"

I left Vincent and Grant to continue practicing, Vincent was getting better at his blocking. And, we found out later, that wasn't all he could do. His new ability was a sort of wave length manipulation, so he had moved the air around the rocks and arrow to send them flying. He could also use that ability to attack an enemy too.

When I saw David and Lucas training, they were practicing martial arts. David was way better than I had ever thought. He was landing hit after hit, moving so fast his hands were a blur. His ability was speed so the blurring was not surprising but he seemed like a master with each move he made.

"Where did you study martial arts, David?

" I asked him, impressed by his skill.

"I haven't.

" He responded without even looking away, he just swept a foot out under Lucas knocking his feet out from under him.

"What do you mean you haven't? You're clearly an expert.

" I was shocked by his answer.

"My only training came from you, Sir. I never studied martial arts anywhere.

"

"What is going on here?

" I wondered.

"I don't know, but it's like my body just knows how to move. It feels like I'm lighter and more limber and I just know what to do.

"

"Hmm. It looks like you got an upgrade too.

" I smiled at him.

"Keep practicing.

"

When I made my way to where Shawn and Dietrich were, I noticed they too were doing something new. Shawn was controlling a practice dummy with his mind, making it move as if it were alive. While avoiding the moving dummy Dietrich was shooting what looked like silk threads toward Shawn, trying to ensnare him. The thread almost looked like spider silk, but I saw that when it finally wrapped around Shawn it acted like the thread for a marionette. Puppet thread.

Shawn was forced to do whatever Dietrich wanted him to do, physically anyway. It seemed Shawn was still in control mentally and was trying to break the control with the dummy he was controlling. But just before he managed to knock the strings away with the dummy's large arm, Dietrich had forced Shawn to walk to him. When Shawn was close enough, Dietrich planted a kiss on his cheek and laughed merrily.

"I win, Liebling.

" Shawn looked upset, but on closer inspection I saw that it was all just a show, he was actually grinning.

Shane was the last for me to observe. He had his lightning sword out and was practicing sword techniques with Nick. They were attacking another set of dummies, and despite having the superior weapon it was clear that Nick was the better swordsman. In frustration Shane pointed his hand at the dummy and yelled.

"Why are you not falling apart.

" With his words a bolt of lightning flew from his hands and landed in the middle of the dummy's chest. The dummy exploded, unable to take the blast.

The shock was written on my face as well as Nick's and Shane's. But Shane was the first to recover and his face exploded with a huge grin.

"Yes!

" He started jumping up and down.

"Yes! I leveled up! I got a new skill. I got more XP!

" He was acting a little childish as he and Nick were celebrating his new abilities.

I had to wonder, were they getting new abilities because of Trinity, or because I wanted us all to get better? As I thought about it all I started thinking what else I could use my fire for. I had the wolf form, the fireballs, the sword, the arrows, but I knew I could do more.

While sitting there, lost in thought, I started thinking how the trail left behind by my arrow looked like a whip. A whip made of fire. Now. that would be interesting. I was staring at the wall, not paying attention to what was going on around me when Vincent started yelling at me.

"Reece, watch where that thing touches.

"

"Huh?

" I jolted back to my senses at his words.

When I looked around me I noticed I was holding exactly what I had been imagining. A shining red whip covered in red and orange fire. The handle was once again made of onyx and felt perfectly carved for my hand. I guess it would be, since it was made for my hand by my mind. Under the fire was the same ruby red color of my sword.

But I saw that Vincent's panic was unfounded. The whip wasn't burning the floor at all. The wood went unharmed as the whip curled around me.

I wanted to practice with my new weapons just like the others were. I summoned my sword again and held it in my left hand, the whip in my right. When I could feel the two perfectly balanced weapons in place I began attacking a few dummies as well.

The fire on both didn't affect the wooden dummies at all. Hmm, why is my fire harmless. Don't get me wrong, I didn't want to cause problems inside but shouldn't my fire be able to burn things?

I thought those words right as I flung my whip at one dummy and swung wide with my sword, striking a second dummy. Both dummies were instantly set ablaze, burning in front of me.

"Shit.

" I yelled.

"I didn't want to burn the place down.

"

I ran forward, intent to pat the fire down until they could come over with buckets of water. I started patting the front of the first dummy to stop the fire from spreading. But instead of the fire going out, it spread to me. I was nervous at fire, flinging my hand to put it out, but the flames weren't hurting me at all.

"I can't be hurt by my own fire?

" I wondered aloud as I went to the second dummy and touched the fire.

I could hear footsteps running toward me as I pulled the second set of flames onto me. My skin and clothes were unaffected and I didn't even feel warm. Guess I'm hotter than fire.

The fire was moving up my arms as the steps halted and I heard everyone gasp.

"Reece?

" Vincent sounded worried.

"I'm fine.

" I told him with a grin.

"It's not hurting me. It's my own fire.

" I had let my weapons dissolve and so I just stood there watching as the fire spread all over my body.

I could see more yellow and orange than anything as the flames licked their way across my body. 'Hmm, this looks like a phoenix.' I mused to myself. And that was when there was a bright red light filling the room.

I felt something then. It wasn't pain, more like a warm tingling sensation that spread through my whole body. It was actually kind of pleasant.

Then, I felt my body start to change. I was growing taller, and I felt like I was hovering off the ground. And, for some reason I was moving my arms up and down as I bobbed in the air. When I turned my head to look at myself I saw that I was a giant bird with red, orange, and yellow feathers.

I had become a phoenix. I was a real fire bird. This was a form that had nothing to do with a werewolf, but it had everything to do with fire. It basically meant that I was essentially the fire itself. I couldn't believe this.

"Oh my Goddess.

" Lucas looked at me in awe.

"Holy Shit.

" Shane's mouth was hanging open.

"Oh, mein Gott.

" Dietrich's voice slipped into his natural accent. Everyone was looking at me with shocked and wonder filled eyes. And I was hovering about them, feeling powerful.