47. Rob

47

ROB

A t six in the morning the gym was already humming with activity, and as Rob headed toward his favorite station by the punching bag, he was glad that no one had taken it yet.

He'd quickly fallen into a comfortable new routine—an hour of training in the morning, shower, head to the lab and go over all the things William wanted him to learn before he started the actual job, lunch with Gertrude, back to the lab, then another two hours in the gym before spending his evenings with his girlfriend.

Sometimes, Margo and Negal joined them, along with the other gods who had recently moved to the village.

Rob smiled to himself as he wrapped his hands, still amazed at how his life had changed. If someone had told him a few months ago that he'd be spending his evenings casually hanging out with gods and immortals, he would have questioned their sanity. Yet here he was, preparing to train in a state-of-the-art facility built into a mountain, surrounded by beings straight out of mythology or science fiction or both.

And the most amazing part was that he felt more at home in this village than he had ever felt in the human world.

For the first time in years, Rob felt genuinely happy.

There was one more hurdle he had to overcome before this dream could become his permanent reality, and that was the dreaded induction ceremony and the transition that followed.

He wasn't afraid of getting bitten by an immortal, nor was he anxious about surviving the transition, but he didn't want to embarrass himself, and by extension, his sister and her mate, by doing poorly in the ring.

His form had improved considerably since he had started training. The basics of boxing were becoming more natural, and he was learning various sparring techniques so he could hold his own for a few moments in the ring and put up a decent show.

As he approached the heavy bag, it occurred to him that he no longer attacked it with barely contained rage, venting his anger at Lynda. The pain she'd caused him and the profound feeling of unfairness had fueled his aggression. Now that the anger had dissipated and optimism about his future took root, his strikes were controlled and focused.

Life was great when you loved the right woman, and she loved you back. It was difficult to hold on to anger.

Rob hadn't actually told Gertrude he loved her yet, though. He was waiting until after his transition, wanting to promise her forever when forever actually meant something.

The thought made his next punch a bit harder.

"Your left hook is improving."

Rob turned to find Arwel behind him, his arms folded across his chest and a smile tilting up his lips.

"Thanks." Rob steadied the bag. "What's up, Arwel?"

The Guardian leaned slightly forward. "We should schedule the induction ceremony. You are more than ready."

That caught Rob off guard. "I'm not in a rush," he said, wiping sweat from his forehead. "It's not like my residency status in the village depends on it. I'm a confirmed Dormant."

Arwel shook his head. "It's time, Rob. You're human, so you could train for years and still not last more than a minute in the ring with me. I'm a Guardian, and I've been training for centuries. There's no point in waiting. It needs to be done."

Rob's stomach tightened. "When do you want to do this?"

"I suggest we do it this Saturday evening."

Rob's gut twisted as anxiety took hold.

"Where? And how does it work exactly? I've never actually been told all the details." Or any at all.

People must have assumed that he knew, or maybe they were waiting for him to ask, but he'd been too much of a chicken to do so.

"It's usually done right here in the gym." Arwel leaned against the wall. "In the sparring ring. I'll put up a notice on the clan's bulletin board so people can attend if they want to. Kian needs to be informed since he's the leader of this community and the master of ceremonies, and you should make sure your sister, Gertrude, and your other friends come to cheer you on."

Another wave of anxiety washed over Rob, more powerful than the first. "What else is involved in the ceremony? I mean, apart from the match itself?"

"Nothing too elaborate." Arwel shifted his weight. "Kian says a few words, and his butler distributes ceremonial wine in tiny cups. He'll ask if you accept me as your mentor, then he will ask me if I accept responsibility for you, and lastly, he will ask if anyone objects to our match." He lifted a finger. "Oh, I forgot that he will ask who is presenting you and vouching for your worthiness. Mia and Toven can be your presenters. Then we fight in the ring, the crowd cheers you on, I take you down to the mat, bite you, and you're out for a few minutes or longer. An hour at the most."

"And then?"

"Hopefully, the transition will start the next day or two days later. If it doesn't, you might need another round, probably with someone else." Arwel scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Toven would be your best bet since he is a god, and you can't ask for more potent venom. Or you could ask Negal. Actually, maybe you should just go with one of the gods as your inducer in the first place. There's nothing like a god's venom to ensure a smooth transition. I have no problem stepping aside."

"No." Rob's response was immediate and firm. "I want you as my inducer. Unless you've changed your mind about doing it?"

"Not at all." Arwel clapped him on the shoulder. "I'd be honored. Just wanted you to be aware of your options. If it doesn't work, Negal would be a solid backup plan."

Rob nodded, turning back to the heavy bag to hide his relief. Having Arwel as his inducer felt right. The Guardian had been helping him train and offering guidance both in and out of the ring. Plus, there was something reassuring about his steady presence. Maybe it was his empathic ability and his friendly demeanor, but Rob had felt comfortable with him from day one.

"Saturday," Rob said, testing the word. "That's soon."

"Too soon?" Arwel asked.

"No." Rob threw a combination at the bag, his form better than ever. "It's just getting real, real fast."