8. Eight

Ruthless dictator.

"You're seriously going to make me work this hard, knowing I have a test in a little while?" I groan, rolling onto my back on the mat for the hundredth time.

After a wonderful night of sleep, sandwiched between Tillman and Draken, I feel refreshed. I woke up ready to put the events of yesterday behind me, hit training hard, and save the world. That was until his ass started slinging me around like a damn chew toy.

Now, I'm over it and want to quit.

Mirrors spread across the wall in front of us, gives me the perfect view of Tillman's body as he tilts his head back and chugs down a bottle of water. I have no clue why he's thirsty. I'm the only one working up a sweat, but regardless, I can't help but stare, watching as his throat contracts and relaxes with every gulp.

The golden contours of his neck muscles, like ridges of sand dunes, move in sync with every swallow. Before tearing my eyes away so I don't get caught ogling his body, I linger on his broad chest that expands in and out with every breath, causing his abs to flex and tighten on every exhale.

Fuck, he's a gorgeous piece of art.

Reflected in the mirrors behind my sprawled-out body is a perfect miniature replica of the training gym at the academy. An array of differently weighted dumbbells, from itty-bitty for me to tree trunk size for ruthless gym nuts like Tillman, stretch across the back wall. Wooden weapons, punching bags, battle ropes, an obstacle course, and too much more are spread out across the whole area, sectioned off by the type of torture he intends to inflict on me.

"This is not going to affect your air element whatsoever. It's hand-to-hand combat. Get up and get over it. Again," he orders.

"Fine," I whine, rolling to my stomach, groaning as I push myself up.

Heat flaring between my chest, where my Memoria stone stays tucked, steals my attention as I get into position. As soon as I call my magic forth, a dull thud beats in my head and a sharp sting starts to spread across every muscle in my body, only to fade away a second later, leaving a focused haze trying to take over my senses.

I shake my head out and look up just in time to see Tillman charging straight for me. Mentally, I want to dodge him, not willing to be flung to the mat again, but my body has a mind of its own.

He jabs out and my fist flies up, guarding my face, my body crunches to the side, and my forearm blocks his shot.

Lightning fast, I strike out, barely brushing his ribs as he expertly dodges out of the way, but enough it catches us both by surprise. Moments pass as we stand in stunned silence, the air starting to hang heavy with anticipation. His calculating eyes take me in as he starts to circle me, and I never let my gaze leave his, watching, waiting.

Suddenly, he launches a series of swift jabs, testing my reflexes. Although I'm nowhere near as graceful as him, I pair each blow with newfound agility, my muscles responding to the rhythm of his attacks. The mats beneath our feet soak up the sound of our swift movements, Tillman striking, me blocking, round and round we go.

He switches it up, yelling out boxing combos, trying to throw me a curve ball. "Right hook, left hook, duck. Jab-rightuppercut, duck." Over and over, he tosses out commands.

A bead of sweat trickles down my brow as I absorb the knowledge, absorb his guidance, and my body begins to move with a grace that belied my earlier struggles.

Memories of my stranger training me this same way in the clearing around my tree start to filter through my mind as I continue to execute every command Tillman yells out. I can remember them forcing me to train for hours in the evenings, offense, defense, hand-to-hand with and without elements, you name it. They made me work on it. I'm nowhere near the level Tillman is on. I have a long way to go before that, but I'm not as helpless as I thought.

We seamlessly fall into a sparring match as he quits calling out commands and begins delivering strike after strike. My eyes are focused on his body, the way he flows through the moves effortlessly despite his massive build. And it fills me with determination to finally grasp the techniques he's been drilling into me.

In a moment of perfect synchrony, he lunges forward, and I sidestep. With a fast pivot, I spin around and deliver a flawless fucking leg sweep, if I say so myself.

Time seems to slow as his feet fly from under him, his body hitting the mat with a deafening crash. Clarity returns to my senses milliseconds later. The haze of the Memoria stone lifts, and the realization of what just happened boils over into excitement.

Jumping on Tillman, straddling his hips, I cheer my victory.

"Holy shit, did you see me? I was ducking and bobbing, then I actually knocked you off your—" I let out a small grunt as my back slams onto the mat, Tillman's body looming over me.

My legs lift automatically, wrapping around him as his mouth collides with mine. I run my fingernails across the veins that snake across his forearms, letting them linger as I relish in the power of his sculpted strength, and his muscles ripple beneath my hands as I continue my exploration.

He slows his kiss, just as my hands start tracing the chiseled bricks that form his core. Rocking his body into mine, I buck my hips, trying to grind myself against the hard outline of his enormous cock that's teasing me, just shy of where I need it.

"Will."

"Touch me."

His element coats my body, sending a soothing shiver down my spine, disintegrating my clothes in its wake. I gasp as cool air brushes across the wetness dripping down my thighs and my nipples harden as they're freed from the restraints of my sports bra.

"I refuse to bond my Primary on mats in a fucking gym," he growls, running his nose down the valley between my breasts. "But I'll reward you for doing so good."

Fuck. Me.

Out of my Nexus, I seek out Tillman's approval the most. He doesn't show his pride or give out compliments for the sake of making people happy. So the praise in his voice has my body a trembling mess, begging for his attention.

Teasing one nipple with his fingers, he sucks the other into his mouth, scraping his teeth across it in the best fucking way. When he slides his free hand down my body, cupping my pussy, the groan he releases vibrates me to my core as he realizes I'm soaked for him.

With no warning, he shoves his finger in me, dragging and curling it up as he goes, and a depraved moan rips from my throat as I clench around him.

"Fuck, you're so wet, Will. I need to taste you."

He spreads my thighs wide, not wasting a second, dropping his head and consuming every inch of me. I throw my head back and cry out as he worships my flesh like he'll die if he doesn't drink down every drop of me. He continues the slow drag of his finger in and out, causing me to grip him tighter each time and push against his hand. My silent demand for more.

Splaying his massive hand on my lower belly, applying just enough pressure to hold me down, he forces my hips to stop thrusting, not allowing me to chase and take what I want from him.

Dragging my nails across the mat beneath me, my back is slick with sweat, creating a suction that traps my upper body in place. Unable to wiggle or move, I can't slow down my fast-approaching orgasm.

I pant and moan his name, warring with my body to let go but not so fast. He plays with my body mercilessly and I want to savor his pleasure for as long as I can.

"Tillman." I moan.

The blissful heat of my orgasm builds and builds until I'm teetering on the cliff of euphoria and there's no stopping it.

"No."

The command in his voice locks my release in a chokehold. I can't even force my body to disobey him and let go, chase back the heat that was just in my grasp. I shake my head back and forth, my bangs sticking to my forehead, and sweat drips down the curve of my breast.

Fuck, this is the sweetest torture I've ever endured.

I want him to stop his teasing and give me what I want.

Yet, I never want this to end.

Adding another finger, he spreads me open and sinks his tongue inside, licking the taste of me off his fingers. Making his way up to my clit in one long stroke, he groans and hums his need for me, sending earthquaking vibrations through my nerve endings. I let out a frustrated cry as tears well in my eyes, the building pressure is almost to the point of painful.

"Willow." The deep moan of my name was all the permission my body needed.

Throwing my head back, I shamelessly scream his name as everything tenses. My toes curl into the muscles of his back, searching for a tether to keep me grounded as the power of my orgasm rips through me and just keeps going. Seconds, minutes, I can't tell you the amount of time that passes as my body quivers in the aftershocks of the pleasure he just gave me.

As clarity returns to my muddled mind, I grip Tillman's hair, attempting to push him from between my thighs as he continues to lick, kiss, and suck anywhere his mouth can reach.

"I can't." I pant over and over. I'm so sensitive, it's deliciously painful.

He chuckles darkly, laying one final kiss to my pussy before he creates a wet trail all the way up my body. Self-satisfaction oozes out of him and I feel it pounding in my chest where his bond lies patiently waiting. His smug smile screams he's pleased I begged him to stop his torture.

"Let's get you a shower," he murmurs, lifting me in his arms, laying a kiss to my cheek.

"You can't walk me through the house naked." I shriek as he starts walking toward the door.

"Why not?"

"Because any of the house staff could be walking around. And one of your brothers might see." The twitch of his lip gives his intentions away. "Oh, absolutely not. You're not going to parade my naked body around to make them jealous." I laugh.

"Fine," he grumbles and his element glides across me. "Better?"

He produced a towel large enough to lay over me, covering my tits to high thigh.

"It'll do. I guess."

I shake my head at him as he ever so slowly makes his way up to my room. We could've easily made it up here in half the time, but he moved at a snail's pace, laughing at my petrified face every time I thought I heard footsteps. It would've been one thing for the guys to see me, but I would've died right there in his hands if Gaster or Ms. Grace had caught me in this condition.

"You're back early," Draken says, popping straight up, tossing his communicator somewhere on the bed.

I can't help but giggle as his eyes widen then become hungry when he takes in the sight of me. He tries to hurry out of the bed, but Tillman finally gets some pep in his steps, entering the bathroom, then shutting and locking the door behind him.

"That's not nice." I playfully slap his chest, laughing as Draken bangs on the door, yelling for Tillman to let him in. It doesn't faze Tillman at all as he steps into my shower, still clothed, and sets me down gently facing the spray of water.

"Turn around, little one," he instructs.

Turning my body to face his, I follow a bead of water as it slides down his chest, disappearing into the fabric of his shorts.

"Are you going to get undressed?" I ask softly. Despite just begging him to stop, my body buzzes with want all over again.

"No. Close your eyes."

Huffing, I do as I'm told rather than argue. As soon as my eyes close, he tilts my head back and lets the water soak my hair. I can hear the cap popping off my shampoo bottle, then I feel his hands find their way into my hair, massaging my scalp.

The sensation of his strong yet gentle hands navigating through my hair, untangling knots with patience, mirrors the tenderness he showers upon me. His gentle care and the smell of the shampoo, mixed with his mahogany and sandalwood scent, make me want to curl up on his chest and lie the day away with him in his treehouse.

Without my sight, my other senses seem to amplify. Everything he does seems like so much more. I surrender to the experience, letting each stroke of his hand be etched into my memory. Never in my life have I been attended to so sweetly, and I marvel at the feeling of being cherished.

"Turn." His gravelly voice breaks up the emotions that were beginning to creep forward.

Bringing my back to his front, he lathers his hands in my bodywash. "You're the most perfect woman in all the realms, Willow. You're strong, resilient, sweet, loving, and so fucking sexy. I plan on spending the rest of my life worshipping at your feet."

His strong, calloused hands rub soap all over my body, taking his time massaging every knot and mapping out every curve. My breath hitches as he skims underneath my breast, kneading them as they grow heavier. He tweaks and toys with my nipples just the way I love, reading my mind and body like a book.

"Give me one more, Will," he whispers, kissing behind my ear as he trails his hand down my stomach and his other arm wraps around my waist to hold me up. Leaning my head back onto his chest, I link my arm around his bicep for balance, and the world tilts as my thoughts flood with lust.

"Yes."

He wastes no time. This time, he won't force me to wait and drag out my pleasure. He wants it, and he wants it now.

He masterfully circles my clit, over and over. His hands follow every one of my silent pleas. Faster, slower, right there. There's no blocking him out as he uses his gift to steal the knowledge of how I want him to touch me from my mind.

Sinking two fingers inside of me, using his thumb to continue working my swollen nub, all it takes is two curling strokes and I'm falling apart. Moaning and withering in his strong arms.

Reluctantly, he pulls his fingers from my core and takes his time rinsing me off then bundling me in his arms.

"Come on, little warrior. You've got a test to pass."

Damnit. I forgot about that.

"Are you going to be mad at us all day?" I ask Draken as he pouts the entire way to the backyard. He complained the whole time we were at breakfast, giving me and Tillman, well, Tillman, the cold shoulder.

"I'm not mad at you at all. Never. I'm mad at him." He aggressively points his finger at Tillman. "There was no reason for him to lock me out. I'd let him watch me fuck you anytime he wanted."

"Draken," Tillman and Corentin yell while me and Caspian snicker.

They've been fighting with him since we walked into breakfast. Ordering him to drop it and quit imitating all the sounds he heard coming from the bathroom. I personally find his hissy fit hilarious, but I get a stern look from one of the others every time I laugh. Draken gets so worked up about the craziest shit and they just feed into him.

"We didn't fuck, as you so explicitly put it. I explained that to you already. And I'm not going to apologize, nor is Tillman, for enjoying a moment alone together. We've had some of those moments too if you don't recall." I justify, shaking my head, laughing at all of their looks.

The pout melts off his face and is replaced with a hungry, thoughtful gaze. He slings his arm over my shoulder, tantrum long forgotten in the span of two seconds.

"You're right, little wanderer. And I plan on having many more."

"We need to get going, Willow," Corentin orders, pinching the bridge of his nose, beckoning me with his other hand.

Bounding over to him, I holler see you soon to the others as I wrap my arms around him, laying my head against his chest, hopefully wrinkling the perfectly ironed shirt he keeps picking imaginary shit from.

I'm the one taking a test, but he seems to be coiled tighter than a spring. His shoulders are bunched to his ears, and his suit is straining against the fabric around his biceps.

As soon as we step out of the transport, I stand my ground. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing, we're going to be late."

"Nope, don't do that, Corentin. Tell me." I hold firm in my spot as he tries to step around me.

"Drop it, Willow. You need to get ready for your test," he snaps.

Pressing my lips into a firm line, I turn on my heel, stomping away from his grumpy ass. I only make it two steps before he tugs me against the hard press of his chest.

"Get off me, Corentin. I'm going to get ready for my test like you ordered."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. I'm concerned about the attention you're going to start getting with your power increasing and my bond is driving me crazy. I can't think straight. It's overprotective, angry, and jealous, erasing all logical thought. I'm struggling between locking you away in the mansion or in my office all day with just me," he confesses.

My anger deflates with his words, and I relax into his arms, laying my head on his chest. The tension in his shoulders slowly escapes him, like air leaking from a balloon.

"You should've told me. You've seen me battle my bond. I still battle it almost every day, and you've helped me every step of the way. I'd do the same for you, Corentin."

"I know, princess, but my feelings aren't your responsibility. I'm supposed to be making this easier for you, not harder."

Although we aren't bonded, I try to push my gratitude and appreciation for him through the bond that will connect to him. He's always so worried about taking care of everyone else, he neglects himself.

"That's not how this works. I'm still trying to learn how to navigate the four of you, but never think that you need to shove your feelings aside for them or for me. Promise me you'll start telling me when your bond pushes you."

"I'll try harder. It's not that easy for me, Willow."

I know he struggles with being in control of everything. It's something that's deeply ingrained in him. He might not be able to promise me that he'll start being more open, but I can promise myself to pay more attention when he needs me. Of course, I can't tell him that. He'll be offended and tell me no, but it's a silent secret I plan to hold myself accountable too.

"I know. We'll figure it out." I say quietly.

Giving my forehead a sweet kiss, he takes my hand and leads me over to where the others were giving us a little space. As we approach, I see Ry in the middle of them, cutting up and beaming at me as we walk up.

"There's my favorite student. Ready to show me what you got?"

"Really? This is the unbiased instructor?" I ask, cocking my eyebrow at Corentin.

"He's unbiased…enough."

"You'll get no preferential treatment from me." I may have believed him if he wasn't smiling or if he wasn't a member of my best friend's Nexus, but both of those things are the truth, so I know he'll give me preferential treatment.

"Let's do this then." I walk ahead of my guys beside Ry, stopping as we crest the hill at the training fields.

Holy shit.

The fields have been completely transformed into three sections of obstacles, like an air element tournament.

The first section is a zone that has unpredictable whirlwinds of air swirling about, creating dynamic and constantly changing currents. Another section has targets and rings that are elevated or hidden behind objects. The last section is an intricate course filled with earth walls ranging from a couple feet to at least fifteen maybe twenty feet in the air.

"We're going to start at the Whirlwind Zone. Since it's easier to manipulate air that's already been created, if you fail there, there's no point moving forward."

Jokingly, I gasp dramatically and hold my hand to my chest. "You don't think I'll pass. Thanks for the vote of confidence, asshole."

"I have no doubt you can do it, but it's what we tell all the fourth years. Gets them nervous enough so we can see if they choke. So what you're going to do is use your control over the air and navigate through these whirlwinds and reach the other side," he says, waving his hand at me in a ‘get going' motion.

"That's it? Those are my instructions. It doesn't matter how I control them, just control them and move through?"

Shrugging, he crosses his arms over his chest.

"Yep, pretty much."

Well, okay then.

Stepping into the zone, there are twenty whirlwinds between me and the other side. They reach up to my hip in height, stretching to around the length of my body and are swirling in a controlled fast pace. Nothing too crazy or dangerous.

I hover my hand over the first one, calling my element out to get a feel of the strength behind the turning winds. A subtle vibration flows through me, an instinctual connection to the very essence of the air.

I've never been a cocky person. I try to stay humble, but I almost laugh at the lack of force behind these winds. I don't know if this is truly what the fourth years are up against or the guys somehow set this up to be easier for me, but either way, the force of all twenty of the whirlwinds is no challenge for my element.

At my command, my element reaches out, mingling with the rotation of the whirlwinds, then pulls all the air to me. I let it flow around me, a teasing caress that plays with the strands of my hair, before dispelling it back into the open space as nothing more than a small breeze.

Excitement thrums through my veins as I glide confidently across the hundred feet of now empty, airless space. Once I reach the other side, I turn and shoot Ry a cocky grin, throwing in a little bow for dramatics.

"What's next, Instructor Asshole?"

His shocked expression morphs into an amused grin as he leads me over to the next section where the targets and rings are spread about. With no warning, he tosses a dirt ball he picks up straight for me. My air reacts faster than my reflexes, thank fuck, catching it before it blackens my eye.

"Good. You need to launch that ball through the targets and rings, making it return to you after each toss. If it touches the ground, you'll lose points. Let it fall enough times, you fail."

So like what Tillman made me do with my earth element but with air.

Got it.

I never played any sport a day in my life back in the nonmagical realm, so I severely lack in the hand-eye coordination that most athletes have, but luckily, all I have to do is picture my target in my mind and my element follows the command.

Weaving and maneuvering through the air, returning every time I call it back, my ball never bounces off the target or touches the ground. I fly through the first two sets of rings without a hitch, then move on.

My last set is three rings that sit in a horizontal line. The largest is the size of a hula hoop, the middle is about as big around as a basketball hoop, and the smallest is a fraction bigger than the ball in my hand. It'll be a tight squeeze.

As I go to launch the ball through the largest ring, they all start shifting. The wind picks up, moving faster and faster, and one by one, they zigzag around, making it difficult to follow their tracks.

Shit. Didn't see that coming.

Snatching the wild winds in my grasp, I command them to stop, positioning the rings in a single line. Without overthinking it, I shoot the ball as fast as I can, my focus solely on the smallest so I don't mess it up and miss. And I watch as it sails through all three rings perfectly.

Catching the ball on its return, I toss it to Ry with a triumphant smirk.

"Last but not least."

He, or whoever designed the course, definitely about tripped me up on that last test, but overall, I'm feeling pretty good, maybe even a little cocky as I follow behind him to the last zone.

The obstacle course looms ahead of me, the barriers and walls moving around now that we've entered the zone. The small walls shift side to side, up and down. The taller walls shrink, only leaving enough space on the top for you to barely place your foot. The objective is to move from object to object, using my air to propel me to each until I get to the end, never touching the ground.

You got this. Last one. You're a badass.

At Ry's whistle, I fly through the first group of smaller blocks. They're close enough, a subtle use of my air helps me skip right across them, like an advanced game of hopscotch. Landing on the last block, I'm not prepared for the swift shift to the right, and it nearly knocks my ass right off the side.

Air flows through my palms toward the ground at my command, correcting my teetering balance and getting me back on course to make the six-foot leap to the next barrier.

The wall begins to crumble into sand the moment my feet touch down. Adrenaline pumps through my veins as each wall poses a different challenge, making me think quicker, move faster, float higher. Feeling my element obey my every command creates a sense of unity between me and all the elements sitting in my chest. If I listen to them and they listen to me, there's nothing we can't do. It's an intoxicating rush of power and confidence.

The fifteen-foot barrier that stands between me and the end of the obstacle course approaches quickly, so I call a burst of air under my feet to propel me right over the top. Simultaneously, the wall starts shooting higher into the sky, growing, growing, growing.

Shit.

I'm already airborne, heading straight for the wall at breakneck speed, and I'm going to smash right into the side of it, failing this last test. With no time to waste, I imagine myself running up a flight of stairs, just instead of wood, there are platforms of air that bounce me to the next, up, up, up until I reach the top of the now fifty-foot wall.

I can hear the guys cheering for me below as I jump up and down, celebrating my accomplishment. It feels so good knowing they just watched me destroy this test. Pride floods my chest, my own feelings mingling with Draken's, and small pieces of the others that trickle through.

Looking down over the edge, I don't think twice before stepping right off the side, free-falling toward the ground. I wait till the last second to call my air out to slow my descent, floating down and landing gracefully.

Four massive bodies surround me from every angle as soon as my feet feel the grass and I bathe in their praises, soaking up every kiss, every touch, letting the thrilled emotions overflow my system.

"Well, it's no doubt you passed. Damn, Willow, you're stronger than most of the E.F. members we have. You may have scored better than Corentin did in our fourth year," Ry compliments, passing Corentin the piece of paper with my evaluation results on it.

"No doubt she did. She's incredible. Looks like no Air Elemental class for you, baby. How do you want to spend your free class now?" Corentin asks, humming in approval.

There are a couple ways I wouldn't mind spending it.