Page 109 of The Blade in the Ashes
I shook my head at him. “Be that as it may—”
“Ayanna will travel with you and the princesses,” the Headmaster continued as if I hadn’t even spoken.
“Headmaster!” she gasped, clearly as upset by this plan as I was.
“With all due respect, Headmaster, we’re already transporting three Mortal teenagers and two princesses. This is a rescue mission, not a caravan. We don’t have the resources to ensure anyone else’s safety.”
Her head jerked towards me, her glare fiery. “I beg your pardon?”
“You would be a burden,” I said, not bothering to soften the words. “Having to look after you would only put the princesses at further risk.”
Her mouth fell open at the insult, and she took an irritated step towards me, anger rolling off her in waves. Gods, for a moment she looked as vicious as Camille could when she was irritated with you. Maybe even more so.
I hadn’t met many institute instructors in my life, but they were usually more in control of their emotions.
“I do not need your protection,” she hissed, crossing her arms over her chest.
“You clearly will.”
“You misunderstand me, sir,” the Headmaster interpreted me once more. “You see, I believe Ayanna would be an asset to you. She is a Painweaver.”
My heart gave a single heavy thump inside my chest before pausing completely.
Her?
Well, damn.
My eyes widened as I took her in once more, scanning from the top of that dark hair to the worn leather of her boots that poked out from the bottom of her robes. She wasn't quite tall enough to reach past my elbowand barely more than a hundred pounds. How could something so small and delicate be such a rare and deadly Descendant?
It made no sense.
“You could attempt to look less shocked,” she advised through a pinched mouth.
The Headmaster chuckled under his breath. “Then the matter is settled?”
“No,” I protested.
At the same time that Kent clearly answered, “Yes.”
I lurched to the left, staring at him, letting him feel every burning bit of my irritation at this proposal. Kent merely shrugged.
“A Painweaver could be helpful,” he reasoned.
I tossed my head back, sighing. Sure, a Painweaver could be useful, butthis one? This woman who stared at me with disgust and held her head far too proudly would be nothing but trouble. Far more trouble than she was worth.
“How powerful are you?” I asked her.
I refused to cart around a woman who could only cause a small sting against the flesh.
Ayanna’s rosy lips quirked into a crooked smile, a dimple popping in her right cheek, as she looked at me with the light of a challenge in her eyes. “Would you like a demonstration, General?”
Any momentary lust I had felt for this creature had long departed.
“Do your worst,” I dared her, reaching out my hand.
Her eyes flicked down to the fingers reaching towards her, her grin growing even wider.
“You want to know how powerful I am?” she parroted. “I’ll start by explaining that my powers are strong enough that I don’t need to touch you.”
