Page 50 of His Bullied Fated Mate

“I wasn't talking to myself.”

“You were,” I corrected. “And I want you to feel like you belong this time. I know you didn't before, but this time is different. So, let me help where I can. Let me help with this. Let me make up for everything. Or at least let me try.”

She sighed. “Fine, but I can refuse any ideas that you have. Understood?”

I nodded, and I watched a small smile form on her lips.

Chapter 14 - Janella

“Okay, so the book says you should be able to pull the magic out to your fingertips,” Riley said, his nose in the book as he sat on the bench across from me.

I was stretching on the ground just in front of him. He’d been joining me in training for a couple of weeks now. Each time he sat on the bench and watched. And each time, I felt nervous and unsure about whether he should be there. I didn't know what he could even teach me, considering he wasn't a witch.

I chewed on my cheek. I couldn’t deny that I enjoyed spending time with him, but I felt maybe he could be spending his time better doing something else. “You know you don’t have to come every time I’m out here. I can do this alone.”

“I want to be helpful, and I want to be the first person to see your ability.”

He looked back at the book and flipped to the next page. “Do you know what your magic is going to be like? It says there are so many different abilities and strengths.”

“I don’t know. I won’t until I’ve been using it a little more.” I'd been trying, but I was still unable to pull it out.

I’d only managed to do small things so far. I could pull the magic to my fingertips, and I watched as little fireworks were forming around my fingers. I could feel the heat underneath, and it was hot. But I had only used it one time to knock him over.

Riley had been reading books and explaining anything he thought was interesting. I wasn’t sure who was digging deeper for information between us.

I pulled myself up and moved closer to him. “Okay, put the book aside. You said we were doing something different today.”

He shut the book and pulled himself up. “Alright, if you're all ready.”

“I'm ready. What are we working on today?”

“Today we are going to work on your stamina.”

I frowned. “I can’t even pull my magic out, and you want to work on my stamina?”

He nodded. “Not for your magic. Your stamina, your muscles, and your body. You need to have strength to use magic. I think part of the issue is you don't have much muscle to hold your magic.”

I sighed, knowing better than to question or argue with him. If I did, he would have some information from the books to back him up. “Okay, so what are we doing today?”

He smirked. “Well, I figure a run to start with and after that some sparing.”

My body froze. “You’re joking, right?”

He shook his head. “Not at all. Running will warm you up.”

I hated it. He took me for a mile run, where my legs felt like jelly when we got back. I sprawled myself on the grass when we arrived back and waved a hand. “I surrender. Let them lock me up. I can at least sleep the entire time and never feel like I'm dying internally.”

He snorted as he stood over me. “No. Now come on.”

I groaned. “My legs hurt. My feet ache.”

“You're just out of shape. Come on, up.”

“But I like this shape.”

He gave me his charming smile. “I do too.”

“Then why do we have to change my shape?”