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dragged her out this morning. Sparky keeps getting me up earlier and earlier for my training since he wants me to learn to fight better on my own. I headed over to get Soph as soon as my torture session was over.”
    That explained why she wasn’t in the center of the paddock with Zachariah, Tiege, Ariana, Sophia, Clara Kate and a number of other Kynzesti old enough to participate. Everyone was stretching and otherwise preparing themselves for the training ahead under Zachariah’s assessing eye. The Mercesti had taken an active role in defensive and offensive training of the Kynzesti since pairing with Tate. Because he was new to the family dynamic, he more easily spotted the holes that existed in the training that the Kynzesti had received over the years.
    “Sparky got some of Nyx’s toxin earlier,” Tate said, her eyes focused on Zachariah. “Sophia should be able to process the inoculation using the formula you created.”
    “That’s great.”
    “Yeah.” She looked at him. “You’ll do what you can to ensure it has a good likelihood of working, right?”
    “Of course.”
    She sighed. “Good. Sparky won’t let the serum be tested on anyone but him.”
    Just then, Zachariah indicated that it was time to begin training, so everyone gathered around him. The Mercesti was as expressionless as usual as he scanned the group. Quincy supposed he shouldn’t have been surprised by Zachariah’s selfless commitment to test the inoculation on himself, but he was.
    “Today we will train in hand-to-hand combat,” Zachariah said. “Be sure to take advantage of your opponent’s weaknesses. If you do not, they will never learn to overcome them.”
    There were a few nods as he began pairing them off. He didn’t pair Ariana with anyone, Quincy realized with a concerned frown. The Lekwuesti female’s spirits had improved somewhat since learning that at least one of the scroll pieces had been located. Standing face-to-face with Zachariah now caused her to lose some of her color.
    “Let him work with her,” Tate said quietly before Quincy interfered. When he caught her gaze, she added, “Our efforts to help Ariana get through her trauma haven’t done much good. Maybe she needs another kind of help.”
    Quincy wasn’t so sure, but for the sake of his friendship with Tate, he nodded. His gaze moved to Sophia, who was paired with Tiege for training. She wore a hunter green training tank and pants. He’d be lying if he didn’t admit that part of the draw getting him out to the training paddock was the sight of her in the conforming clothes, though it made him feel lecherous to admit that even to himself.
    “You fear me,” Zachariah said to Ariana. Quincy realized they had moved closer to him and Tate and away from the others because Ariana backed away from her opponent. “Use your fear to defeat me.”
    “I can’t,” she said in a nearly inaudible voice. She trembled.
    “You can and you will,” Zachariah argued. “I am coming after you calmly and in control. Those such as Deimos will not.”
    Ariana flinched at the name of the male who had attacked her. She glanced over her shoulder as though seeking a route of escape. Quincy barely fought the urge to help her. She looked like a doe in the sights of a vicious predator.
    “Do not turn your attention from me,” Zachariah snapped. Ariana’s wide lavender eyes flew back to him. “You have been here for six weeks, yet you still harbor fear. Do you want to learn to protect yourself from an attack or not?”
    “I—I—”
    “You were pinned,” he said, grabbing her arm and using one of his booted feet to sweep her legs out from under her. They fell together onto the grass. He now held her down, his hips between her legs. “Use your waist as a pivot to gather space and momentum—”
    “Get off me!” Ariana screeched, bucking against him.
    “—to roll us both over,” Zachariah continued as though he didn’t see or hear her terror. “Then use your elbow to