Chapter 58

With the shield I have fixed with my luna powers, I toss it lightly in my grip to get used to the weight. Now, it is a feasible three pounds. I will have to train my arms more, but that will come with time. I will make sure to ask King Harvey for some weights. Even walking with them without my shield would be an excellent form of training.

My body needs to adjust to the weight, and I hope my efforts will speed up the process.

King Harvey smiles at me, and the pure relief in his eyes eases me into a warm grin.

“I am learning I need your patience.” King Harvey says softly.

“You need to lean on me when things happen, King Harvey. We can shoulder the burden together. I am your wife.”

“It can be very difficult… my job is to protect you.” King Harvey pieces together softly.

“I must know who and what our enemies are, King Harvey. You protect me, I protect you. I support you.” Whispering to him, I run my hand down his chest. “Let me love you properly. You deserve all I can give you.”

His eyes morph to silver but soften as he leans down and kisses me. “I don’t wish for you to be hurt.”

“I trust you to protect me. Let me protect you back, even if it is a verbal disagreement.”

With a sigh, he nods. “Very well. Let us practice your shield skills, my mate.”

King Harvey gingerly takes the shield from my grasp and weighs it in his calloused hands. “I am very proud of you, Elena. You are very apt with your luna powers.”

“Thank you, King Harvey. I want to be as powerful as you.” I whisper, blushing at how strange I sound. I will not ever be a werewolf, but he has said we can share powers…

“I am sure you will even surpass me, Elena. Your open mind is such an awesome cornerstone.”

“How can I surpass you as a human?”

“Your luna abilities, Elena, will be able to do more than mine.”

With a formal grin, King Harvey motions for me to study his actions. I nod.

King Harvey opens his stance and hunches his shoulders then raises my shield to cover his upper half. He ducks behind the shield, covering his face and chest. He does it twice, then by placing all his strength in the balls of his feet he charges forward a few feet.

“King Harvey,” I interrupt, and he pauses. “Do you enjoy training me?”

“I love all our time spent together, my mate. Now.” King Harvey hands me the shield and opens his stance again as if he is going to block with my shield. “Show me.”

“What about blocking and wielding a sword?” I ask innocently.

“One thing at a time, Elena.” King Harvey replies softly. “These are the first steps.”

King Harvey once again does the action of protecting himself with the imaginary shield and I study closely. He bends his headfirst elegantly behind the imaginary shield, lifting the shield to cover his middle and face, and stays there, bracing for impact as he bends with his spine.

To the best of my ability, I follow. I trip over my own feet, too busy staring at them rather than focusing on the shield. Almost stumbling forward, King Harvey places a steady hand on my lower back and helps me stay upright.

“I am sorry…” I whisper as my face glows red.

My heart stops at the gentle, loving look in his eyes.

“Elena.” He whispers as he presses a kiss to my lips quickly. “You are doing very well; I have tripped on my feet many times before. Try again, my love.”

By the gentleness and love of his words, my heart swells with warm love. I feel more strength to try again. Nodding, I try again and once more trip on my feet.

“Damn it.” Muttering, I look up at King Harvey and feel my face heat up as our eyes meet. “I-I think last night is making me a bit nervous…”

King Harvey smirks. “We made love, Elena, like you humans say. We are married, my love.”

“Yes, we are but I wasn’t used to all that passion!”

King Harvey smiles broadly, his fangs catching all my attention. “Passion, Elena, people beg for it. We need to nurture it. It is an excellent thing to have.”

“Overwhelming…” I look away from King Harvey as he takes my hand.

“Use our passion to ignite your inner powers.” King Harvey whispers. “It will be marvelous.”

With a heavy sigh, I try to block again and this time my feet don’t stumble. I keep going until I block well enough, feeling solid.

King Harvey nods in approval and opens his stance as if he is going to punch.

“You would like me to block your punch?”

“Yes, Elena. I will not harm you; you know that. Are you okay with this?”

“Yes.”

I know he will not lay a hand on me if I don’t raise my shield in time.

I trust him with my life.

King Harvey inches forward keeping his left hand up in a block and punches with his right. As my heart slams into my chest, I duck and block with my shield. A soft thud of his fist hitting my shield makes me gasp.

Slowly, I raise my head and see his beaming grin.

“Excellent, Elena.”

In my happiness, I find myself throwing my shield down and launching myself at King Harvey, wrapping my arms around him tightly. He spins me in a circle as he laughs joyously, kissing me passionately after.

“I did it!”

“You will continue to, Elena! Let us try again.”

King Harvey places me down and hands me my shield. He returns to punching at my shield and I block one punch after another.

Punch, duck, block.

King Harvey applies more strength to his punch and my feet slide with his power. Planting my feet firmly on the ground, I thrust my shoulders forward applying my own strength to send him back. After another punch, I do not move if I hold my own.

“King Harvey, use your sword. I want to see what I can do.”

“As you wish, my mate.” King Harvey steps back and unsheathes his sword and makes sure I see it.

After I nod, he swings down lightly. I block.

King Harvey swings a second time and I block him, but my feet stumble.

He allows me the kindness to readjust, and I block his sword again, again, again, and once more.

King Harvey makes a noise of approval as he grins.

“You are an excellent teacher, King Harvey!”

“It is time for a challenge, Elena.”

King Harvey starts to swing at me faster and stronger. It is easy to block three sword slashes, but the fourth catches me and my shield and sends me back a few feet. Charging at him like he showed me, I slam into his sword perfectly.

The sound rings out at our strike and vibrates through my bones.

King Harvey quickly withdraws his sword and starts to swing his sword. As I focus on his gleaming blade, my palms begin to itch and burn. Focusing on the energy at my palms I channel it through the strap of my shield and the shield itself.

King Harvey’s blade strikes my shield, and an odd metallic hollow sound rings out as it collides with my luna powers. King Harvey is suddenly above me, launched in the air a few feet.

“Block, Elena!” King Harvey shouts madly as he throws his scabbard at me. I duck and block it from an angle from below. Now, standing with my perfect stance, I feel weightless. My feet lift from the floor and King Harvey’s eyes widen rapidly.

“I know what your abilities are now, Elena!” King Harvey speaks rapidly in his joy. “You are a shield, but you can highlight your body with your luna powers to strength yourself. You must teach me!”

I smile at him.