Mercenary Little Death Bringer by Catherine Banks Read Free Book Online Page A

pictured the spark flaring
into the next stage of a spark, a flame. You couldn’t change an
item, you had to use a catalyst or use the next stage of an item’s
life. I had to use a lot of strength to do it, but after a moment
of straining the flame flared in my palm and I smiled
victoriously.
    “Good. Now pull the flame into your core
where your power is and let it mix with your power.”
    I concentrated and slowly, but surely, pulled
the flame into the spot where my power was. The instant the flames
touched the spark my body filled with power and the spark was
transformed into a flame. I gasped in shock and my eyes flew open
as it surged through me. Gradually the power subsided inside of me
and instead of the spark which had been there, a flame flickered
within me.
    “How do you feel?” he asked me with a smug
smile.
    “Wow,” I whispered. “That was intense.”
    “Yes, but now your power will be permanently
increased.”
    “Can you exponentially increase your power
this way?” I asked him as I shook out my body which felt tingly all
over.
    “How do you think Elves gain so much power?
You can only do this once every two months, but as you can imagine,
over time it can make you extremely powerful.”
    “Do other races know of this technique?” I
asked him. If humans were aware of this there were bound to be many
overly powerful beings.
    “No. This is an elf only technique,” he said
seriously.
    I jerked my head up to meet his eyes. “Why
did you teach me? Won’t you get in trouble? I don’t want you
getting in trouble because of me.”
    He put his hand on my shoulder and met my
eyes with his serious prince gaze. “You are part of the Elves. You
are a favored daughter of the King and Queen, no matter your
rounded ears and darker skin,” he said as he lightly tugged on the
top of my ear where his became pointed, but mine stayed round. “I
taught you because you needed to know to increase your power and I
trust that you won’t teach anyone else the technique.”
    I felt my eyes starting to water and clenched
them shut. “Thank you.”
    He wiped a tear that had escaped off of my
face and laughed softly. “You females are so tender,” he
whispered.
    I opened my eyes and punched him as hard as I
could in the shoulder. He grunted in pain and tackled me to the
ground. I rolled out from under him and we faced off. I knew I
couldn’t win because he was faster and stronger, but we had been
sparring partners since we were kids and old habits die hard. He
darted forward, trying to grab me around my waist, but I jumped up
over his head, having to duck my head down so I wouldn’t hit the
ceiling and wrapped my arms around his neck. Unfortunately he
turned just before I did that and we ended up embracing each other
with our noses touching. My cheeks flooded with blood and I jerked
away from him just as someone knocked on my door.
    “Enter,” Favian said as I turned away from
them to face the back wall and fought with my strange emotions once
again.
    “Macon summons you,” Micah said in his fake
serious tone.
    Why was I embarrassed? Favian and I had
hugged many times. I had shared sleeping sacks with him many times
as well. Why did a close hug now make my blood pound and my head
spin?
    “Alright,” Favian replied. I heard him
walking, but was still trying to figure out the weird feelings so I
had not moved yet. “Marin?”
    I finally calmed my heart and got the blood
to flow out of my face. “Sorry,” I whispered, “I was just
thinking.” I turned around and followed behind them as we
walked.
    “How was your break?” Micah asked Favian.
    Favian shrugged. “Same as always. I do my
part as prince, bowing and dancing and flirting with maidens. The
only happy parts were during the nights when Marin and I snuck off
to practice.”
    “Is she any better?” Micah asked.
    “She can hear you,” I said before smacking
Micah in the back of the head.
    Micah laughed. “I wasn’t sure if she was
paying