Stunned into silence we stare at each other, while I can hear Eric fumbling to stand up from the ground. His aching groans are slightly distracting but I'm still in mild shock.
Usually, it takes months for me to accumulate enough energy to cause any real damage, but this just cements my theory that Mason is crucial to my existence for more than one reason.
With a sharp intake of air," That...that was....," Not very eloquent, I'd have to admit, but the responding smile Mason gives me, says that he understands what I'm thinking.
" For fuck sake, " Eric stumbles next to us holding his shoulder, blood drips between his fingers soaking his sand-coloured three-piece suit.
" Now, now," Mason chimes in, " You wanted to be here, I don't want to hear you complain. Suck it up, like a big boy," Mason bites down on his lip, eyes twinkling, full of mischief. There's a certain boyish look about him when he is like that, which makes it very difficult to resist.
Unfortunately, we have an audience, so I give him a wan smile when his eyes drop down to my lips, running his tongue over his bottom lips. We would celebrate this achievement, but right now we will have to settle for longing looks and holding hands.
" How are you feeling?" My eyes slide back from his lips to meet his gaze. All the while, Eric is a spectator with a propensity for being an overhearing ass on my right.
" I'm good, " I reply honestly. Mason nods and takes a deep breath.
" Should we try again? " He seems unsure, the slight drop in his timbre says as much.
" Or we could focus on your physical skills for a change. It's best not to push. I wouldn't want us to go one step forward and two steps back, " He is right, but only partially. I feel ready for more. At least one more try to see if we can replicate it.
" One more time," I say firmly. Mason nods and turns to Eric who hasn't moved from his spot at our side.
" You really love her," He says under his breath, but it feels more of an inside thought that slipped before he could stop it.
" This is not a whim, Eric. Lily and I....," His gaze meets mine," We are inevitable. Whether anyone approves of it or not, there is no stopping us, regardless of the circumstances that brought her into my life, " And I can see it in his eyes that he believes it, just like I do.
" Still, this doesn't change a thing," Eric says placidly, " This relationship has to end," He says in a firmer tone, his gaze sliding from mine to Mason's.
" It has, for the time being. As soon as Lily finishes her studies, it will be out of your hands, and anyone else's for that matter," Mason glares at Eric, which is met with a rather childish roll of his eyes.
" You know very well as I do, that this is nothing more than a small bump in the road. You still have to shake off the mayor's daughter and Micah. Now, " Eric sighs, " Please continue, " He steps aside while Mason turns back to me, and smiles.
" Try not to think about it. We will take one hurdle at a time. And we will overcome it, even if it's the last thing I do," My faith in Mason at this point is akin to a mountain. It will take many storms to chip away, at my faith in him.
Emboldened, I nod and focus once more on the flow of energy that flows through me. Mason doesn't call on it to reveal its presence, because we need to be able to do this blindly. If we are going to take on Micah we need stealth, synchronicity, and awareness.
In the ensuing silence, guided only by the simple flow of energy that courses between us, we focus on each other. It's subtle but it's there, and it requires an exorbitant amount of concentration to pinpoint how it flows and expands around us without the visual aid.
This time, the act itself is wordless, messages are simply conveyed with our eyes and nods.
The glass-like sound piercing the silence is the only way we know we have succeeded. When the shards pierce through the panelled walls of Zareen, we both let out a heavy breath of relief.
Smiling, I look up at Mason, relief washing over me at the knowledge that we were able to replicate the performance.
" As amazing it is this ability of yours, I'm more concerned about the damage to the property, " Of course, he would say that. For someone who doesn't seem to be very attached to the building, his concern is mildly irritating.
" It can be fixed, " Mason says sharply stepping off the pedestal and dragging me with him to one of the walls. My eyes latch on to the hairline cuts through the panelling, very clean, with no jagged edges, but at the same time lethal.
When I look up at Mason, he smiles down at me," Lethal beauty," He says, eyes full of admiration.
" I couldn't have done without you," I feel my face flame up, burning at a thousand degrees.
" I don't deserve the credit. Sooner or later, you would have succeeded with or without me. I only sped up the timeline, " Humble. I take a deep breath, and asses him, trying to find a drop of deception in his features. There is none. He seems earnest, but amazed.
I am too.
" And this is only the beginning," His eyes drop to my lips, and I feel acutely aware of Eric's presence in the same room with us.
Eric clears his throat, breaking our staring contest. In different circumstances, by now we would have devoured each other like savages, but all we have is longing and chaste touches. And I hate every second of it.
" Are we done," Eric asks, and Mason glances over his shoulder at Eric.
" No. For now, we will focus on something else. It is imperative to strengthen her physically. Her body must be able to bear the brunt of the demanding task required to wield such high amounts of energy at any given moment. So, no, we are not done. We have a thirty-minute session to sharpen her skills. If I were you, I'd take a seat," Mason tugs on my hands, leading me to the centre of the room.
Eric lets out a long-suffering sigh and checks his watch, " It's nearing midnight, " He taps his watch impatiently.
" I'm sure you don't need me to repeat myself, but you are not needed here," Mason bites back, as he strolls to one of the walls and slides a panel revealing the two staff I'm well acquainted with; this is going to be painful.
Groaning internally, I mentally prepare myself for the last stretch of the training session. Mason will push me within an inch of life, and even though I know he only does it for my benefit, I still feel the need to curl up on the floor and cry a little.