Under the Winter Sun (Elemental Enchanters Series Book 3) by Carrigan Richards Page A

can make me go blind? Or put images in my head? Or set me on fire without my powers?”
    “You gotta get rid of that defeatist attitude. If you’re fast enough, you can take them down. Plus, when we do leave to find Havok, there are many… things out there that don’t possess any sort of power or ability.” He released her hands. “First, you have to have good balance. Once you’re down on the ground, that’s it. Spread your legs and bend your knees a little.”
    Ava did as he instructed.
    “Good. Your arms need to be close to your body to block anything. Say I can shoot fire from my hands. If you’re fast enough, you can block the fire from hitting your face and you can duck. While I’m still shooting fire, you can knock me down. So let’s try that.”
    Gabriel made a movement with his hands, pretending to shoot fire. Ava ducked, then rushed toward him, but he stopped her.
    “Try again. But be quicker.”
    Ava lunged at him, pushing him to the ground, and then jumped back so he couldn’t trip her.
    “Good!” He praised, getting back on his feet. “You’re fast, so you have to strike fast and get away. If their power is a physical one, you can learn to block it. If their ability is a mental one, keep that shield around your mind. You know what it feels like when someone is trying to get inside your head. Just like when Savina read your mind.”
    Ava remembered that very well. Savina asked Ava to tell her who convinced her to see a Necromancer and when Ava refused, Savina reached inside. It felt like a hand had literally grabbed her mind. She shuddered.
    “It’s okay. You’re getting very good at hiding your feelings, I noticed, so you have to close off your mind to any emotion as well. Remember to concentrate because what happened on that field could happen again. Though, when we all get our abilities back to full, we will work together. But if someone’s there and takes your powers or negates them, catch them off guard. Once they’re on the ground, if you’ve knocked them pretty hard, you can easily come around and choke them.”
    They carried on for a while longer and Ava learned so much in the short time they were out there. She started feeling a little sorry for not training sooner, but maybe it worked better having Gabriel teach her because he seemed to understand her better.
    “It’s getting late, we should go,” he said, checking his cell phone. 
    “What time is it?”
    “It’s almost nine.”
    “We’ve been out here for five hours?” she asked.
    He nodded. “I’m sure you’re hungry, though.”
    “Yeah, I am,” she noticed as her stomach growled. “It’s the first time I’ve been hungry in a while.”
    “Means you’re getting better.”
    The corner of her mouth twitched.
    “Come on. Let’s go eat.”
    “I should get home. I’ll eat with my dad.”
    He gave her a disbelieving look. “Are you sure?”
    “Yeah.”
    Ava thought he seemed a little disappointed, but she couldn’t tell for sure.
    They talked the entire way back to the Manor, and when they arrived, Ava found Peter in the lounge next to the library. He sat on the floor in front of the crackling fireplace with Katarina, Eric, Konstantin, Lance, and Ilya. They were deep in a conversation except Lance, who looked bored.
    Eric made his way toward them. “Glad you’re back. Their discussion made me break out in hives. Let’s go eat.”
    Gabriel laughed. “Let me change first.”
    “Cool. I’ll get Natalia. Grasshopper coming?” He raised his eyebrows at Ava.
    “No, I’m good, thanks.”
    Eric shrugged and walked out.
    She turned to Gabriel. “Grasshopper?”
    He rolled his eyes. “He heard me call you that one time.”
    She smiled. “Thanks for tonight. I appreciate it.”
    “Anytime. See you tomorrow?”
    “Yeah, definitely.”
    With a smile, he turned and left the room.
    Ava sat next to Peter and Lance. “Hey.”
    “Hey.” Peter glanced at her, then turned his attention back to Konstantin who was