Then, he closes the door, and I fall to the ground.
Chapter 31
Serafina
I spin, launching into the air before bringing my blade down hard against Theo’s. The sound of the clashing metal has me grinning as I move back and prepare for another attack.
I was finally able to convince him to use real blades tonight, something I’d been begging over a week for. I suppose with my final trial in the morning, he took pity on me and caved.
Stepping to the side, my eyes don’t leave his, and a tiny smirk spreads across his face as he watches me prowl around him.
“More angry than usual, I see,” he says, his voice quiet, but his weapon still more than readyto block mine.
I twirl, aiming for his side, the one he tends to leave open just a bit more often, but his blade meets mine.
He pushes me back.
“I have a lot to be angry about,” I grind out, not really in the mood to talk about it, but also feeling like I might need to.
I was more than grateful when Theo showed up at my room only hours after Jax had left. The distraction has been…nice to say the least.
“You’ll see him again, Little Flame,” he says, just before swinging his blade right at my head. I duck, successfully avoiding the edge of his sword.
“I already did see him.” I lunge at him, but he leaps back.
“That’s news.” He raises a brow.
“He came to my room earlier today.”
“And?” he prods.
I make a countermove, my steps quick as I strike over and over again. Left, right, down, center. Each one harder than the last, more aggressive, but also more sloppy.
Sweat trickles down his forehead, but he dodges every move.
“That bad, huh?”
I pause, needing a minute to catch my breath. Battling him is difficult enough, but talkingwhilebattling him is damn near impossible. I sheath my weapon at my side and lace my fingers behind my head, welcoming the air that floods my lungs as I gulp it down.
“You could say that,” I finally tell him, and he pinches his lips together.
“He’s trying to do the honorable thing.” He tilts his head, and he looks so much like Jax. His eyes may be different, his hair a bit longer, and his skin a few shades lighter, but his nose and mouth arethe same, his jaw and posture. But he also looks less serious,isless serious, and somehow, it makes all the likeness disappear.
“Well, I wish he’d stop.” My eyes scan the many torches lining the walls. For whatever reason, even though they have electricity in the Imperial City, only torches are used to light this specific room, and I wonder if it’s to create a sense of dread or maybe eeriness.
Whatever the case, I’m thankful for it. The torchlight masks my face in shadows, and I’m hoping it’s dark enough for Theonotto see how affected I am by Jax’s visit.
“I’ve been telling him that his whole life.” He chuckles, but the sound holds so much weight to it, losing its usual mocking tone.
“All right, enough talking,” I say, gripping the hilt of my sword. “Let’s go again.” Adjusting my stance, I prepare to take him on.
He grins, and then he lunges at me.
Chapter 32
Serafina
Even then.
