Power, for all its allure, is but a mirage—a fleeting illusion that conceals the burden it carries.
I was a King, bound by the chains of my people. Their lives intertwined with mine, each decision weighed against their survival. My refusal to unnecessarily endanger those livesnarrowed my choices, leaving little room for personal desires. Even if I wished to release Ariana, I could not gamble my people’s safety on the fragile hope that she might prove an ally. No ruler who truly cared for their people was ever free.
I left Ariana without another word.
14
ARIANA
My lungs nearly collapsed from the force of being thrown to the ground. It took several seconds to get my breath back or move. With a groan, I slumped to my side before finding the strength to stand.
“You need to not focus so hard on one thing,” Kole commented while watching me struggle to get onto my feet.
“Make up your mind, Lysian.” I snapped, sounding embarrassingly winded. “One day you’re telling me to focus more, and the next, that I am focusing too much.”
“That’s because before you were like a little butterfly, just wandering about, dazed. And now you are so hyper-focused on one thing that you miss the complete picture,” he countered.
“If I were a butterfly, then I would have been crushed by now,” I grumbled with frustration. Things did not always come easily to me, but they rarely stagnated for so long. I was no better now than when I first began training with Kole a few days ago. Granted, a few days was not much time, but I feared I had gotten worse.
“If I used my full force, then you very much would have been a crushed butterfly,” Kole stated, folding his arms across his chest. “You were so focused on my teeth and hands that you missed the rest of my body, leaving you open.”
“Show me an attack to try on you,” I demanded, growing tired of chronically being on the defensive.
“You need to learn basic defense first,” he answered with a frown.
I learned basic defense when I was a child. I was decent at it when sparring with Bavadrins. Lysians were impossible, their moves and skills incomparable. On behalf of my entire race, I felt a bit defeated.
Despite everything, I tried to charge him.
He moved with ease, evensighing, leaving a leg in front of me while shoving me with one of his arms. I went flying to the ground, eating dirt.
“Ashes and bones,” Kole muttered for the first time, sounding a trace concerned for throwing me to the ground, but his gaze drew to the side. His words were meant for someone else.
I followed his line of sight to Erik. He was standing with a Lysian female, the two of them watching me. I flushed with embarrassment at what they just witnessed. Erik appeared to nod in agreement to something the female said, dark blue eyes appraising me once more before he turned and left. The female then sauntered down the small hill, heading straight for us.
“Get up,” Kole mumbled under his breath before plastering an incredibly fake smile on his face and turning towards the female approaching. Never had I seen him try to be anything but himself until that moment. Emotions other than happiness tainted his smile.
“Eislyn, it’s good to see you.” He greeted her as I got to my feet.Did he think anyone believed those words with the smile that looked more like a scowl on his face?
The female looked me over with brilliant green eyes. She was fair, like all the Lysians. Of the skin showing, it was pristine withnary a scar, indicating her skill. Her clothing was dark brown and loose-fitting. Her blond hair was unbound, cascading over her shoulders and down her back like golden rivers. She looked beautiful until her smile exposed those sharp canines.
“Tell me, Kole, how is someone so talented as you are in hand-to-hand combat so awfully terrible at teaching?” Her voice was lyrical and sweet-sounding even as the words jabbed at him.
Kole rolled his eyes, folding his hands over his chest. “What do you want, Eislyn?” The smile completely evaporated. He quickly gave up his pleasant façade.
“I would like to teach the girl if she is willing,” she stated, before turning to me. “My name is Eislyn, and I am certain that you would get a better experience if I were to help here…”
“Yeah, she would get an experience alright,” Kole bit out.
Eislyn’s green gaze cut to him. “Better than any you could offer.” Icy tension spread through the air.
Kole did not respond, though his face flushed.
She turned her sights back on me. “Would you like for me to teach you? I promise you won’t spend as much time on the ground unless you want to.”
“Absolutely not,” Kole answered, irritation lacing his voice. Whoever this female was, she was incredible at igniting his anger with minimal effort. I had seen him annoyed and bored, but he was never quick to anger until that moment.
“It’s not up to you. Erik already agreed.” She glanced at Kole. “If the Bavadrin wishes it then it is a done deal.” Green eyes narrowed triumphantly as her lips curved into a smirk.
