“As you wish,” Riven offers me his hand and I reluctantly take it, unable to ignore the hardness of his skin, the calloused ridges and warm strength that sends a strange heat through me.
Riven pulls me to him at lightning speed, grabbing me under my knees and around my waist, cradling me against his warm chest.
I am ashamed when I realise I moaned, but the General, the gentleman he is, only spreads his wings, and with a powerful beat of them we ascend.
The wind rages forcefully enough to spare us from any awkward conversation, but the firm grip he has on my waist speaks for itself.
When we land atop a mountain, a vast stone arena brims with battered training dummies, scarred weapons, and racks of armour, the air heavy with iron and sweat. Riven sets me downgently, letting out a sigh before immediately shifting into the unmerciful trainer.
“Twenty laps around. Now,” he barks, and I shoot him a look of disapproval.
“Now, my lady,” he repeats and I very reluctantly obey.
By the time I finish the laps, every muscle in my body throbs, even the ones I did not know existed. And I am not talking about my vagina. This is not that kind of joke.
Riven looks at me over with pure disapproval. “Over a hundred years old and you’ve never exercised?”
I hold my hands up, looking away. “I have, once or twice.”
His smile is edged with disapproval. “Dance lessons don’t count.”
“Only because you don’t respect dancing, doesn’t mean it doesn’t count. You Dragthralls know only brawling,” I accuse him.
“Yeah? Weren’t you satisfied with my dancing skills?”
“I was, but—”
“Exactly. Fifty more squats.” He smiles, like a cat that got some cream.
“Fifty?! Are you trying to murder me before the actual coronation?”
“My Lady, with the way things are, I would be impressed if you managed to climb the castle stairs without panting like a dog.”
“I can pant,” I insinuate, my body stirring as his gaze meets mine.
He is unmerciful. After all the squats, laps, and other tortures, I could barely stand.
Now I can confirm I am well acquainted with pain.
“What is the point of those exercises if I won’t be able to move tomorrow?” I pant the words out, to my utter annoyance.
“Don’t be a baby, I’ve made you some tonic for regeneration.”
“Famous Dragthralls’ potions?” I raise my brow, “Is it legal?”
“If you know the General”, he tosses me the rarest of panty-dropping smiles, and my crush on him reanimates itself in an instant.
I make two lazy crunches and sit up, but when he opens his mouth again, I regret taking a break.
“What do you know about the Sword Test?” He towers above me.
“Don’t question me,” I snap. I need this remedy, my whole body aches, my soul aches, my fucking storm itches. Soon it will be awake.
He shoots me another glare, and the sheer force of his determination makes me comply.
“Okay, okay.” I sigh. “It is a test of strength against my doppelganger.”
“Both the strength of your body and power.”
