Aesar tilted his head, eyes unfocusing.
“I hate when you two do that,” Lykor muttered as Kal’s telepathic whispers brushed around the edges of his mind—an irritation he dismissed entirely, unwilling to waste a thought on whatever nonsense Kal was feeding Aesar.
The infuriating grin Kal gave him was begging for a fist to wipe it off his face. “Aesar decided it would be best if you burned off some of that homicidal rage before our meeting.”
Ignoring the jab, Lykor clenched his gauntlet, the metal squealing. For once—perhaps for the first time in decades—Kal wasn’t the leading contender on his list of people to strangle. No, that honor belonged to someone else. If he saw Jassyn again… Lykor’s thoughts sharpened, finally hearing all of Kal’s words.
“What meeting?” he growled, his focus snapping to the captain.
Kal nodded at the sword buried in the frosty powder, clearly star-bent on another round before he’d answer.
With a frustrated exhale, Lykor trudged forward, snow crunching under his boots as he stooped to snatch the blade. Using Essence to retrieve it would have spared him this indignity, but his depleted Well left him with no other choice. Aesar’s eyes gleamed with maddening delight, drinking in the sight of Lykor’s degradation, reduced to performing something so mundane.
WHY AREN’T YOU THE ONE CROSSING SWORDS WITH HIM?Lykor muttered.OR DID YOU GET YOUR FILL OF THAT LAST NIGHT?
Aesar smirked, flopping down to a couch, the sunlight in the library only brightening with his amusement.After that stunt you pulled in the Wastes,he said,you owe me an entire month’s worth of evenings with him.
Lykor rolled his eyes, hefting the weapon as the weight settled in his palm. Sweat chilled against his brow, but he dismissed it, shaking loose strands of hair from his face.
He wouldn’t best you every round if you drew on my knowledge,Aesar noted.When he shifts left, he’ll feint.
Lykor cracked his neck, wincing as a sharp twinge fired down his spine.YOU’RE WELCOME TO TAKE OVER.
Aesar’s derisive snort echoed in his mind.Not interested.
Kal adjusted his stance, bronze hair gleaming in the sun. Aesar’s pointed cough grated against Lykor’s fraying patience. Grinding his fangs, Lykor decided on the direct approach—lunging straight for the captain.
Steel screeched as their blades collided, each strike vibrating through Lykor’s arms. He wielded his blade like a bludgeon, hacking through the icy air with no rhythm as he hurled his weight behind every blow.
Lykor grunted as a clash of metal locked them in place. Kal’s eyes flared before he twisted free, leaving Lykor to stumble forward. Snow sprayed in a glittering arc as he caught himself, whipping his blade up just in time to block Kal’s next strike.
Breath ripping from his chest, Lykor’s body screamed its protests against the captain’s unrelenting assault. Each move drained him faster than he wanted to admit, but he met every attack head-on.
“The meeting is after sunset,” Kal said, his voice obnoxiously steady as they broke apart, circling each other while Lykor caught his breath. “We need to discuss what comes next. I asked Mara, Thalaesyn, and Vesryn to join—”
“The wraith will continue as planned,” Lykor growled, his tone sharp enough to silence any dissent. “The prince’s presence changes nothing. That bumbling human army will wander to our doorstep any day now.”
His people were ready—prepared to flee as soon as he located another haven. But that was proving harder to do than he’d hoped. The exhaustion from yesterday’s portal jumping through the Wastes still clung to him like a second skin. He’d pushed himself too far and—
And that was stupid,Aesar cut in.You’re lucky Jassyn—
“I want Jassyn gone,” Lykor snarled, anger flaring white-hot.
Breath misting in the frigid air, Lykor pressed forward, sword flashing as Kal parried his strikes. The clash of steel rang in his ears, every collision a fresh demand on his strained muscles.
When Kal broke away, Lykor rolled his shoulders, trying to shake off the ache. Freedom from the coercion should have felt like relief, but the cost still chafed—proof of how easily his will could be overridden.
That elf’s presence was intolerable. His violation of Lykor’s mind, unforgivable. If he—
If you think I’ll stand by and let you finish what you started,Aesar hissed, his words colder than the steel in Lykor’s grip,I’ll—
Lykor shoved Aesar away. “Vesryn and Thalaesyn can stay.”
HAPPY?
Aesar would whine endlessly if Lykor drove off his twin. And as much as he loathed the role Thalaesyn had played in paving the way for the king, the researcher had his uses beyond warming Mara’s bed.
Throwing his head back, Aesar groaned.As touching as their reunion is, I really didn’t need a reminder of that.
