“You really would mount his balls on the wall?”
“Without hesitation.”
She laughed, the sound washing away some of the tension from the meeting. My hand found the small of her back as we walked.
***
That afternoon found me in the training yard, sparring with Torin while teaching younger guards combat techniques. Routine work, something I did regularly to keep our forces sharp.
But today I was distracted.
I could feel Wen watching from the balcony above. The bond between us hummed with her attention, her focus on me as I demonstrated a particularly complicated disarming technique.
For the third time.
Torin, who knew me too well, raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Smart man. If only my brother was anything like him.
“She’s watching you,” Aurion said from where he leaned against the wall, arms crossed, looking far too amused.
“Don’t you have a kingdom to rule or a mate to be with?” I executed the move again, slower this time. More deliberately. Making sure my muscles flexed visibly.
“I am on vacation. Don’t ask. And Daphne is on Earth having girl time with Bella. She doesn’t want me around when she’s with the girls. Believe me, I’ve fucking tried. So many times.” He grunts, his expression longing. “Back to the present: Wen is very much staring. At your ass.”
“I am aware. That is why I am demonstrating this technique repeatedly.”
“You are ridiculous.”
“She likes it.”
I could feel her eyes on me through the bond. Warm, appreciative. It made me want to do more complicated moves, show off my strength and skill like I was a young wolf trying to impress a potential mate instead of a thirty-something king.
Then I missed a block because I was too focused on the balcony instead of on Torin’s incoming strike.
His training sword caught me on the shoulder. I stumbled, catching myself before I fell but not before everyone saw. Torin stepped back, wisely keeping his expression neutral.
Aurion had no such self-preservation instincts. “You suck, brother,” he said, barely containing his laughter.
“She makes me nervous,” I admitted, rolling my shoulder where Torin had hit me. Aurion laughed harder.
“After five years?”
“Especially after five years. She gets more beautiful every day.”
Aurion just shook his head. “You are completely hopeless. I get it, though. But I’m still going to give you shit about it.”
“Thank you. Happy to fucking receive it.”
Movement at the edge of the training yard caught my attention. Wen was descending the stairs, walking toward us with that confident stride that made my heart beat faster. She was wearing a simple training dress, her hair pulled back, and she was the most distracting thing in any realm.
“Can you teach me some self-defense movements?” she asked when she reached us.
I tried to act casual. “Of course. Come here.”
She stepped closer and I positioned my hands on her waist to show her proper stance. Purely instructional. The fact that I wanted any excuse to touch her was irrelevant.
“Where do we start?” she asked.
“Stance first. Feet apart. Like this.” I guided her gently.
