A heartbeat. A breath. That’s all it takes.
He moves too fast to counter. In a single, fluid motion, he slams the flat of his blade against my wrist, disarming me. My sword clatters to the ground. He doesn’t finish the fight. Instead, he waits, his blade hovering just above my chest, waiting to see what I’ll do next.
Daring me to yield.
But I refuse to let this end the way it always does.
I shift my stance, drawing in a sharp breath as I summon my magics. The air around us thickens, charged with raw energy. Thane’s eyes flicker with recognition—he lunges, blade poised to strike.
I unleash a burst of air, sharp and blistering, slamming into his chest with unrelenting force. The force punches him back—his footing falters for the first time.
Then—he falls.
Thane hits the ground hard, dust billowing up around him as he lands on his back. A grunt escapes him.
For the first time ever, I’ve knocked him down.
The silence that follows crackles with energy. My chest heaves, adrenaline thrumming hot in my veins.
I expect fury. For him to rise, come at me harder, blade swinging.
But instead, he laughs. Low, rough, and undeniably amused.
The sound sends a fresh wave of heat through me. My fingers still tingle from the magics that hurled him down. His damn smirk only pisses me off more.
I should feel victorious. Should enjoy the moment.
But all I can see is the way he looks at me—amused, entertained, like this is just a game.
My brow furrows. I can still see Lady Evelyne’s figure lingering at his door the other night, the way she disappeared inside.
I was a fool.
The thought burns through me.
“Get up.” The words bite out—sharp and bitter.
Thane chuckles, rising with infuriating ease—brushing dust from his pants like I hadn’t just knocked him flat.
“That eager to go again?”
A crackle of lightning splits the air overhead.
Thane’s chuckle dies as he looks up—clouds that weren’t there moments ago now swirl ominously, darkening the previously bright sky. His expression shifts, eyes narrowing as he whips his head back to me.
His voice drops lower, steadier. “Amara, are you okay? What’s going on?”
Concern sharpens his tone—unexpected, almost disarming.
But I don’t answer—not at first. I hold his stare, my fists clenched at my sides, pulse pounding in my ears.
Thane stares at me now, waiting, expecting an answer. And that’s when I snap.
“Did you havefunwith Lady Evelyne?” The words rip free, sharp as a blade. “You didn’t even have the decency to look at me these past two days.”
Thane bristles, his entire body going still. His expression shifts from confusion to something harder, something edged.“What?”
I scoff, heat flaring through my chest—bitter and burning. “I saw her go into your room.”
