If he could live forever in a single moment, it would be right here with the woman who truly owned every part of him. Where nothing and no one else mattered. But this was merely a stolen moment that wouldn’t fully be theirs until they were both freed.
“There must be someone out there who can fill that man’s heart the way you have filled mine.” Yavi brushed her lips over a scar on his chest. “I hope and I pray for it.”
Secretly, he did too.
Chapter 25
Dynalya
With a furious cry, Dyna swung a fist at Cassiel’s face. He easily careened to the right. She stumbled past him with the momentum of the missed blow, and her knees hit the grass. She paused to catch her breath. They had been practicing for two days. Why couldn’t she hit him?
“Get up,” Cassiel commanded.
Dyna released a frustrated huff and rose on her feet. She brushed the sweaty strands from her forehead as she faced the Prince again. Wings arched behind him, he stood confident in the meadow where they had set up camp for the evening. His loose white shirt hung slightly open, giving a tantalizing glimpse of his chest. It kept drawing her gaze. His sword remained sheathed, nor did he bother to hold up his defenses.
Cassiel’s silver eyes never left hers as he beckoned her forward. “Again.”
She attacked, and he deflected every punch without effort. Each time they touched, a gentle zap of energy passed between them, rushing through her until it fluttered in her stomach like a tickle of feathers.
The zaps occurred only with skin contact. She suspected it was the reason Cassiel had avoided her before. He didn’t anymore. Not since the night he carried her through the sky. If it bothered him now, he gave no sign.
“Move your feet. Hold up your fists.”
Pivoting on her heel, Dyna swung again, but her foot caught the ground unsteadily.
“Focus,” he barked.
She was trying, but his intense stare was distracting.
“You need to learn this, sothatdoes not happen again,” the Prince said, glaring at the discolored bruise on her forearm. It had formed into the shape of Dalton’s hand.
She tugged on the sleeves she had rolled up to her elbows and covered the tender spot.
Lady Samira warned they would discover her, but Dyna didn’t think it would happen so soon. What were the chances of meeting a mage in the first town they reached? If an adult mage had found her, she would have been spirited away to Magos, never to be seen again.
She missed another strike and tripped into Cassiel’s chest. He gazed down at her, a foot or so taller than her short height. Her heart spiked, very aware of the inches between them. His hands took her wrists, long fingers wrapping around them, sending a gentle current down her arms.
Why did that keep happening? What caused it?
He set her back on her feet. “That’s enough for today.”
“No, let’s continue.” Dyna shook out her tingly hands, ignoring the blush heating her face. She wanted to keep sparring. When Dalton had grabbed her, all she could do was squirm and yell. She didn’t want to feel so helpless again. “If I can learn to harness Essence, I can learn how to defend myself.”
She went for a surprise kick. Cassiel sidestepped and swept the other leg out from under her. She hit the ground with a wheezing gasp.
He shook his head, expression nothing short of disappointed. “This may be a waste of time.”
Zev chuckled. Her cousin was enjoying the view from where he sat on a large flat rock by a brook. “She only lacks proper instruction. It’s not enough to tell her to strike your palms.”
Cassiel crossed his arms. “If you have a better method, then, by all means, do step in.”
Zev strolled over and helped her up. She got into position. “First, protect your face, Dyna. You leave too many openings. Second, mind your feet so you don’t trip over them.”
“All right,” Dyna said, looking down at her scuffed shoes. The soles had quickly worn down, allowing rocks to dig into her heels. They weren’t made for travel and wouldn’t last much longer.
“Set them apart, parallel to your shoulders and bend your knees. When you swing, use the force of your entire body. Your punch will land with greater force when it hits less than the full range of your arm.” Zev demonstrated, and she imitated his position.
Cassiel eyed her stance critically. “She does not exactly inspire confidence.”
