“Maybe?” I lifted the blade. “Careful, Lord Draven. I might take your pretty head off.”
He grinned. “Oh, I’d let you. Just to see the look on Kaelric’s face.”
My heart skipped.
I didn’t glance towards the shade tree at the edge of the training yard. I didn’t have to. I could feel him there, the same as always. Half-shadowed, arms crossed, unreadable.
Fast as lightning, Cassian stepped in, and I barely brought my blade up in time. Steel rang out, and he smiled like we were dancing instead of fighting.
“Good,” he said. “Now, again.”
We moved in a tight rhythm. Strike, block, pivot. Cassian’s moves were elegant, all precisionand flair, pulling each blow before it could hurt me. As practice went on, I noticed his smiles lingered a little too long. His gaze dropped once, just once, to my mouth.
“Your stance is better,” he said, voice low. “But your balance is off.”
He stepped behind me without warning, one hand brushing the curve of my hip, the other resting lightly on my lower back. Being held like this felt good. I wanted more of this, but not with him. With the angry wolf watching me from the trees. But what was the point of wanting something you couldn’t have? Or that didn’t want you back? I was better than that. Maybe I should be focusing my attention on someone who was focused on me back.
“Here. You’re leaning too far forward. Keep your weight centered.”
His touch wasn’t intimate, not quite, but it was intentional.
I let out a breath and stepped forward, breaking the contact.
“You’re supposed to be training me,” I said.
“I am.” His smile turned sharp. “Can’t help it if I enjoy it.”
Okay,thatwas intimate. Something in the air shifted between us. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like Cassian’s flirty attention.
I turned toward the tree to find that Kaelric was gone.
Just empty space where he’d been.
The loss hit harder than it should have, and Cassian saw it.
He tilted his head, tone softer now. “You know… whatever he said to make you sad, it wasn’t true.”
Was I sad? Was it that obvious?
I tightened my grip on the blade, forcing my voice to be steady. “We’re not talking about him.”
“No,” Cassian said, stepping closer again. “We’re not. But maybe we should be?”
“We should be practicing so I can stay alive tomorrow,” I told him. “Any clues as to what the next trial will hold?”
Cassian frowned. “I would tell you if I could. You know that.” His voice was low as he scanned my face.
I nodded. “I know.”
He glanced at Valkaryn and then back at me. “It’s designed so that you won’t survive it. I can tell you that.”
Chills raced up my arms. There were only two pairs left.Two. The House of Vexalor initiate and me. The rest had perished on the obstacle course from Hades, as I affectionately called it. Now that final course was designed to take me out?Mespecifically. The Elites never wanted me to win, I knewthat.
“It’s good we’ve been practicing sword training,” he said, and there was a widening of his eyes. Was he giving me a hint? It seemed like it.
I tipped my chin, indicating I understood his meaning. “Alright. Good. I should turn in for the night.” My arms felt like mush, and I needed a shower.
Cassian nodded and pulled my upper arm gently, drawing me closer to him.
