“Lucie! Hold those daggers higher,”Freja barked loudly.
Lucie panted as she wiped the beads of sweat off her forehead. They’d been training for hours in the hot sun. Her mother was unforgiving with her training. You did it until it was perfect, and then you continued to practice it perfectly.
Her mother dashed toward her, daggers flashing as they caught the light. Lucie spun to meet her, steel ringing sharp as silver struck silver. The impact jolted up her arm, but she held firm, twisting with the force before breaking away. She launched backward into a clean flip, boots hitting the ground hard as she dropped into a low defensive stance, breath steady, eyes locked.
The next attack came fast. A kick aimed for her ribs.
Lucie brought her forearm up just in time, the blow thudding against bone. Pain flared, but she didn’t hesitate. She drove forward instead of retreating, shoving into the strike and redirecting it, forcing her mother off balance. Momentum shifted in an instant.
Now.
She lunged.
Their bodies collided, the ground erupting in a burst of dust as they went down together, rolling, grappling, fighting for control. Fabric tore. Steel scraped. Neither gave an inch.
Then stillness.
Both lay locked in place, chests rising and falling, blades pressed tight to each other’s throats.
“Well done, Lucie,” Freja said, panting heavily.
“Good thing the voidless don’t fight like you two do, or we’d be done for,” a familiar voice said from a distance.
Lucie turned her head to see Jasper standing at the edge of the clearing. He looked completely fine. She smiled widely and jumped to her feet, sprinting toward him. He wrapped his arms around her.
“You weren’t worried, were you, Lucie?” Jasper asked, his tone playful as he patted her back.
She looked up at him with bated breath. She was dying to hear about what happened, and of course … Derrick.
He smiled down at her warmly. “Everyone is fine. Everyone. We had no casualties except for the voidless. Also, we got some unexpected help. A few fire breathers took out a massive army all on their own. Very convenient, huh?” He looked up at Freja, who only shrugged with a smile.
“Anyway, everyone is fine. I dropped a bag off at the house for you … from Ryan. It’s a shirt of his.” Jasper looked up at the sky, then winked down at Lucie. “He said you’ll sleep better wearing his scent, and so will he.”
Lucie giggled. It was a possessive move, trying to cover her body with his scent. But he was right. His scent would help her sleep. “He’s okay though?”
“Physically, he’s fine. I think he already misses you like crazy, though. But who wouldn’t?” Jasper grinned. “Except maybe now. You’re gross like this, all covered in sweat,” he teased playfully.
“Mom has kept me out here for hours,” Lucie groaned, throwing her mother a look.
“You are reprieved. Let’s go get showered up.” Freja watched her daughter smile brightly as she trotted back to the house. She fell into step beside Jasper, and they slowly strolled back together.
“I’m taking her with me,” Jasper said quietly.
“I know,” Freja whispered. “Keep my babies safe.”
“Always.”
CHAPTER 36
“Wait … now? As in we’re leaving right now?” Aedan said, running his fingers through his hair.
“I promised we would head out today. Lucie’s mate wants her where it’s safer.” Jasper watched Hunter and Freja walk toward them.
“We’ve made preparations for your departure,” Hunter said with a small frown. Even though it was to keep his children safe, he didn’t like not having them close. He would feel better when they were at least at the dragon kingdom.
Lucie walked down the stairs as she heard her father speak. “We’re leaving now?”
“Yes,” Freja said with a faint smile. “But we’ve made arrangements so that you’ll get to your destination safely.”
