Page 25 of Her Ivory Flame

She let another breath out before pulling the axe from the now splintered wood and returned it to her hip.

“I’m willing to be your friend Declan, we have history neither of us can ignore.” her voice calming. “But harm anyone I care about again and I will be the first enemy you can’t win against.”

She turned and started across the room without a glance at Kaden or Silas who started totrail after her.

“Alyra!” Declan yelled and she stopped halfway to the door, glaring back at him over her shoulder.

“I won’t give up on you, I’ll never stop fighting to get you back. ” His voice was in a commanding tone throughout the room, all the soldiers in the hall silently watching and she almost felt like it was a public declaration rather than a thoughtful remark.

She didn’t give him the satisfaction of turning to look at him, her hands clenching into fist and she let out an irritated growl.

“Enough Declan. I’ve moved on and so should you.” Her voice was loud enough for everyone to hear, the awkward silence soaking into the tension for a short moment.

Silas moved to grab her but she just started walking towards the door again in a hurry.

She avoided Sila's attempt to talk to her when they split for the training area and he had to leave for the military offices the opposite direction. She knew what he would say, and she didn’t want to hear how she overreacted or how she should feel.

Kaden didn’t say a word to her as they spared that morning, his eyes watching her closely as she punched at his padded hands. She was lost in thought anyways and wouldn’t be good for any kind of conversation, even banter.

Declan had every right to be upset and she could feel the guilt eating her alive inside. Maybe if she would have come straight back to him after she recovered they would be married or even started a family. Kids were not her first choice but she knew it was customfor royals to bear children to keep the bloodline intact, especially hers.

Maybe they would have a nice house in the city or maybe have started rebuilding her home where she could create a new place for people to thrive. Letting others learn the customs of her people to pass down through the next generations.

None of that happened though, and now she was stuck with a hole in her chest she knew she deserved. Another reason she couldn’t move across that line she danced with Silas, the thought of moving on when Declan was so hurt made her guilt build even more.

She thrusted her fist into Kaden’s hand making him jolt backwards slightly, a frustrated tear escaping the corner of her eyes. Kaden stiffened but still didn’t say anything while she landed another blow on his opposite hand.

“You males can be so territorial,” she blurted out, another punch landing on the pad.

“Some, but not all,” he said dully.

“Which are you?”

“Depends on the situation,” he replied back and kept his hands up for her. “I protect what is mine but if I know my female can handle herself, I let her fight her own battles.”

Her eyes glanced at him for a second before she threw another punch. “Sounds like a lucky female.” she groaned.

“She will be when I find her.” he shrugged..

She kept punching, every ounce of thought going into how she needed to be better than she was. She wasn’t enough for anyone in the shape she was in from being a coward, and it wasn’t changing as fast as she needed to.

“Enough.” Kaden barked suddenly, her mind snapping out of thought and she realized her hands had a faint white glow to them. It was like a ghostly white fire wrapped around them but disappeared as soon as she lost her emotional thoughts.

“Well that’s something,” she mumbled.

“Take a break,” he demanded and she just glared at him before walking past him to the outer bench.

Draining her water canteen, she glanced around the rest of the yard and saw only a few other fighters training with them. Usually there were about twice as many soldiers around them, she looked to Kaden with a curious look.

“Ball preparations.”

Her heart sank for a moment, the thought of having to attend such an event so soon after arriving made her panic spark faintly. She wondered if she would recognize anyone there, or how many people were going to ask her questions she didn’t want to answer.

“You’ll be fine,” his voice sounded next to her as he joined her for a drink from his own canteen.

‘1, 2, 3…’she counted to herself trying to keep her panic down.

She didn’t say another word and walked back to the center of the ring, her eyes glancing at him. He took the hint, followed her backto the ring and raised his hands without any further words needing to be spoken.