Chapter 14
She heard the door slam open, her body lurching straight up from bed and pulled the covers up with her. She barely had time to cover herself when Kaden came storming into the room.
“I’ve been knocking for over a minute.” His eyes locked on her and she could see them dart to Silas who rolled over casually to stare at him.
She felt a shift as Kaden’s nostrils flared, no doubt the scent of what they had done last night evident in the air. She watched his hands clench, the only sign of his irritation when his eyes moved back to her.
“Get dressed, we are already late for training,” his voice cut through the air like ice.
“Give her the day off,” Silas snarled. “She’s been training for five days straight and dealt with a lot last night. One day isn't going to hurt.” Silas sat up, his arms resting on his lap starring Kaden down who narrowed his eyes back at him.
“The king ordered me to train her. Would you like to tell him you are fucking her when you are supposed to be protecting her and are keeping her from training?” She had never heard such a lethal tone from Kaden, her arms pulling the sheet higher on her chest.
“It’s none of the king's business,” Silas said back casually. “Nor yours.”
Kaden’s nostrils flared again and she swore she saw something flash into his eyes, not anger but something else she couldn’t quite place.
“It is my business when it affects my orders.” He moved his eyes to hers. “Get dressed.” he snapped and turned to walk out the door.
“She stays.” Silas growled.
Kaden paused and she swore she saw a flicker of something on his fist but the light in the room was shading them.
“It’s ok,” she stated, both males looking at her. “I need all the training I can get.”
She placed a hand on Silas’s shoulder and he reluctantly nodded.
“You have five minutes.” Kaden demanded before leaving the room and slammed the door behind him.
- - - - - - - -
“Again,” Kaden yelled at her with an angry tone.
He had been on edge all morning, his eyes watching her as she picked up her sword from the ground after he knocked it out of her hand.
“Can you stop being such a dick,” she snapped back at him.
“No,” he growled back.
Before she could process his tone he was lunging at her again, sword swinging towards her and she blocked it just in time before he would have sliced her arm open. Her hand tightened on the hilt of her swords, the jewel responding with a slight flicker and she shoved him away with all her strength.
Her hand sparked white again, her anger fueling her arms and she swung first towards him this time. He blocked it with ease and a sudden move of his leg made her fall down on her side against the hard ground.
“Again,” he demanded again.
“What the hell is your problem?” she yelled at him as she got to her feet.
“You are.” His voice was cold and she felt hurt slam into her chest.
“Are you really that pissed about Silas and I?”
“He is distracting you,” he snarled. “You are supposed to be focused on your training and this war, not fucking your guard in bed.”
Her chest tightened and she could feel her body start to heat even more in fury. She clenched her free hand into a fist at her side, the other tightening on her sword again.
“He may be a guard to you, but there is more history between us than you know.” She glared at him, her body fully aware of the others around them staring.
“Don’t forget that I was there when he told us the story. He’s the heroic enemy guard that just happened to get you out of the Veiled King’s prison that no one else could find, even most of his own males.” His voice sounded venomous.
“You don’t know anything.”
“I know he should be doing his job and not thinking with his dick. Though, the way you throw yourself at him, I wouldn’t blame the guy for wanting in your pants.
” His eyes narrowed on her and she felt it all happen too quickly.
Something rumbled inside her, the crack in her wall expanding and she could feel her power surging.
White light spun around her fist before she threw her free hand at him, a line of white flame darted forward and hit him square in the chest. His body launched backwards, his back slamming into the ground a few yards outside the training circle.
The training yard went quiet and she found herself staring at her outstretched hand in disbelief. There was a faint glow to it, a hint of flames flickering around it that only lasted another few seconds before disappearing.
“Well that's progress,” he said with a painful groan.
Rolling onto his side, she watched him rise from the ground and stared at her with a curious look.
“You don’t know anything about what’s happened in the last century other than what I told you so do not assume you know me. Do not insult me again.” Her voice was sharp and she could see the others around them get back to training.
“You’re right, I don’t know you, but how well do you know him?” His tone was condescending and it made her want to slap his judgmental look off his face.
“Fuck you.” she barked furiously at him and then turned to walk to her water pouch on the bench. How dare he question her relationship with Silas when he barely knew her.
He joined her and she could feel that new spark of power spiraling inside her, her anger fueling it.
“What is it with you and him anyways? Do you not trust him?”
He set his pouch down next to hers and cleared his throat. “My opinion of him doesn’t matter, especially to you. Back to training.”
She grunted with annoyance in response and followed him to the center of the ring again.
How well did she really know Silas though? Sure they had spent a few months together right after he rescued her, but then visits were just once a year for a few days. Could she know him that well just from the short amount of time they spent together?
Her heart sank but she pushed the new feeling of doubt away as Kaden swung at her first again, his eyes indicating he knew she was distracted. She blocked it just in time again and then swung another blow towards him. He dodged it like usual and soon she was on her back again.
“Keep focused,” he barked.
She sneered at him and got back up onto her feet. She could feel a very small trickle of power now, a constant feeling and she knew that small crack was the beginning of something. A new feeling coursed through her, one of strength and she narrowed her eyes on him.
“Fine,” she snapped. “Let’s keep training.”
If he was going to push her, then she would take it without complaining from here on out. Whatever they were doing was working, and she couldn’t wait to feel the full force of that power flowing back through her.
Hours later they walked through the castle grounds with dirt and sweat caked all over both of them. She had stepped it up later in the day, knocking him around a few times and even got a small applause from others in the training circles.
Anger still coursed through her at what Kaden had said. Even though he said it, it bothered her so much because deep down, she knew he was right about most of it even though it angered her.
She was a Royal now, a soon to be Queen that should be careful who she courts and with whom she does business. Since she had been in isolation so long, she didn’t think of the repercussions of what she did, even though it was what she wanted at the time.
Kaden was also right about not knowing Silas all that well but she would never admit it to him. She reminded herself of Silas’s rescue, his care and his annual visits, but other than that what did she really know? What had he been doing back here in the capital and who were his friends?
Being alone for so long made her judgment clouded and regret started to surface again. She was at a loss at what to do, but she needed to start acting like a Queen and there was no negotiating that.
“You’ve been unusually quiet,” Kaden mumbled next to her as they walked back towards her room.
“Must be nice for you,” she snapped back.
He didn’t answer and they continued to walk in silence all the way back down the corridors and many staircases. She saw people staring as she walked by but kept her eyes forward just wanting to collapse on the bed waiting for her.
As soon as she opened the door to her room, she knew that was not going to happen seeing Raine waiting for her with a concerned look on her face.
“I’m sorry my lady, but I’m afraid the king would like a word with you urgently. He’s in the throne room.” Raine’s voice was shaking and it made her wonder what she was about to walk into.
She groaned and ran her hands over her face before looking up at Kaden next to her.
“Guess we better go,” she growled and started back out the door.
Kaden followed in step behind her and she glared down the hall with every step. This better be something actually urgent and not a stupid political agenda.
She pushed the heavy door open a few minutes later and she stormed across the room, her eyes watching Emris closely. He rose from his throne and splayed his wings out to show his authority to those around him.
Logan was there taking notes, Declan and Silas next to him and a few other castle guards she didn’t know.
“Alyra,” Emris said in a smug tone.
“I am not your pet to be summoned wherever you wish,” she barked and stopped a few feet from him crossing her arms. Kaden halted beside her and she could feel him tense for an unknown reason.
“Yet here you are.” He smirked and she furrowed her brow towards him.
“What do you want?” she asked.
“Before the final battle, you were engaged to Declan, correct?”
She nodded knowing he already knew the answer.
“I think in the interest of making a statement of unity, we should continue with that arrangement.” Emris’s voice was more of a command than a suggestion and she could feel the fury swell in her blood.
“No.” she snapped harshly.
She could see Silas flinch out of the corner of her eye but he kept her gaze on Emris, who instantly morphed his face into anger.
“It would show your loyalty to us,” Emris added.
“I don’t care.” she snarled. “You will not tell me who I am going to marry, you are not my king and I refuse to be a pawn in your political agenda.”
Declan stepped forward, and she shot a death glare at him.
“The king makes a good point,” Declan said while halting next to Emris. “It would give our people hope and confidence that you are fighting with us.”
“Your people are not mine.” Her hands falling to her side with clenched fists. “My people were murdered, slaughtered because someone in this kingdom told Mavros of our plan. It is not my problem if your people don’t have confidence in their incompetent king.”
Emris raised his hand in an attempt to strike her, but she was quicker and threw her little bit of magic she had been nurturing at him right at his chest. White flames burst from her palm and sent him flying backwards into his chair a few feet away, his wings crashing against the back of it.
“Alyra!” Declan scolded her and ran to Emris who was rising to his feet.
“We are done here,” she snarled and turned to walk out of the throne room.
“Grab her!” Emris yelled from behind and the guards started to move closer to her.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Kaden’s voice boomed through the room and everyone paused, her eyes glancing from him to Emris.
“Careful what you say Kaden, you are very close to committing treason.” Emris snapped.
“Respectfully my king, you need all the soldiers you can get, don’t waste their deaths because you picked a fight with the most powerful warrior known.” Kaden said calmly.
“My king,” Silas finally spoke. “She will fight back and your guards will die. Let her get back to training and she will surely fight for you.”
She kept her eyes on the king but stayed aware of the guards that stopped a few feet from her.
“If you think I would ever support a male who carved me up for months on a stone slab, then you are delusional. I will fight for you, but I will not marry a male I do not love to prove it to you.” She kept her voice even though she felt furious enough to rip his head off.
The tension in the room changed, the new information she just divulged winding through people in surprise. She even saw Kaden jerk his head towards her out of the corner of her eye but kept her gaze on Emris.
“Fine.” Emris snarled, the look of surprise leaving his face but still held in his eyes.
Without another word she turned and walked out of the hall, and tried to keep the sickness in her stomach at bay. A few memories of her time as a prisoner flashing into her mind and she swallowed the lump in her throat to keep herself steady.
A few feet down the hall, Kaden had walked in step next to her and he leaned over slightly, almost brushing her shoulder.
“You’re welcome,” he said plainly.
“For what?” she asked harshly.
“Keeping you out of jail.”
“I will die before anyone locks me up again,” she mumbled and quickened her pace back to her room, exhaustion weighing her down with each step.