Chapter 10
The room was dark when she felt the mattress sink next to her, the fireplace the only source of light and the vanilla scent wrestled her out of her sleep.
“There you are,” she said softly, reaching her hand to find his warm chest moving towards her. He didn’t say a word before pulling her close to him and her head landed on his chest, his heart beating faster than normal. “You ok?” she lifted her head, her eyes trying to adjust to the darkness.
“I’m fine. Go back to sleep,” he whispered into her hair and grabbed her hand on his chest tenderly. His thumb rubbed the back of her hand idly, something that felt so natural.
She could tell something was wrong, and she lifted her head higher to look at his face. Even in the small glow of the fire, she could see the bruising on the side of it.
“What happened?” Worry engulfing her.
“I’m fine.” His hand leaving hers and cupping the side of her face.
“You’re not. Please, tell me?” Her eyes searching for any hint of an answer.
He sighed and lightly rubbed his thumb against her cheek. “Declan and I had some words that turned into an altercation. I had to do some extra drills tonight as punishment. I promise I’m fine.” He pulled her head down to his and left a light peck on her forehead.
“Was it about me?” her voice was shaky.
“Yes.” his other hand lightly tracing her spine. “He’s still upset I hid you from him. I understand, he does still love you and he is hurt.”
“Doesn’t mean he gets to treat you like that,” she growled. “I’m not his possession.”
“You are his ex-fiancée though, and he thought you were dead.” He casually traced her facial scar again, the touch making her spine shiver instead of tense. “You have to give him time to adjust.”
“He should be grateful for you if that's the case; you saved me,” she whispered as she closed her eyes as his hand cupped her face again
“Maybe, but in his mind I’ve stolen you away from him. He isn’t blind Alyra, he can see that we are close.” Silas moved his hand and rested it on the bed next to him, letting her situate herself back down onto his chest.
“I can handle Declan, please don’t worry about it.” His head rested on hers with their hands intertwined again. “If he hid you from me, I would feel the same way.”
She didn’t know how to respond to his confession, her heart almost lurching out of her chest. Being around him for this length of time just magnified her feelings, but she still felt she needed to keep him at arm's length, at least until she healed herself a bit more.
Unable to find words, she snuggled herself as close to him as possible, his warm body keeping the spring chill from bothering her. Something felt off to her but she couldn’t detect the exact source of the feeling and shrugged it off, she was probably just tired.
“You’re right about Kaden, he seems like an ok guy,” she whispered, his words to her earlier this evening repeating in her head.
“I know,” he whispered, his voice sleepy.
“But you are better.” She kissed the back of his hand before settling quietly on him. He didn’t say anything more and just gripped her tighter before they both fell into a blissful sleep.
- - - - - - - -
“Declan!” Alyra yelled as she entered the food hall, other soldiers looking up to stare at her from the lined tables along the edge of the massive room.
Silas had told her not to react, but when she woke and could see his injuries that were slowly healing in the light, all she saw was red.
She bolted from her room in a hurry after she dressed and Kaden had to jog to catch up to her. She knew Silas would catch up eventually but her mind was only on the male that injured the only person she cared about.
Declan’s head turned towards her, no doubt her presence catching everyone’s eyes.
She had on black training leathers that hugged all her curves, Ljós strapped to her back in full view.
Her hips were adorned with her axe with another dagger on the opposite side, and her hair was in a ponytail on the top of her head glistening in the light.
“Alyra.” Declan replied as he rose from his seat at the back of the hall.
She kept her eyes glaring at him, her feet crossing the room quickly with her shoulders radiating tension. Declan had a smile on his face that quickly faded when she stopped on the other side of the wood table.
She pulled her axe from her hip and slammed the blade quickly between his resting hands into the table, her eyes not leaving his.
“I’m going to say this once, so you better pay attention.” The hall went quiet as her voice echoed off the stone walls. “I told Silas to keep my secret so I’m the one you have a bone to pick with, not him. Next time you decide to pull punches or rank, you find me and we will settle it.”
Declan stared at the familiar axe she was still holding on the table for a moment and then returned his attention back to her.
“It was just a squabble between males, it happens.” his eyes moved to Kaden who was standing behind her. “Nothing to do with you, or the fact that he kept you from me.” His tone became quieter.
“Don’t fucking lie to me.” Her hand started to shake, a white spark flashing and then disappearing around it. “I’m no longer your possession, Declan.”
Declan saw it, his eyes widening and then looked up to her with shock. She kept her glare fixed on him, her eyes blazing with such fury that even the person sitting beside him recoiled.
She felt a body come up behind her, a hand softly wrapping around hers that was on the axe handle and she let out a ragged breath.
“Alyra, let it go,” Silas’s voice whispered in her ear.
His voice snapped her out of her trance, her eyes finding his hand on hers before looking back at Declan. His expression turned cold at the arrival of Silas behind her and she could see him puff his chest out.
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 to trail 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 custom for 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 back to the ring and raised his hands without any further words needing to be spoken.