Chapter 31
By the sixth day of the Lightguards’ stay in Vytanos, Corinne wondered if she’d ever feel at peace again. They were due to leave in the morning after holding a ritual in the sanctuary, and then she could breathe again. Maybe.
Because after they left, she’d have to face Aryel. This past week had felt like the days following her visit to the monastery, except this time the silence between them wasn’t what she wanted. Still, the anticipation of speaking to him more freely again was both comforting and terrifying.
I’m going to kiss you again before I leave Helaera’s earth, Corinne Anastos.
“Corinne!”
Her head snapped up as she stepped outside onto the training grounds, finally able to train outdoors in sleeveless shirts again. Danai waved her over to the grassy ring, and she smiled for the first time in days, jogging to greet them and Iliana.
“How’s your brother?” Corinne asked, stepping into the ring.
Iliana jumped down from the fence where she’d been sitting. “He’s doing well,” she said. “We’ll never be able to repay you for that, Corinne.”
“You don’t owe me anything,” Corinne said, shaking her head. “Our healing is a gift from Helaera.”
Iliana smiled before throwing her arms around Corinne, who returned her embrace.
“Did you two want to train?” Corinne asked when Iliana released her.
“Sure,” Danai said. “Or we could talk about why you and the prince have barely looked at one another since the ball.”
Corinne’s entire face heated. “The Lightguards are in the castle, and I have to remain disciplined.”
“You’ve spoken freely to us and Nik,” Danai said, shrugging one shoulder.
“Danai,” Corinne said, certain her entire face was red. “I beg you not to press me on this right now.”
With a sigh, Danai acquiesced. “All right. I’m sorry.”
“Oh!” Iliana exclaimed, startling both Corinne and Danai. “Corinne, I forgot to tell you that Aeson tested that ink from the note.”
Corinne had nearly forgotten about that entirely in the wake of Aeson’s injury, and in the revelation that she wasn’t the only Lightguard to receive such a cryptic message recently.
“What did he find out?” she asked.
Iliana frowned. “He said it was likely ink that originated in central Ashera. That’s unfortunately where most ink is made here.”
Corinne’s brow furrowed. Of course it wouldn’t be that simple.
“I found out other Lightguards received strange notes as well,” she told them. “Which isn’t good, but it does make it feel less targeted.”
“Strange,” Danai said, brow furrowing. “Perhaps they don’t actually know your secret. Or whether you even have one. Perhaps it was a guess to scare you.”
“Perhaps it was,” Corinne said, considering that for the first time. “Their investigations are ongoing. They’re also concluding the preparations and plans for shoring up castle defenses as well.”
“Oh trust me, we know,” Danai said, grimacing. Iliana nudged them sharply.
“What?” Corinne asked. They both looked at one another, hesitant. “Please tell me.”
“They’ve recommended Captain Ekhana make changes to guard shifts and rotations,” Danai said. “They insist they’re based on their expert experience in guarding the Boundary and the villages all around Ashera, but they are overly complex and it’s giving everyone a headache.”
“What Danai is trying to say is castle and city guards don’t have the intelligence to protect people as effectively as Lightguards,” Iliana said, trying to hide a grin.
Danai groaned and plopped onto the grass. “Perhaps so! All I want is to do my job and protect the castle,” they said. “And still have time to spend with my family and Nik.”
Corinne frowned. She and the other Lightguards had chosen their path, fully aware of the commitment and dedication it required. Guards here having to adapt to such duties without the proper training seemed unfair.
“I can see how that would be frustrating,” Corinne said, unable to think of anything else to say. Danai and Iliana couldn’t disobey orders any more than she could.
“Well, nothing we can do about it,” Iliana said. “Other than vent our frustrations by hitting something. Or each other.”
Corinne and Danai both laughed. She stood back and watched first, letting the two of them spar before she got involved.
Iliana’s ferocity still impressed her every time she saw her fight or sparred with her, and the two of them only got better each time they trained.
Corinne leaned on the fence, a smile settling on her lips.
“They’re quite skilled, aren’t they?”
Corinne flinched violently and whipped around, not having heard Aryel approaching. He stood back, his face contorting with suppressed laughter.
“Sorry,” he said, though he didn’t look sorry at all.
Corinne cursed herself, her entire body warming.
“Prince Aryel,” Danai said breathlessly, jogging to greet him, Iliana close behind.
“Just Aryel, please,” the prince said.
“Only when Captain Ekhana’s not around,” Danai said conspiratorially. “He’d have my head if he heard that.”
Aryel laughed. “Fair enough.”
“Did you come out here without a guard?” Iliana asked.
“One of them escorted me from the throne room,” he said. “Then once I walked out here, I told them I’d be perfectly safe with you two and Corinne.”
“No one safer,” Danai said, nodding sagely. “But now that you’re out here, did you want to train with us? We hear Corinne’s been working with you as well.”
Corinne pinned Danai with a look that promised murder, but they merely smiled at her innocently.
“Why not?” Aryel said, leaping lithely over the fence.
Iliana called for the attendant nearby, requesting several practice swords.
“Iliana and I just had a turn, so you two first,” Danai said, gesturing to Corinne and Aryel.
Aryel’s eyes met hers briefly before he took the practice sword and headed for the center of the ring. Corinne watched as he rolled up the sleeves on his tan shirt, baring his forearms, and another deeply inappropriate dream she’d had this week surfaced in her memory.
Helaera smite her. She handed her sword to Iliana and took the practice one before stalking after him.
“A true spar this time?” Aryel asked, one hand on his hip. “Not just drills?”
“Fine by me,” Corinne said, dropping into her stance. “Whenever you’re ready, Your Highness.”
Aryel quirked an eyebrow. “Back to that, are we, Sunshine?”
Corinne didn’t say anything, merely waited for him to strike, and when he did, she was ready. Thank Helaera sparring was such second nature to her.
Or it was, at least, until she caught a glimpse of Aryel’s smile as they fought, and her steps faltered. A quick counter on his part nearly made the sword fall from her hand, but she recovered, regaining her balance and composure. Almost.
“Feeling a little off today?” he asked, grinning wolfishly, and Corinne lunged at him. He dodged just in time.
“I could put you on your back if I really wanted to,” she said, circling him.
“I would very much enjoy that.”
The implication threw Corinne so thoroughly that her mind went blank, and when he attacked again, they both went tumbling to the grassy earth. He pinned her, the practice sword at her throat.
“Get it together, Sunshine,” he said, breathing hard as he hovered over her.
His eyes darted to her mouth, and for a wild moment, Corinne wondered if he was going to kiss her right there in the open.
Danai and Iliana cheered from the edge of the ring’s enclosure as Aryel got up, offering Corinne his hand. She took it, dazed.
“We can tell them you let me win,” Aryel muttered, pulling her upright.
Corinne returned to her senses and scowled.
“You promised no more jokes about nudity,” she hissed.
“I didn’t say a thing about nudity,” Aryel said, his voice even lower. “Not my fault if that’s where your mind went.”
Oh, it was entirely his fault, but Corinne couldn’t say so as Danai and Iliana approached them.
“Impressive,” Danai said to Aryel. “Corinne’s taught you well.”
“She has,” Aryel said. “Perhaps one day I’ll actually beat her without her letting me.”
“That’s my goal as well, but I’m not getting my hopes up,” Iliana said, stretching. “Corinne, are you up for another spar?”
If it would distract her from the images Aryel had conjured in her head, she was up for anything.
She and Iliana sparred several rounds while Danai spoke with Aryel on the edge of the ring.
Corinne threw herself into it entirely, letting her mind focus on the task of fighting.
They were both sweating profusely by the time they finished, lying on their backs in the grass as they caught their breath.
“I like him,” Iliana said, turning her head toward Corinne. “The prince, I mean. He’s different from what I expected.”
Corinne met her amber gaze, then glanced past her at Danai and Aryel.
“He’s different from what I expected too.”
When they finally peeled themselves off the ground and headed for the ring’s perimeter, Danai smiled brightly at their approach.
“You know how it’s more difficult for us to have our weekly dinner at my parents’ house?” Danai asked. “Since we’re both off duty tomorrow, Aryel’s invited to host us here.”
Iliana’s eyes brightened. “That’s kind of you, thank you.”
“Any friend of Corinne’s is a friend of mine,” Aryel said. “And to be quite honest, I’m rather sick of nobles at the moment.”
“Me too,” Iliana said, then her eyes widened, realizing what she’d said. “I mean—”
But Aryel just laughed. “I completely understand. So, my chambers tomorrow evening? Please bring Nik with you as well.”
“I’m supposed to be on duty then,” Corinne said.
Aryel shrugged. “You can guard me perfectly well while joining us,” he said, a twinkle in his eye, and that low, slow heat crept into Corinne’s abdomen again.
“It’s a plan, then,” Danai said brightly. “And speaking of food, I’m starving. Anyone else want to get lunch?”