CHAPTER 22
After lunch, I changed into one of the black leather tank tops.
Now that they knew about my markings, there was no reason to hide them.
Every guard and servant I passed glanced or stared as I walked by, so I hastened my steps to get to the sparring ring faster.
Zendryk was already waiting for me, dressed in his leather armor, and Ulric was perched in his usual chair by the water table.
I had both swords in my hands as I approached the ring, and Zendryk turned towards me, “Leave them on the ground over there.”
I did as he said and walked over to where he was as he picked something up off the ground beside the weapons rack.
“Here, you will want to wear this.” He handed me a black leather corseted shirt that looked reinforced and difficult to move in.
“You’ll need to be protected if we are going to use swords.” He said, hands stretched out towards me.
I took it from him and slid it over my arms.
“Here.” He walked behind me and started lacing up the leather strings, making sure each one was secure and tight.
“Not your first time with a corset, I presume?” Teasingly, I asked.
He laughed. “No, it isn’t.”
My stomach dropped at his response, and the thought of him lacing another woman’s corset made my stomach flip unpleasantly.
“Almost there.” I felt the last tug near the small of my back as his hand brushed my hip before letting go. “All done.”
I twisted, trying to look, but couldn’t see anything. I could see the capped sleeves covering each of my shoulders, and I brought my hand up to one of them. They were stiff and would protect my shoulder and neck in a time of need.
I turned and faced him, “Thank you.” His eyes grazed down to my chest, and I followed with my own.
My breasts were plumped up from how tight the corset was, pressing against the boundaries of the fabric.
My eyes shot back up to his, and his eyes were devouring mine and my body.
An animalistic need lingered behind them.
I could have sworn shadows swirled around his feet.
“Can you guys just fuck already?” Ulric shouted at us from across the ring.
I. Was. Mortified.
“Shut it, Ulric,” Zendryk yelled in response and flipped a finger his way.
A small smile spread across my face, and I bit my bottom lip, trying to conceal it.
He reached out, his thumb gently tugging down on my chin, pulling my lip free as his thumb grazed over my bottom lip.
“You’re biting your lip again.” That was all he said.
A soft exhale left my body as he removed his thumb from my lip; I closed my eyes, trying to ground myself in this moment. When I opened them, he was moving across the sparring ring away from me. How does this man make me forget everything, and at the same time irritate the hell out of me?
“Let’s start with some hand-to-hand before we practice with weapons. You know, just a warm-up.” He stretched his arms above his head, pulling on an elbow.
A warm-up? I was already warmed up just from his touch. But if he wanted a warm-up, then I would give him one.
I smirked before bursting into a run, tackling him around the waist. I threw my leg behind his feet and pulled back, causing him to trip. I let go of his waist as he fell and flipped my arm over him, landing on him and pinning him from his side.
“Rule one, never let them know your next move,” I repeated the words he said to me on day one of training.
Shocked, but proud eyes stared up at me. “You’re learning.”
His leg swept around mine, anchoring them together, flipping me off him and onto my side. I rolled quickly before he could pin me.
“I am.” I pushed myself off the ground, and he did the same.
We were facing each other, standing a couple of feet apart.
“What’s your next move?” He asked.
I took a step back. “Who says it's mine to make?” I raised an eyebrow at him, challenging him in response.
Were we… Flirting?
I didn’t have time to think before he swept low, trying to knock my feet out from under me, but I jumped in time to avoid the kick and took a couple of steps back to stay out of his reach.
He regained his stance, “Very good.”
“Thanks.” I ran and aimed for his waist again.
He went to block me by sprawling his arms out in front of him, ready to deflect my incoming strike, but at the last moment, I slid down to the ground, grabbed his left arm as I did, and pulled it down hard.
He stumbled forward and fell face-first into the dirt and let out a sound of pain mixed with an oof.
I was standing before he rolled over. My god, did he ever look good, even when he’s covered in dirt.
He placed his hands above his head and pushed off the ground, kicking his legs out to get up.
I anticipated this move before he even started it.
Before he could stand, I was on top of him, pushing him back down, pinning him with my arm against his neck, and the other ready to strike.
He looked at me, really looked at me, in…
. Awe? Sitting on top of him, I could feel his ragged breathing against the sensitive area between my legs, and it sent electricity pulsing through me.
Heat started to gather… there… with each breath he took.
I closed my eyes for a moment and looked down at him, fighting my desire to devour this man whole.
He’s been playing games with me; now it was my turn.
He might have been playing checkers, but I was playing chess.
So, I bit my lip. Hunger and need consumed his eyes, and then they darkened as he stopped breathing.
The shadows around us began to move in rhythm with his breathing.
“You’re not playing fair.” He whispered so only I could hear him.
“I just know my opponent,” I replied, smiling. “Do you submit?”
His breathing steadied, “More than I want to admit.”
I smiled in victory and got off him. He lay there for a moment, gathering his composure before getting up.
He was completely covered in dust, dirt, and sweat, and he dragged his hand up through his hair, tousling it just right.
I was walking a dangerous line here, but it was harder to resist the temptation of him.
He had someone else he was vying after, but a little flirting here and there couldn’t hurt anyone, could it?
I dusted off my pants as he walked over to the water table to grab a drink. He came back with a glass for me, too.
“Thanks,” I said, and took a sip of water.
No response, he took a drink of his water. The sun was warm, and when he had about half a glass left, he poured the rest over his head, and then shook his hair out, dragging a hand through it again, pushing it off his forehead.
Close your mouth.
I didn’t even notice I was gaping, but I snapped it shut immediately.
Ulric was the one who taught me the basics of weaponry: how to hold them, how to strike properly, different techniques, and positions.
We only started with one sword, he said, I would need to learn coordination before even trying to bring the other one in.
He had bales of hay brought out so I could practice my aim and swing, as Zendryk sat by the water station observing every move I made, and it was all I could do to focus on what Ulric was saying.
Before Ulric finished his lesson, a guard approached and said the King and Queen requested Zendryk's presence, so it was just Ulric and me in the sparring ring now.
“Ulric?” I asked and swung the sword at the bale of hay in front of me, shattering the straw in half.
“Yes, that’s my name.” He was bored and trying to entertain himself.
“Funny. Can I ask a favor?” Another swing, and more straw went flying.
“You’re already asking for favors? Do go on.” He looked at his nails, picking at something on one of them.
“Zendryk mentioned that there is going to be a ball in a week.” I swung, less enthusiastically, only cutting a couple of pieces.
“So I’ve heard.”
“I …. I never learned how to dance. It wasn’t high on the things to learn in the village or at The Academy.”
“And you want me to teach you.” Not a question.
“Just forget it, I’ll figure it out.” A more forceful swing this time.
He sighed. “Look at where you want to strike, not at the blade. And yes, I will help you. Before breakfast each day, we will practice. Get there an hour before we eat.”
A weight lifted off my chest, and I was grateful for him in this moment. Another point goes to him for being a good guy.
“Now, strike again, but look at the target.”
I struck and hit exactly where I was looking.
Zendryk had a guard bring word that the rest of the lessons for the day had been canceled due to an urgent matter and that I had the afternoon to myself.
Ulric was accompanying him with whatever it was, so I had no one to teach me.
After I cleaned up from the morning sparring and training session, I decided to explore the manor, hoping for a chance to find Maya and spend some time together, if that was even possible with Jane hovering near her.
I had to figure out a way for us to see each other more.
Jane was keeping her under lock and key after our encounter, no doubt trying to get back at me.
I walked up and down every hall that I was allowed to; some were off limits and guarded; the King and queen's quarters, I presumed. Stopping at the end of the guarded hallway, I could hear a commotion coming from one of its rooms. The guard didn’t say anything and just stood quietly at the hall's entrance. Shouting could be heard, but the voices were too muffled to know what was being said. That is, until a door swung open and Queen Leyala stormed into the hallway, door slamming shut behind her. She gathered herself before looking down the hallway towards me, frozen in place, unable to move. She shot me a look of disapproval and scowled before regaining her composure; the ice storm took over her face. She didn’t say anything and continued down the hall to another room, closing the door in frustration behind her.