30. Chapter Thirty Rhowyn
Chapter Thirty: Rhowyn
“Again!” Callum demanded as he disarmed me. I had to admit, he was good with knives, but maybe that was more my inexperience talking. In comparison, I was not even close. I was trying to do as he'd demonstrated, using the techniques and sequences he'd taught me, but he kept countering me. Each time I would strike out at him as he'd instructed, he'd either slip past my strike or disarm me completely. It was frustrating because while I was panting for breath, he hadn't even broken a sweat.
I knew from hand-to-hand sparring experience that I needed to do something he wouldn't expect, but I wasn't skilled enough to figure out what exactly that could be. An idea formed as I feinted and then switched directions quickly to strike out at him, praying that I'd be successful this time. I wasn't. He didn't fall for the feint, instead meeting my strike halfway, grasping my wrist and twisting hard enough that I had to relinquish my hold on the blade. He didn't stop there, though; he kept twisting, forcing me to flip and land on my back to prevent him from breaking my arm.
The whole thing was over in seconds, and I was left gasping for the breath that had been knocked out of me after landing so hard on my back. I laid there trying to regain my senses, Callum still holding my wrist. His eyes locked onto mine. I could see his judgment there, but I still didn't understand it. He wasn't happy with my progress, which only made my temper flare.
Just as I was getting ready to chew him out, Arryn stormed across the room from where he'd been doing his own training and trying to pretend he hadn't been watching us. “What the hell was that, Callum?” he demanded as he grew close enough.
Callum turned to face Arryn, still on one knee and holding my wrist. His grip tightened slightly at the question, and he ground his teeth together. “That was me training the Chosen so she might stand a chance in the trials.”
“She won't stand a chance if you break her arm or seriously injure her!” Arryn snapped back. He stopped with his arms crossed over his chest, glaring at Callum.
Callum stood with a growl, but a hand on mine drew my attention. Baer had snuck over while the other two got ready to go at each other and offered me a hand up. Gratefully, I accepted it. I was going to be sore tonight, despite the fighting shape I'd already been in. Apparently, knife training took a different set of muscles.
As I stood, my fatigue settled in now that I had taken the chance to catch my breath. I interrupted the brawl that was about to start between the two of the men before me, Baer still slightly behind me with a worried look on his face. “Arryn, calm down. I'll be fine. I've trained harder than this before for fights. Even injured, I was able to compete, so I'm not worried now. Besides, considering that this is a whole different world from what I've known, I would like to have at least some basic defensive skills with the knife. Callum's just doing as you asked him to. Taking it easy on me would only set me up for failure.” I turned to face Callum for confirmation. “Right, Callum?”
His eyes widened at my declaration, and he nodded, his jaw still clenched tightly. “Exactly. I do no one any favors by taking it easy on her. If you can't handle seeing me train her, you should leave.”
Arryn released a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger as he realized we were both correct. “You're right. I'll go check on Master Jude and find out when he can meet us to complete the binding ceremony.”
“Thanks, Arryn. The sooner I can find access to my magic, the better off we'll be, right?” I asked, thankful that he'd backed down from this. He really was rather levelheaded. It made me want to see what I could do to make him lose control of his always put together self.
“Exactly. I'll be back soon.” He turned toward Callum, who stood with his own arms crossed, his biceps bulging noticeably and testing the seams of his shirt. He really was stacked. “Just try to remember not to seriously hurt her. Without her access to magic, she won't be able to heal as quickly, and I can’t afford to expend all my magic healing her when we don’t know when the first trial is going to start. I need to keep my magic full just in case.”
He nodded, at least giving Arryn that much. Once he'd gotten that acknowledgment, Arryn turned and left, leaving us to continue the training.
My own temper having cooled down, I shook out my arms, the muscles wanting to cramp up with the inactivity. “So, what am I doing wrong?” I asked, turning to face Callum again.
“Nothing,” he said simply.
I huffed as Baer laughed, walking off to do his own training and to leave us to ours. “Obviously, I'm doing something wrong. I can't seem to get anywhere close to hitting you,” I pointed out.
“I've also been training since the time I could walk,” he replied, nonplussed.
I tilted my head from side to side in confirmation, but still couldn't shake the feeling of frustration and failure that was trying to grip me. “Which means I have a lot of training to make up for, but it does me no good if I can't defend myself even a little bit. If I can't even get close to you while using a knife, how will I be able to fight someone else off?” I asked, my frustration leaking into my voice as I continued.
He uncrossed his arms, studying me as I spoke. “I just told you I was one of the best, and you're upset that you can't get a hit on me? That seems like an unrealistic goal for a first training session, don't you think?” he questioned harshly.
I blew out a breath, trying to fight my temper, feeling stupid now. “I'm just used to being a lot more competent in combat. Hand-to-hand is what I know. I know that I'd be able to get a few hits in on you that way, but not with a knife. Why? It doesn't seem all that different. I should have an advantage because of my fighting experience, shouldn't I?”
Baer spoke up, reminding me he was still standing near us. “Maybe that's the problem.”
We both turned to glare at him, but he simply held his hands up to ward off our responses. “I'm just saying that watching you train, you're trying too hard to do it his way. You need to take what he's teaching you and apply it to what you already know. Surely there's some overlap that you can use to get you an advantage.”
I considered what he was saying, realizing he was right. I was treating this training as if it was something completely different. There were overlapping techniques in many of the physical arts. Like the footwork and movement of fighters could appear to have a dance-like quality if one paid enough attention. Or the flexibility of yoga being applied to Jiu Jitsu. The body movements shouldn't be isolated. I just needed to learn how to apply them in the right way.
Both Callum and Baer watched me now as the truth sank in. My brow furrowed as my mind started to race with the connections and possibilities. Then, a smile began to slowly unfurl on my face, mirrored by Baer.
“Now kick his ass, Killer,” Baer murmured, winking before he turned to go back to his own training. Callum huffed in response, his disbelief that I could do that evident.
Having Baer's belief in me bolstered my own confidence, and I felt ready to train again. I shook out my muscles that had started to stiffen while we’d been standing around and turned to face Callum. I held my hand out for the knife he’d taken from me earlier, ready to apply some of my ideas.
He placed the blade in my hand, and I closed it around the grip the way he had shown me, already the feeling becoming second nature to me. I found my stance, and he followed suit, waiting for me to strike.
Once I knew he was ready, I started moving as if I were boxing, testing his responses and waiting for the opportunity to close the distance between us. After a few minutes, I found the one I had been waiting for, and I took it, slipping inside his reach and swiping the blade across his arm. My blade split the sleeve of his shirt and caused red to rise to the surface of his skin.
I halted in shock, concerned for him, but he simply came back at me again, catching me off guard. I tried to step out of the way of his charge, but his long arms caught me too easily. His arm wrapped around my waist and spun me so that my back met his chest hard, his other hand having already found the one I held the knife in. He didn't disarm me this time, just forced my arm up to hold the knife against my throat, my hand still on the grip.
“Why did you stop?” he growled in my ear, his chest rumbling against my back, and I felt desire spike inside me. Holy shit! I shouldn't find this so hot, but I totally did. I desperately wanted him to nibble on my neck while he held me like this, but I knew this wasn't the time or place.
Forcing myself not to grind against him, I struggled to reply. “I've never cut someone I like before,” I admitted, swallowing hard.
“Do you think that anyone else would hesitate to kill you, especially after you cut them? Because they won't. They'd simply cut your throat right here. Do you get it? Do you finally understand that this isn't some kind of game? There are no rules here. Simply life or death, and hesitation ensures that you lose every single time.” His grip tightened around my waist with his words, his anger evident, even though he didn't raise his voice from the gravelly growl.
My own temper flared in response. “You think I don't realize the seriousness of this? That I think this is some kind of game?” I snapped back, trying to push out of his grip, hating the vulnerable position I was in now, and sick and tired of him always accusing me of playing games. “Trust me when I say I know exactly how cruel the world can be. It's why I refuse to be the same. That's why I stopped. You're on my side, and I don't like hurting others unless I absolutely have to.”
“How can you be so sure I'm on your side?” he asked, his strength not wavering as I slouched in his arms.
“You're here helping me, aren't you? You're training me. Why else would you be here if not to help me?” I replied.
“Am I? Am I helping you? I could be a spy, reporting everything I hear and see to someone else. So how can you be so sure?”
Starting to get a little concerned now, I pushed on his arm again, but he continued to hold me tight, the blade still against my neck. “My room is spelled isn't it. No one who means me harm can enter.”
“The sooner you realize that there's many ways to harm someone other than physically, the better off you'll be. And my harm may not be intentional, so therefore the spell on the room wouldn't work,” he replied calmly.
“What are you trying to prove? That you're some badass and I'm just some stupid little girl who can't handle my own? Don't you need me here as the Chosen? Because it's not like I have any choice in the matter,” I growled back.
“I just want you to fully understand the risk we are all in with you here. This may seem like some fairy tale, but this world can be so much crueler than anything else you've ever known.”
“Why don't you like me? Why can't you stand me?” I asked, fed up with his bullshit and needing to know what he thought I had done so wrong.
He didn't reply, simply released me from his hold, stepping back as Arryn came back with Lennox. No Master Jude with them. Both looked angry and frustrated.
“What?” I asked them, pushing the confrontation with Callum out of my mind, deciding to approach that conversation again later.
Baer walked back over as the guys met us on the mats. Arryn was the first to speak. “The Queen has requested our presence tonight. Which means we only have a short amount of time to make ourselves presentable. We need to go get ready. Everything else will have to wait.”
“Okay. That doesn't explain why you both look like someone kicked your puppy,” I muttered as we all made our way back to our room.
They exchanged glances with each other, no one answering me. Baer finally moved to link hands with me as we traveled the halls. He leaned into me, his breath caressing the shell of my ear, causing me to inhale and my insides to clench in anticipation, recalling our kiss from the other day and desperately wanting a repeat.
Instead of tugging on my ear with his teeth or kissing along my neck, he whispered, “We'll explain in the room, Killer. It's not safe to discuss here.”
My eyes cut to him, narrowing as he pulled back from me. I had way too many questions and not enough answers. He squeezed my hand in response to my obvious frustration. I smiled softly and squeezed back.
It wasn't his fault all this bullshit was happening. He was just as trapped as I was in all of this. Letting them off the hook, I asked, “So Master Jude won't be able to complete the bonding ceremony today?”
“Unfortunately, the Queen's summons’ takes precedence, and everything else must wait,” Arryn answered.
I huffed in frustration. At this rate, I'd never gain access to my powers or remove my glamor. I just had to hope that the trials didn't start until after. Otherwise, we were all doomed. As if sensing the train of my thoughts, Baer squeezed my hand reassuringly, his thumb rubbing the back of my hand in a soothing pattern. I held tighter to him, thankful for his positive demeanor during all of this uncertainty.
I tended to be quite negative since nothing in my life so far had ever gone as planned, but whenever he was around, I found myself hoping for the happily ever after, even though I knew that was a fairy tale that would never come true. He gave me a sliver of hope that maybe, just possibly, I might find some happiness in the end. And for that, I didn't want him to ever let me go.
“Thank you, Juniper. You' ve outdone yourself again.” The woman who had just spent the last hour helping me prepare for our summons deserved all the praise in the world.
She blushed. “Nonsense, Miss Rhowyn, it's always my pleasure. Please be careful tonight. It doesn't take much to wind up on the Queen's bad side, which is a place you don't ever want to be, especially lately.”
Her warning sat more like an omen on my shoulders, but I brushed it off, smiling at her instead in reassurance. She left me alone after that, so I turned to face the mirror, admiring her work again.
Tonight, she dressed me in a navy gown that felt like silk against my skin but was even lighter than the sheer Earth material. The bottom looked like it had been dipped in stardust, gems smattered thickly along the hem and slowly thinned out as they climbed the gown. The front was a plunging v almost all the way down to my navel. Which meant that underwear was not an option tonight, but I had to admit I looked stunning.
My hair was pulled up elaborately with a necklace and earrings winking in the light. I'd never worn anything so glamorous, and I couldn't help but enjoy the overall effect it had on me. While I would enjoy it while it lasted, I refused to allow myself to become attached or accustomed to the pampering. To do anything else would leave me broken whenever this inevitably didn't pan out.
Tossing my head in the mirror to eliminate those thoughts, I moved to the door to join the guys, a knock sounding on the door just as I reached for the handle. I swung the door wide to find Baer leaning against the frame, hands in his pockets, smiling at something the others must have said. He straightened when he caught my eye, the smile fading to be replaced with hunger.
That heat reflected my thoughts toward him. If I could, I would drag him into the room to have my way with him. His nostrils flared, and his pupils dilated, the tension in his body letting me know he felt the same way. Our eyes traveled the length of each other’s bodies before he stepped closer to me as if drawn by the heat I knew was in my gaze.
I could see the battle being waged between wanting to give me my heart's desire and knowing we had somewhere else to be. Which only made me want to push him more.
Feeling powerful under his gaze, I stepped into him, my hand going to play with his formal tunic. I could smell his fresh, rainy scent, which caused me to sway into him, aligning our bodies as much as I could. His hard length pressed against my lower belly and that rush of desire had butterflies assaulting me again. His nostrils flared as a soft moan escaped me, and his hands grabbed my hips, clenching hard enough to bruise.
Tilting my head up to face him, I silently begged him to kiss me, to push me backward into the bedroom and have his way with me.
Instead, he groaned as he scrunched his eyes shut and flexed his hands on my body again. “Rhowyn.” My name fell from his lips like a prayer. Both of us wanting to give in to the desire coursing through us, but knowing we couldn't.
“As much as I would love to watch him ravish your delectable mouth, we mustn't keep Mother waiting,” Lennox said, interrupting our moment and startling me.
I turned to find him leaning against the opposite side of the door frame, heat raging in his eyes as well. Well, Fuck! I'd expected to see anger or jealousy or even indifference after our encounter. Despite what they had told me, I hadn't expected to see lust. But now that I could see their obvious interest, I couldn't help but picture what it would be like between them. To be so wholly consumed.
I could see the evidence of their desire as I squirmed in Baer's grip. His desire grew harder as his nostrils flared, and I heard Lennox's deep inhale.
“Fuck, Princess....” His eyes darkened further, almost navy blue now with obvious lust. My gaze dipped involuntarily to see the outline of his impressive erection in his breeches. My hands clenched into the fabric of Baer's tunic to keep me from reaching out.
Lennox stepped into the space at my back, one hand going to my waist and the other wrapping around under my breasts, pulling me flush against him. A shiver shot through my body straight to my core as he leaned down near my ear. “You keep this up and I just might consider facing the wrath of my mother.” He then ground his erection into my back, sandwiching me fully and tightly between him and Baer.
I moaned loudly at the feeling of both of them, pressing back into Lennox before letting my hand trail down to run along Baer's length through his pants.
“Fuck me, Killer!” Baer exclaimed as Lennox groaned. It was then that I felt something I'd never felt before. Truly powerful and wholly desired. Never before had such powerful men shown such an interest in me.
Until now, I didn't truly believe that I could hold their interest or fully satisfy multiple men at once. But in this moment, I found myself believing I just might be able to. Not only that, but I might also want such a thing.
That realization made me want to explore more with them and Arryn. Hell, I'd even add Callum into the mix, but he hadn't shown the same interest as the other three. If anything, I felt like I was more of an unwanted burden or simply a responsibility. I'd be damned before I ever took things further with him without the same interest as the others. However, I'd be lying if I said that I didn't want his attention.
“What kind of trouble are you causing now, My Chosen?” Arryn asked behind us, humor and heat evident in his voice.
I huffed out a soft laugh as Lennox backed away, allowing my sanity to return. I peeked around Baer to find Arryn's eyes filled with mirth. “Me?” I asked innocently. “I'd never do such a thing. Trouble is not ever something I would get into.” My attempt at naivety failed, and I wound up laughing at his raised eyebrow and complete disbelief.
I pushed away from Baer, the distance allowing my head to clear more. “Alright, alright. I'm ready to go now,” I told Arryn as I smoothed my hands down to ease the wrinkles that now littered my gown.
“Let's go,” Arryn said, full of humor as he turned to lead the way out of the suite.
Before I could follow, Baer leaned down to whisper, “Hold that thought, Killer, because after our meeting, I plan on continuing our conversation .”
With that promise, he followed Arryn out the door, not bothering to even look back at me. With an amused smirk, indicating he'd heard Baer's words, Lennox winked at me, hands in his pockets as his shoulder brushed mine before he followed them out.
Fuck me! A shiver ran down my spine at the heated images that flashed through my head at their promises.
Movement off to the side had me turning my head to catch Callum pushing off the wall with a scowl and clenched fists, obviously not happy with the others' interest in me. He stomped out of the room, his broad shoulders barely fitting through the frame, his perfect ass and backside only pissing me off more. How could I be so attracted to such a dick?!
Well, fuck him. For once, I had a chance at maybe some kind of happiness, and I planned on enjoying it for as long as I could. Up to this point, my life had been one nightmare after the next, without any security. So now that something good could possibly be in sight for me, I wouldn't let some jerk stand in my way.
I could be professional, cordial even, but he had no right to judge me for wanting more. He didn't have to be a part of it, and I would try not to rub it in his face, but I deserved this opportunity. I was going to grab it with both hands and hold on for dear life.
With that conviction in mind, I followed them out of the suite, just on the heels of Callum.