I wanted this. Particularly vengeance at the way Warrick had treated me. Idiot.
“Are you ready?” Silas asked, extending his hand toward the rack of training swords.
“Like you wouldn’t believe.”
“The others arrive,” he said in my ear as I joined him.
I saw them, too. Zac and Viv wore their battle leathers, the same as I’d seen that first day. Belle came through the double doors.
Silas gripped my shoulder. “One’s battle training is marked with honor, although because of who you are, we can’t afford to train you in the arena before your peers.”
I shook off his hand. “Your protectors are not my peers.”
I didn’t hear his answer though, for Davio shimmered into the room, and my attention zoomed in on him. He wore midnight pants and a billowy white shirt, with his sword belted at his side. He looked hot and so edible my mind scrambled fast to bridge the gap and merge.
He looked at me, then right past, his sight zeroing in on Warrick and Derick as they selected their blades. He headed straight for them. “I’m warning you both, inflict one unnecessary nick or scratch on my mate, then I’ll go for your blood. Keep her training clean and professional.”
He glared at Silas. “You arbitrate.” To the others, his voice boomed across the room. “Zac, you take the southern wall. Viv, the eastern. Belle, you’re on the western by the doors and I’ll take the windows. All eyes alert and make sure no one enters and disturbs these proceedings.”
They all took their positions.
I frowned, and Silas pointed to the rack. “The safety measures are necessary. Now choose your weapon.”
Walking along the line, I reached for the one whose energy hummed the strongest.
It was long and perfectly aligned, but as I wrapped my fingers around the hilt, chills raced down my spine. I focused, a dark vision curling around the edges of my mind. A forewarning, and these I couldn’t control.
I gripped the sword tighter, pushing for more as I saw a face emerge from the shadows. It was Derick, as he battled, and out of the fog, a blade punched forward, slicing deep into his stomach. He staggered, blood spurting as a man shrouded in red snatched at the gold chain at Derick’s throat, ripping it free. I gasped as the vision slid away.
I had never thought to witness anything so dark.
I struck out toward Derick. “Someone harms you, by use of this blade.” I tossed it to him. “Do you fast-heal?”
Smirking, he caught it and held it up. “Yes. We train with these blades. Getting hurt happens even though they’re blunted.”
Warrick clapped a hand to his back and laughed. “Ha, I believe I’ve cut you with that one before.” Derick grinned back at him and the two jostled shoulders together.
No, they weren’t listening and this was what my skill was about. “You have to hear me, Derick. I had forewarning. What I saw is real.”
Silas came forward, taking the sword from Derick. He ran his thumb over the engraving on the hilt. “This one is favored by Davio.” Lifting his head, he scrutinized me. “We’ll remove it today if it brings such harm as you speak. Will that do?”
I nodded. “Yes. Get rid of it.”
Tossing the weapon to Zac, the protector flashed away with the sword, reappearing seconds later without it. I sighed.
Silas placed a hand on my shoulder. “When one trains, you must use a blade that perfectly aligns to your grip.” He returned to the rack and withdrew another, passing it across. “This one fits a woman’s hand to perfection. It’s Viv’s baby.”
I took it, and the metal warmed in my hands and I relaxed. “It’s perfect. Thank you.” I lifted it to my chest, peering across at Davio who tapped his fingers restlessly on the windowsill he leaned against.
“Keep your eye on Derick. He approaches.”
Reacting instantly, I whipped around.
“Let’s begin this showdown.” Derick tapped his sword against mine, looking over my head at Warrick. “We’ll train in turns. I’ll guide her on movement and balance, and you can instruct on finding an opponent’s weaknesses and benefiting from them.” To me he said, “Now, copy my moves.”
He sliced a figure eight in the air and turned on me.
I twisted and just in time threw up my arm, our swords meeting with a crash dead center. I eyeballed him as I breathed rough. “Oh, you did so not want to go there.” Then I grinned, my heart racing. “Do that again.”
“I said keep it clean.”
Which had my blood firing. “Ignore him and push as hard as you like. Davio told me I’d be able to whip your butt today with this additional strength, and I’m going to since it’ll be the only time.” Yeah, these two men better watch out. Earth woman were smart and crafty. “You’ve been warned.”
Derick moved in swiftly. “I believe I might like you.” His sword rose–our lesson began.
Three hours and adrenaline surged through my body giving me a sense of euphoria.
Nothing could have prepared me for how I’d feel, how the rush would take me, the sudden clarity between mind and body and the torrent of energy which let loose. I fought against two men who far exceeded my experience and even though I didn’t have their skill, I had more energy from my wonderful rising.
Hours passed, and at times I lost my footing, but I was back up within seconds and rearing for more.
Silas entered the fray, coming between Derick and me. “Wait up a second.” He headed toward Davio and the two spoke, agreeing that I’d now moved into the full strength of my rising.
Derick bowed. “I’ll let Warrick take a turn.”
The fourth hour came and went. Then the fifth. The sixth.
I was having the best time.
Davio groaned, swearing as the eighth hour approached. He pushed off the wall. I kept an eye on him and the other on Warrick. “You’re not slowing down. Tell me how you feel,” Davio said.
“Like I’m on fire, and hating the thought that this won’t last.” Warrick’s attention diverted and I took advantage, cutting my sword over his left side. He barely caught the hit, stumbling as he did. Sweeping in behind him, I kicked the back of his knees. It was a dirty trick, but he toppled forward, and I dropped on top of him, mushing his cheek into the cold stone floor. “Sorry, Warrick, but a girl has to go through her–”
“I’ll get you back.” He groaned. “I never forget.”
Derick rose from his sidelined position, heading toward me. “It’s my turn.”
Davio flashed in front of me, slamming a hand into Derick’s chest. “You may leave and take Warrick with you. I’ll drag the rest of my mate’s rising out of her another way.”
Derick nodded, bent and helped Warrick to his feet. “Until the next time, Faith.” It was a promise I didn’t want to wait for, not with my emotions spiking.
I pushed against Davio’s back, trying to get past him. “Hey, come back here,” I taunted, jumping from foot to foot. “So what if you ignore one order–don’t be a wuss.”
With his body, Davio blocked. I shoved at him. He was an immoveable object.
With a snigger, Derick ’ported. Drat.
Spinning on his heel, Davio stared at me. “I’ve told you your strength is three-times what it should be. Calm down.” He heaved a deep breath. “I need to consider your next move.”
“You fight me. Or send for more protectors.” My eyes widened, and I skipped in place. “Oh yeah, do that. Send for more. Lots more.”
A ragged sigh. “I can’t. We’ve already seen this morning how a warrior can infiltrate the village and right now, I can only allow those who I implicitly trust near you.” He grabbed my hand, working his fingers underneath mine until he dragged the weapon free. “Let me rid you of this.” He tossed it to Silas.
“But–”
“No buts.”
“I need that sword back.”
“What you need is to move.” He sighed, taking my jumpy hands. “By my count the first three hours was about your battle skill train
ing, and the following five have seen you moving through your rising. My rising was six hours, and you’re still going strong. We need to up the ante and drag this out of you with speed.”
“With speed?” I watched Silas slide my sword back into the weaponry rack. I moaned and tried to push forward. “Let go. My fingers itch for it.”
He continued to block. “Look at me.”
I did. A small smile lifted his lips. “For speed, you and Silas are going for a hard run in the castle’s meadow.”
My mouth opened, and I heard a groan from across the room.
I glanced over, seeing Silas’s back sag. I rubbed my hands together. “I can see that’ll annoy him, so let’s do it.” I brought the image of the meadow into view, holding onto Davio and zipping straight there. Silas shimmered into view a second later.
“It’s almost dark.” It was the first thing I noticed. “My mother.” I clasped a hand to my mouth.
“Check in with Wincrest if you wish, but he would have told her what happened and still is happening.”
“You’re right.” My feet tingled, and I jogged in place. “I can’t go anyway.” I gave him a wink. “Sure you don’t want to run with me? I can make it fun.”
He tweaked my nose. “We both know I can’t be left alone with you. You have no self-control left, and I’m only holding onto mine by a thread.”
Silas swept in between us, pushing me back. “Right, let’s go. This is a large field, and we have it all to ourselves. Do your worst. If you can.”
His gibe was exactly what I needed to hear. There was nothing I liked more than competition. I headed out, and Silas came in behind me. Together we rounded the field. Again and again. Hour after hour.
Three hours passed, the moon rising to its fullest as I wished for the dark to finally drain me.
I heard Silas coughing, his breathing labored. He barely kept pace.
I felt for him…
What?
I double-checked. That couldn’t be right. I felt compassion for Silas?
I slowed and turned to run backwards. “Guess what?”
He whimpered. “You’re a pest?”
I laughed, then gasped, catching a hand to my chest as I panted.
“Damn, what’s that I hear?” Silas tapped his hands to his ears. “Are you short of breath?”
I was–I sensed it now, for each lungful of air was harder to come by.
I slowed, doing a full cartwheel with a grin, before I lost all energy and dropped to the ground.
I lay on my back, staring up at the twinkling midnight sky.
Silas flopped beside me and grumbled, “Heck, you’ve no idea how painful that run was. Silvie will not believe me when I tell her the feat I managed.”
“You mean I managed.” My hand fell hard on him. “I’d beat you up right now, but that’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”
The air swirled around us, and I merged as Davio knelt at my side. “That’s unbelievable. Eight full hours for your rising.” He reached over and clapped Silas’s shoulder. “My gratitude knows no bounds.”
Silas groused, “I’m sleeping in, and don’t think to wake me. Not for anything. Remember that no bounds in my books means unlimited days.”
A chuckle in answer, and Davio ran his hand over my brow. “I’m so proud of you.”
I stared into his gorgeous eyes. “I might be whacked out, but for some reason you still seem hot.”
He slid an arm underneath me. “Let’s get you off this damp grass.”
I snuggled closer, laying my head to his shoulder. “Can you show me to a bed? I’m not up for a water escape before slip and sliding all over the dome room.”
“A bed sounds perfect.” And just like that, the cool outside night air was gone as we made it to his bedroom.
It was as I’d seen from the image he’d given me that morning. His king-size bed had a royal blue comforter on it, and dominated the room of a size close to mine. Behind us were square-cut wooden windows facing the meadow we’d come from, and in front, three doors led out. One was partially opened, and I got a glimpse of a blue and cream tiled bathroom.
“Do you have a bath? Can I take one before I go to bed?”
“You can.” He brushed a kiss to my forehead and carried me in, settling me on a white wicker chair beside the bath. He plugged the hole and lifted the silver lever to run the water. “There’s nightwear in my dressing room for you. Your clothing should have been purchased and hung by now. I’ll zap in and get it. I won’t be a moment.”
“Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”
My head felt like a rock, and I rested against the chair’s headrest, my eyelids sliding shut.
“What?”
They pinged open, and I sat up, hearing him in the room next to this one. “Hold on, my clothing should have been purchased and hung by now?” I called. “Exactly what do you mean by that? Davio.”
He flashed back into the room with a small bundle in one hand. “Here we go.” He laid out a pair of brushed cotton pajama shorts and a lemon singlet-tee on the vanity’s smooth marble countertop. “After you had to borrow Silvie’s clothing, I contacted Seriah. She took Silvie with her after school to purchase some items you might need, and then passed them onto Crossley. Crossley is my personal assistant and very discreet. No other staff member enters my private rooms. He takes care of all my needs and oversees my schedule. You’ll meet him. He flits around.” Davio tipped a bottle of bubble bath over the running water, and as it streamed out, the scent of lilacs perfumed the air.
“I see. How long has this Crossley been around?”
He cast me a glance. “Since I was a small child. It’s important I have a trusted man around. He doesn’t speak of his duties to any other.” Opening the vanity door, he returned the bubble bath. “My parents and grandfather have their own wings elsewhere in the castle. You won’t come across them anywhere near here. These rooms are exclusively mine.”
A mountain of bubbles foamed. “Did Crossley leave that here for me?”
He pulled me to my feet. “I loved the way you smelled earlier. Crossley stocked the shelves. You’ll find a toothbrush and everything you might need there as well.”
“Okay.” I looked into his eyes. “You can go. I won’t take long.”
The bathroom door clicked shut as he left, and I shucked the sweaty clothes off. In the water, I let out a loud sigh. It was bliss to soak, and I stretched, feeling the ache of sore muscles.
Dunking my head, I washed my hair, then set my head on the rim.
I drifted.
“Faith.”
I slid down in the water, grabbing the sides. “Oops, coming.”
I dressed and dragged the door open.
Davio was there, and I merged my mind with his.
“Let’s get you into bed. You look ready to drop.” He set a hand to my waist, guiding me to the bed. Pulling back the covers, he tucked me in and came around the other side.
The light was extinguished, plunging the room into darkness, and the bed dipped.
His warm breath tickled the back of my neck as he moved a leg over mine. “I don’t sleep well without you.”
“So I noticed.” I tried to move, to turn toward him, but his leg was a solid weight. I sighed. “Sometimes I worry about you.”
“You needn’t.” His voice was a husky murmur as he stroked a hand down my arm, then he rose up over me, and I caught my breath. There was enough moonlight filtering through the gap in the curtaining for me to see his smile.
“Okay, now that’s what I call working for me.”
His lips brushed mine. “There’s no Belle or Silas to save the day.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck, twining my fingers deep into his hair. “You do realize their company is overrated.”
He laughed, then stopped, his gaze moving over my face, his heart beating faster. “I need to kiss you.” Then he did, kissing me the exact way I’d longed for all day, for he was my rock, the one man who wanted me
by his side and who never wanted me to leave.
Too soon, he pulled back, his breathing rough as he rolled to his side and tucked me in beside him. “Go to sleep.”
“You know one day, you’re going to stop ordering me about.”
A light chuckle. “I doubt it very much.”
I closed my eyes on a sigh, for I had no energy left to argue with him and certainly none left to remain awake.
Chapter 14
“Are you dressed?”
The sound of Davio’s heavy walk on the other side of his dressing room door had me scowling.
“No, I’m not.” I eyed the racks of clothing he’d had Silvie purchase for me, my blood temperature rising. It was unbelievable. There was more here than what Alexxis had brought me–which was crazy. “Would you give me some space for a change? You’re too close.”
He knocked on the door. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
My shoulders stiffened. “It looks like you’re trying to move me in, and right now I’m hyperventilating.”
“It’s noon and Crossley’s delivered brunch. I want to take you on a guided tour of the castle and show you my home. I want you to meet my parents and Carlisio. And Silas will be up shortly.”
I clenched my fists. “That’s what I mean by moving me in.” I turned around and continued yelling at him through the door. “Why on earth would you think I’d wish to meet any of the men in your family? Have you forgotten the battle of our blood?”
The door rattled. “I’m coming in.”
“I’m still in my nightwear.”
And then he was there, appearing out of nowhere and taking my hand.
“Drat, I forgot you could just poof in like that.” I glared at him. “And don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?” He leaned in and rubbed his cheek to mine.
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