My mouth dropped open. “What?”
“Yeah.” Saion laughed again. “Fucking chaos erupted. We knew what that meant, especially Kolis. You see, Kolis supposedly pulled that shit all the time back when he was the true Primal of Death. Except he did it when someone pissed him off. But, either way, Nyktos had our souls. None of the other Primals could touch us. We belonged to him.”
Stunned, I rocked back. I knew that Nyktos could do that, summon a soul with a touch, but somehow, I’d forgotten just how deadly and dangerous he could be. “Can Kolis still do that?”
“I don’t believe so. If he could, I imagine he’d be doing it left and right.”
Thank the gods the bastard couldn’t. “What happened after he did that?”
“Well, Phanos was ticked off. Strangely, it amused Kolis. He saw it as Nyktos one-upping Phanos or something,” he said, and I thought about what Nektas had said about how Kolis believed Nyktos was loyal to him. “Either way, there was nothing to be done. Phanos went back to his Court super pissed, and we were taken into the Shadowlands.”
“He gave you back your souls, right?”
“If he did and Phanos ever found out, he could claim us once more.”
That wasn’t a direct answer, but I was willing to bet Nyktos returned them. Those who served the Shadowlands didn’t do so because they had to or because Nyktos had something as valuable as their soul. He would’ve returned it, and Saion and Rhahar were wise enough to keep that to themselves.
“He saved your lives,” I said, glancing up at him. “We’re not the only lives he’s saved.”
I knew that, but still… Nyktos’s actions were a lot to comprehend. Even thinking what would have happened if I’d successfully killed him
made my heart stop and my chest ache. I picked up the glass of juice, finishing it off, but it did nothing to ease the knot in my throat or fortify the sudden weakness around that crack in my chest. “I…I truly believed that my duty to kill Nyktos was the only way to save my kingdom.” I cleared my throat, my voice barely above a whisper. “No one—and I mean, no one
—can hate me more for that than I do.”
“You know,” Saion said, “I actually believe that.”
The tips of my ears burning, I rose from my chair, suddenly needing the quiet I had fled not so long ago. “I think I will return to my chambers now.” I glanced at the young draken, who still slept. “Should we wake Reaver?”
“He’ll be fine.”
“You sure?” It felt a little wrong to leave him while he slept.
Saion nodded as he stepped out into the hall, waiting for me. “If you wake him, he’ll likely get a bit…snappy. With his teeth, not his words.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Then I think I’ll leave him be.” “Wise choice.”
I walked to the back set of stairs similar to those at the end of the wing where Nyktos’s office was located and pushed open the door. The faint sounds of metal clashing with metal echoed in the stairwell. Saion showed no reaction to the sound, but curiosity sank its claws into me. I went to the exterior door.
“Where are you going?” “Nowhere.”
“It definitely looks like you’re going somewhere, and it’s not your bedchamber,” Saion muttered.
I cracked open the heavy door and peered outside. I immediately spotted Nyktos in the shadow of the Rise, lifting a broadsword. I told myself it was because he was taller than the dozen or so others with him as he met another’s blow. Or that it was the warming in my chest, the faint humming of the ember that belonged to him. I convinced myself it had nothing to do with the anticipation, the eagerness that sprang to life upon seeing him.
Saion moved in behind me, looking out over my head at the guards squaring off in pairs. “They’re training.”
“I figured,” I murmured, enraptured by how Nyktos moved. There was a predatory gracefulness in how he used his large body, springing forward and back as if he were light as air.
I watched, thinking of how he’d saved Saion and Rhahar through clever trickery. What price did he pay, though, once Kolis’s amusement faded? Because even though Kolis believed Nyktos was loyal to him, he had still impaled gods on the Rise.
Nyktos brought his sword down on his opponent’s with enough force to disarm the guard. He caught the other sword, then aimed both blades at the man’s throat.
A restless yearning swirled through me as Nyktos clasped the man on the shoulder. I looked away, quickly finding Rhain and Ector paired off with unknown guards. There’d been days in Lasania when I’d had to drag myself into the east tower to train. Days I’d wanted to spend doing only what I chose to do. But training had kept me occupied and maybe even helped to keep those moods I experienced at bay.
I wasn’t used to existing like this, with my only options to pass the time sleeping, reading, or roaming around while annoying others with my presence. I wasn’t used to not having a purpose.
“Thought you were headed to your bedchamber,” Saion reminded me. “I was.” I nibbled on my lower lip as Nyktos motioned another guard
forward—one thickly muscled and fair-haired. “Was.” Saion sighed. “Past tense. Great.” I ignored that. “How often do they train?”
“Every day, usually for a few hours in the morning.” “I used to train every day.”
“Congratulations,” he replied dryly.
Training was something. And I should be training, keeping my reflexes honed. There was only so much I could do alone. I looked over my shoulder at Saion, my mind racing. “Would you rather stand outside my chambers staring at a blank wall or train?”
He glanced down at me. “Is that a trick question? Of course, I’d rather be training.”
Determination seized me. “Then let’s train.” His brows shot up. “Train. With you?”
“Yes.”
Saion made a choked sound. “Sorry. Not going to happen.” I frowned. “Why not?”
“Because I’d prefer not to be gutted by Nyktos, which is exactly what would happen if I raised a sword against you, training or not.”
“That’s ridiculous.” “It is what it is.”
I gaped at him. “You’re serious, aren’t you?” “Yes.”
“Did Nyktos give that order?”
“Not in so many words, but it’s not one that needs to be spoken aloud to be known and understood.” Saion sighed as I turned back to Nyktos and the guards. “Why do I have a feeling you’re about to do something ill- advised?”
Maybe I was, but I didn’t care. I wouldn’t spend another day wasting away in my chambers. I couldn’t. I would no longer just exist, becoming a lifeless spirit that roamed halls instead of the woods. Not when I was done living as if I had no say in my life. And hadn’t I already decided that? Spoken it? It was time to act upon those words because things had to change. Pushing the doors open wide, I walked outside.
“Knew it,” Saion muttered.
The halves of my gown fluttered around my legs as I stalked across the courtyard. Several of the guards immediately noticed me, halting as I drew closer.
Nyktos blocked a blow with the side of his sword as his head snapped in my direction. His features were all cold lines and angles.
“Hold.” He barked out the demand, and all across the field, training stopped. Guards began to bow in my direction.
“Your Highness,” I said, more politely than I had ever said two words in my entire life.
A flicker of eather appeared in his cool gray eyes, joining the wary gleam to his stare as he faced me fully. He briefly glanced at Saion and then snapped his attention back to me. “Are you taking a walk?”
Taking a walk? Like the fine Ladies of Lasania would stroll through the gardens of Wayfair? I almost laughed. “I would like to know if it’s possible for Saion to train with me.”
“Whoa.” Saion’s head whipped toward me. “I told her that wasn’t possible.”
“He’s afraid you will gut him if he does,” I continued, aware of Ector’s and Rhain’s slow approach. “Which I’m hoping is an exaggeration to hide the fact that he’s simply nervous that I will be far better with a sword than he is.”
“That is not the reason,” Saion shot back. “What you said first was the truth. I’m simply nervous that my insides will end up on my outsides.”
“Why would you be worried?” I challenged, clasping my hands together. “I doubt you will hurt me; therefore, Nyktos would have no reason to harm you.” I looked at the Primal. “Correct?”
Nyktos said nothing, but the hue of his eyes deepened.
“I wouldn’t hurt you intentionally,” Saion started, “but I am a god.” “Congratulations,” I cut in, mimicking his earlier tone.
Saion’s eyes narrowed. “Therefore, I’m far stronger than you.” “Strength has very little to do with skill when it comes to a sword,” I
said.
“She’s actually right,” Ector chimed in. “Ector.” Saion turned. “Can you shut the—?”
I snapped forward, grasping the hilt of one of Saion’s swords and pulling it free. Saion spun toward me, his eyes widening as Ector choked on a laugh. “I have a sword to use,” I announced, facing Nyktos and smiling up at him. “There’s a multitude of logical reasons for why I should continue my training. But since your guards are too nervous to train with me, then shouldn’t it be you?”
“Hell,” Rhain murmured.
I lifted the sword, leveling it at Nyktos’s throat. “Or are you also…
nervous?”
Silence descended in the courtyard as Nyktos stared down at me. Wisps of eather began churning in eyes that had heated to quicksilver. “Nervous is the last thing I’m feeling at the moment.”
Ector cleared his throat as he eyed the packed dirt.
“Good.” I didn’t allow my mind to take what he said straight into the gutter. “Then you should lift your sword.”
The only thing that lifted was one corner of his lip. “And if I don’t?” “You will find yourself in grave need of a feeding.”
His eyes became a fire of Primal essence, ignited by either anger or something I chose not to think about at the moment. “You do realize that most men would take their soon-to-be Consort holding a sword to their throat in front of their guards as a great offense.”
“Which is one of the reasons I find most men to be easily offended.” The sword’s hilt felt good against my palm, the weight welcome. “But you’re not like most men, are you?”
“I suppose not since most would send their wives to their chambers for such an act.”
“Soon-to-be wife,” I corrected softly. “And if you order me to return to my chambers, my grip on this sword may slip an inch.”
“Accidentally, of course.”
Aware that we’d gained quite an audience, I smiled tightly. “Intentionally.”
Nyktos’s short laugh was rough, throaty and…warm. “You want to train with me? What are you waiting for?”
“You haven’t lifted your sword.” “I don’t need to.”
My head cocked to the side as I glanced down at his weapon. He held it, tip pointed at the ground, not at the ready. Which meant only one thing. He believed he didn’t need to defend himself. Keeping my anger in check at the unintentional—or not—insult, I lowered the sword I held. Our gazes locked as I began circling him slowly. If he believed he needed no defense, so be it. That would be his mistake. I waited until the other side of his lip quirked up.
Then I attacked.
Nyktos was fast, deflecting the blow without even facing me. “You went for my back.” He looked over his shoulder at me, smirking. “I should’ve known you’d fight dirty.”
“And I should’ve known better than to overestimate your skill.” His brows lifted. “Is that so?”
“Even a novice knows to never turn their back on someone with a sword.” I made a quick, clean swipe with the blade along the back of his neck, nicking a piece of hair that had fallen free of the knot.
He spun on me, his eyes narrowing. Someone let out a low whistle as the lock of hair fell to the hard, gray soil.
“Huh.” I feigned wide eyes. “These shadowstone swords are sharp.” “Touché.” He struck out, not nearly as fast as I knew he could, but the
blow of his sword connecting with mine rattled my entire arm, proving he wasn’t entirely holding back.
“If you want, I could use a trim.” I thrust the sword at his chest.
He cut the blow with a swipe of his blade. “I would never dare even think of cutting one strand of hair on your head.”
“Too bad.” Secretly pleased, I tracked his movements as he circled me, keeping the sword partially lowered. It was far lighter than the one he carried, but I knew my muscles would grow tired, nonetheless. I also knew I had no hope of holding my own against him if he truly decided to stop holding back.
But this wasn’t about winning.
“Now that I have your attention,” I began, watching him carefully.
“You have my full, undivided attention now.” He practically purred the words, chin dipped and eyes glowing from behind his lashes.
Muscles low in my stomach curled. “I understand that I need to be watched.”
“That’s good to hear since we’ve already discussed that to the point of it being repetitive.” He thrust.
I parried, lifting my sword with both hands and blocking his strike. “I wasn’t finished.”
“My apologies.” He started to bow—
Shooting forward, I spun and swung back with the hilt of the sword, slamming it into his stomach. Nyktos grunted out a harsh curse.
Muffled laughs and whistles echoed through the courtyard as I danced out of arm’s reach when he snapped upright.
“Ouch,” he coughed out with a laugh.
I faced him, smiling not so tightly. “As I was saying, I understand you feel it necessary, even though I’m sure Saion would rather babysit Jadis while Reaver avoids her than follow me from chamber to chamber.”
“You know,” Saion drawled from the boulder he now sat upon, “I would actually have to think long and hard about which one would be preferable.”
“I’ll watch over her,” a guard offered, and I gave him a quick glance. All I had time to see was that he was the fair-haired guard I’d first seen Nyktos with. “Seems like it would be an entertaining duty.”
“That won’t be necessary, Kars,” Nyktos growled, his fangs appearing.
Pleased by his reaction, it took a lot to stop my grin. “Nor will I be forced to remain in my bedchamber to read or knit or whatever.”
“No one said you needed to stay in your bedchamber at all times.” Nyktos stalked toward me, sword raised as he stopped. “Wait. You knit?”
“What do you think?”
“I don’t know.” He dragged his fangs over his lower lip. “But I have a feeling you’d do terrible things with a knitting needle.”
“Give me a pair and you’ll find out.” I swung on him.
Nyktos shot forward, blocking my blow as he caught my sword arm with his other hand. He hauled me toward him. My breath snagged at the feel of his chest against mine. “As much as I enjoy your threats of violence, you should spend less time making them and more time getting to the point behind why you interrupted me.”
“But I so enjoy threatening you,” I said, driving my knee up. Several curses exploded from the onlookers.
Nyktos dropped my wrist, using his thigh to avoid a direct hit to a very sensitive place. “The gown you were in yesterday was a distraction,” he whispered, his gaze dropping to where the swells of my breasts strained against the black lace of the bodice. “But this one is rather indecent.”
“As I said before, your failings to keep your gaze from straying is no reflection upon me.”
“I would have to be made of stone for my gaze not to stray.” A strand of reddish-brown hair fell against his cheek as his chin tipped down. “But I’m only flesh and blood, and you are…”
“What am I?”
“You are flesh and fire.”
“Then you should be careful,” I taunted, “lest you become nothing more than ember and ash.” Twisting sharply, I broke his grip and backed off, winking at him. “I need something to do.”
“Other than being a distraction?” “In addition to that.”
Nyktos laughed, making his move then. He swung hard—hard enough that if he’d connected with my sword, he surely would’ve disarmed me. I darted to the left and spun, swinging my blade down. The impact echoed through the courtyard.
“Nice,” someone shouted—possibly this Kars or Ector. I wasn’t sure.
There was no fighting my smile as it spread across my face. “I need to be training.”
Nyktos brushed the now-shorter strand of hair back from his face as he straightened. “You do realize that if you wanted to train, all you had to do was ask.”
My eyes narrowed. “Really?”
“Really.” He swung again.
I dipped under his arm and spun, kicking out. My slippered foot connected with his midsection as I arced the sword up and around. The guards shouted as Nyktos leaned back. My sword cut through the air where his chest had been. He backed off, his eyes glimmering in a way Holland’s did whenever I surprised him in training, and he approved of whatever I’d done.
I was practically floating as I circled him. “I’m asking now.”
“I’m sure there is more.” His sword was at the ready. “Unless you plan to spend all day training. If not, tell me what you want.”
“I want to attend Court,” I said after a moment. “Now. I don’t want to wait.”
“Should I be taking notes?” Rhain asked from where he leaned against the boulder Saion sat on.
“No need.” Those silver eyes were locked onto mine. “I won’t forget a thing.” He wiggled his sword at me. “What else, Sera?”
He spoke my name like a kiss. I barely suppressed a shiver. “I want to be involved in any plans regarding Kolis instead of being told about them after the fact,” I said. “Or not told at all. I want the truth when it comes to your plans regarding him.”
“Is there more?”
There was, and it came to me just then—something that should’ve been apparent the moment Attes left after delivering his message. I lowered my voice so only Saion and those by the boulder could hear. “I don’t want to wait to go to the Vale. We need to act on that, sooner rather than later, no matter the risks involved.”
A muscle flexed in Nyktos’s jaw. “Anything else?” “I want to see my stepsister.”
“Sera—”
My sword clattered off Nyktos’s. “I know the charm only works on me while I’m in the Shadowlands, and that going into the mortal realm is also a risk, but it is one I’m willing to take. That is my right.”
That muscle in his jaw was ticking even faster.
“And I know you are trying to keep the embers safe—” “Not just the embers.” He deflected my blow. “You.”
I stumbled, quickly regaining my footing. “I…I appreciate that, but it is my choice, and I have gone along with everything you’ve wanted…”—I
saw the incredulous lift of his brows—“mostly. I need to let Ezra know that we are doing what we can to stop the Rot but that she should prepare just in case something goes wrong.”
“Is there more?” Nyktos growled. More?
“Suppers,” I blurted out. “What about them?”
I lifted the sword, blocking his blow. “I no longer want to take them alone,” I said, keeping my voice low.
His sword lowered an inch. “Just your supper?”
I swung, driving his sword to the side. “Just my supper. And I…I want to help.”
“In what way?”
A fine sheen of sweat dampened my forehead as we thrust and parried. “In whatever way I’m needed.”
Nyktos’s eyes brightened. “And who determines how you’re needed?” “I do,” I said, starting to pant while Nyktos showed absolutely no signs
of tiring. “As do you.” Nyktos halted.
I struck. My blade cut through the air, nicking Nyktos’s arm. I spun, kicking out and aiming for his chest.
He caught my ankle and held it firmly. The skirt split apart, revealing my skin from mid-thigh down to where his hand circled my ankle, exposed to the heated intensity of his gaze. His calloused palm was rough against my bare flesh, sending my blood rushing through me in a heady, dizzying wave.
“You’re staring at my unmentionables again,” I breathed out, and it had nothing to do with the fight.
His eyes met mine. “I know.”
“Pervert.”
Nyktos smiled, released my ankle, and drove his sword, tip down, into the ground. I started to turn, but he grabbed my arm, spinning me around. I tried to twist free, but he was quicker, pulling my back against his chest. His head dipped as his hand slid down my arm. The heat of his body against mine and his breath on my neck sent a sharp jolt of awareness through me. “You realize I now need to tear my guards’ eyes out?”
“Why?”
“Because they, too, have seen your unmentionables.”
“Worth it,” someone called out.
Nyktos growled, the sound vibrating through my back and down my rear, where I felt the hard length of him pressing against me. An aching heaviness pooled in my breasts and lower, my chest rising and falling quickly.
“That’s unnecessary,” I said, each breath quick and full of his clean scent.
“Is it?” His fingers pressed into the tendons of my wrist just enough to make my hand open. There was no resisting it. The short sword fell from my grip and clattered to the ground.
“It also makes you seem quite…possessive.” I turned my head to the side, my stomach clenching as his lips grazed my cheek. I dropped my voice to a whisper as I lowered my right hand to my thigh. “Of what you refuse to claim.”
Nyktos stiffened behind me.
Jerking to the side, I shoved my elbow into his stomach hard enough to catch him off guard. He let go, reaching for the sword he’d put in the ground as I whirled, but I didn’t go for it.
I didn’t need to.
Nyktos froze as silence fell over the courtyard. His gaze dropped to the shadowstone dagger I held at his throat and then flicked to mine.
I smiled at him.
“Bravo,” he murmured.
A round of applause and hoots broke out across the courtyard, and my smile grew wide. “Who will train with me?”
“I’m sure there is now an exceedingly long list of volunteers,” Ector commented, his words met by several raucous affirmatives.
“I will,” Nyktos said, his voice stirring thoughts of tangled limbs and balmy nights. “You going to lower that blade now?”
Laughing under my breath, I withdrew the dagger and sheathed it. “Better?”
“Not sure.” He straightened, his eyes never leaving mine.
Warmth crept up my neck as I clasped my hands once more, fully aware of the avid stares. Clearing my throat, I pulled my gaze from his and looked at Saion. “I think I will return to my chamber now.”
Saion stared and then tipped his head back, laughing deeply. “Fates,” he murmured, sliding off the boulder.
“Until later,” I said to Nyktos.
Nyktos watched me with intense silence as I picked up Saion’s discarded sword and handed it, hilt first, to the god. I took a couple of steps toward the doors and then stopped, turning back to Nyktos and his guards and giving them the most elaborate curtsy I was capable of.
There were chuckles, even from the reluctantly amused Rhain, but it was Nyktos’s deep, rough laughter that stayed with me.
