Page 135 of Forcing Fate

He laughed outright at my reply and shook his head at the water.

“I came here to be alone.” For some reason, I felt the need to explain myself. The warmth in my cheeks deepened. “So, are we training today?”

He made a thoughtful noise and looked me up and down, as if judging something. After a pause, he pushed himself to his feet. “New game,” he stated.

“I was unaware that these were games, sir,” I said in a guarded tone.

He chuckled and tilted his head, watching as I stood to face him. “Drop the ‘sir’. Stop the pretense that you see me as your leader.”

“Well, today is the Solstice. If you wish, sir.” I beamed at him.

I felt far more comfortable and familiar with him than I should have. He was in a good mood, and I was pushing him back. The butterflies urged me on.

Cursed excitable critters.

He scoffed, stepping further onto the beach. Stopping a few paces from the water, he waved a beckoning hand toward me. I followed, but flashed him a wary frown, stopping a healthy distance away. When he was in a cheerful mood, I had to be on my toes. He would teach me some lesson, usually a painful one.

“Up the ante, shall we?” His voice rumbled.

“Play for reward?” I asked, unable to curb the grin that spread across my face. This could be fun. I wanted to know so much about him, about the war front.

“Whoever wins gets the reward.”

My smile fell. I likely wouldn’t win against him, motivated or not. The more important question was, what would he ask of me as a reward?

The butterflies roared with excitement.

“What kind of reward?” I squeaked, watching him drop into a fighting pose.

He grinned dangerously, and my heart answered his dare with a frantic beat. When had I begun to find him attractive? His dark eye danced above a strong nose and jaw. The cloth over his left eye made him appear roguish, dangerous, and exciting. My eyes traveled down his frame, noting his firm muscled chest. His abs weren’t chiseled like a pretty boy’s, but deep and thick, like a man who had grown into his body.

“Whatever we want,” he chuckled.

I swear his reply left me a little lightheaded. Flushing, I realized he caught me staring. I dropped into my fighting stance and tucked my fists close to my chin.

“Anything?” I clarified.

“Anything.”

I blew out a breath to calm myself. I would win—at least once I would win. And I already knew what I’d ask. A year ago, in the Dragon Canyon with Elispeth… I wanted to know what happened. Or perhaps I’d ask him to show me his wound—to prove I wasn’t afraid of it, that I wouldn’t find it ugly.

Lost in my thoughts, I failed to notice the shift in his weight and the sudden movement of his feet. He lunged, and I spun to the side.

Blast it! I knew better!

I cursed myself as he snatched me from behind as I spun, and wrapped an arm around my neck. I threw my feet high in the air and slammed them into the sand, bringing all of my petty weight down. He followed me, not willing to let go. I struggled to get to his side like the Dragon Lord had shown me, but he shoved me forward and sent me sprawling—and dove on top of me.

He crushed me into the ground, and I turned my face away from the sand, coughing. He released his grip and simply laid on me, letting his weight pin me to the sand.

“One. Two–”

“Three!” I finished for him, gasping and choking on sand, struggling to push his weight off.

His deep chuckle sent shivers down my spine as he rolled off. I rolled onto my back and sat up.

He lay on his side, watching me. “Question.”

I raised an eyebrow. Easy enough.

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