Page 6 of Queen of Serpents and Shadows

“Doren, come with me. We’ve got things to prepare.” I led him away, gesturing for the rest of the generals to follow me.

3

Ara

There wasn’tmuch space below deck, but it was enough for some practice space. We’d been down here for a while already and sweat rolled down my temple. Ryvin wasn’t even breathing hard.

“You can’t go easy on me if you want me to actually learn,” I reminded him.

“I’m not,” he assured me.

I gave him a skeptical look, knowing he was always thinking about how he could keep me safe. I knew that now. I trusted him. The thought sent a rush of something warm through my chest. I hadn’t truly realized how much I’d missed feeling that around him.

“You’re not eventrying to get to me,” I pointed out.

“When you pose a threat, I’ll fight back,” he said playfully.

I’d been trying everything and all I’d done was kick up the dust on the floor. The boat pitched just enough that I had to brace myself, the rocking sending me a little closer to him. I moved with it, charging with my knife.

Ryvin dodged, spinning away from my attack with a fluid grace that was only possible for fae. With a scowl, I turned, then ducked, aiming lower in the hopes of throwing him off. He jumped back, avoiding my blade again.

Pushing a loose strand of hair from my face, I turned to him, annoyed by how easily he avoided me. Frustration was building. It was a reminder of how much slower I was than the fae I’d be fighting.

I slid the knife back into the sheath on my thigh and balled my hands into fists, studying the cocky expression on Ryvin’s smug face. He didn’t have to go easy on me when he wasn’t even trying to get to me. So far, I’d failed to even get close enough to use the weapon.

Annoyance and a desperation to prove that I could handle myself crept in, making my cheeks heat. I wanted to win. I wanted to best him. He wasn’t even fighting back and I couldn’t reach him. What was I going to do in a real battle? This was exactly why Vanth had to stay on my heels. All those years of training had been worthless.

Until I found my magic. Anxiety made my insides twist. I’d called on my own magic, summoning water and getting help from a sea serpent. I’d missed the connectionfrom using it, but even if I could access it again, it wouldn’t help me here.

But something else could. Something darker.

I couldn’t hide the smirk as the idea crept in. I’d been so focused on defeating Ryvin on my own, I’d forgotten that I could use his magic. Pride had won over reason, making me want to prove myself as a fighter. But I wasn’t fighting other humans. I couldn’t win with human rules.

“What’s that look for?” Ryvin asked.

I could feel the darkness swirling, Ryvin’s magic coming to me as if it were my own. Shadows billowed around me, and I welcomed them.

“That’s what I wanted to see,” his voice was a purr, sending a chill down my spine.

He lifted his hands, sending his own shadows my way, but I deflected, creating a barrier of darkness that rose around me like a shield. Giving it all I had, I pushed the shadows forward with a grunt, sending them to him.

The ship rocked and I threw my arms out to catch myself, sending the shadows outward. When I regained my balance, dark clouds floated around my ankles, hovering over the floor like a haze of night.

Ryvin was picking himself up off the ground. “Well done.”

“Why didn’t you just say you wanted me to use magic? You said we were going to fight,” I pointed out.

“I want it to be instinct. Not reaction. I want you to use it with intention. Strategically. As a first option.” He wiped dust off his sleeves, then moved closer to me. “You can’twin against one of my father’s men with the skills you learned in Athos.”

I frowned, hating what I was hearing. Not because it wasn’t true. And not because the magic wasn’t intoxicating. I felt powerful when I called his shadows. I felt strong. It was addictive. But there was risk in using it.

He brushed his fingertips across my cheek, his brow furrowed as he studied me. “What is it?”

“What if I take too much?” I knew the consequences. “I can’t risk taking all your magic.”

“You won’t,” he assured me. “You’ll feel it. And the more you use it, the more you’ll notice it.”

“I almost did, though. When we were fighting in the throne room. I could have killed you. And you’d have let me. You wouldn’t stop me if I took too much. I can’t risk that.”

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