Page 17 of Condemned to Love

"So what do you think? Can I fight?" I ask them directly, my voice steady despite the adrenaline still coursing through my veins.

Nikolai's intense amber eyes meet mine. "You've shown you can hold your own," he says, a note of approval in his voice. "You should train with us."

Jessa nods, her fierce hazel eyes alight with the same determination I feel. "I don't think you'll have a problem keeping up."

I glance back at Aldric, eager to see his reaction. His expression remains guarded, but I catch a flicker of something—respect? Approval?—in his piercing silver eyes.

His jaw clenches as he stares down at me, and I wonder if his pride is going to get in the way again. Aldric might be the most devastatingly handsome man I have ever seen — gods, why can't I stop staring? — but he can be a jerk, too.

"So?" I stare up at him, waiting for him to finally concede.

His eyes roam my face, slipping down my body and back up. I try to tell myself he's just assessing me as a warrior, but it doesn't stop me from heating up as his gaze licks my entire frame.

I'm practically trembling — and not from anticipation — when he finally meets my eyes again. I can tell if I want to tackle this asshole and make him let me join the battalion or finally give into my desires.

But with every second that ticks by, it's definitely becoming the former.

9

ALDRIC

Iglare at Elowen, frustration bubbling beneath my calm facade. She stands defiant, her chest heaving from the exertion of our fight, eyes blazing with determination. Her tenacity gnaws at me, but I can't deny her skill. Finally, I grit out, "Fine. You can train with the battalion."

Her eyes widen slightly, then narrow in focus. "Thank you," she replies, voice steady despite her obvious fatigue.

"Get in line," I snap, pointing to the training grounds where the rest of the vrakken battalion is already engaged in drills. "They're training now."

Without hesitation, she turns and jogs over to join the ranks. Her fiery hair bounces with each step, a stark contrast against the dark clothing she wears. As she slips into place among the Vrakken warriors, I can't help but let my eyes roam her body.

Her skin glistens with sweat, highlighting the strength in her compact frame. The curve of her muscles and the fierce determination in her movements make her even more tempting than before.

I shake my head, pushing those thoughts aside. This is about war and survival, not distractions. Striding over to the front ofthe battalion, I bark out orders. "Alright! Today we're pushing limits. No holding back!"

The warriors respond immediately, increasing their intensity. I keep my gaze on Elowen as she keeps pace with them, her movements precise and calculated. She doesn't falter, not even when the exercises become grueling.

"Elowen!" I call out sharply, drawing everyone's attention to her. "You're not here for a stroll in the park. You want to fight? Prove it."

She nods once, determination etched on her face. She matches every move of the vrakken beside her, sweat pouring down her temples but never slowing her down.

As we continue training, I set exceptionally high standards for her—higher than for anyone else. If she wants to fight alongside us, she'll need to be better than just good enough; she'll need to be exceptional.

I catch glimpses of Nikolai and Jessa watching her as they run through the drills, their expressions unreadable but clearly interested in how Elowen performs. They aren't alone; several other Vrakken glance over curiously as well.

But Elowen doesn't seem to notice or care about the extra scrutiny. She focuses on each task with an intensity that rivals any seasoned warrior here.

By the end of the session, I'm forced to admit that she's more than proven herself worthy of training with us.

For now.

As the training session winds down, I keep a close eye on Elowen. She's kept up remarkably well, but the real test will come when the battle is upon us. I turn to see Nikolai approaching, his wings folded behind him with an air of authority that matches his every step.

"Aldric," he greets, voice calm but firm. "I watched the session. You've got a good group here, but with how rigorousyou're training, you're going to need help. You can't possibly lead all the groups."

I nod, acknowledging his point. "You're right. What do you propose?"

Nikolai's eyes glint with purpose. "Let me take over the afternoon training. I've got some drills in mind that will push them to their limits—physically and mentally."

Relief washes over me. With Nikolai's help, we can prepare our warriors even better. "Consider it done," I say, clapping him on the shoulder. "The group is yours this afternoon."

---