Page 85 of Scars and Burns

I’m lost in her eyes when I hear Saphrina speak, “Prince Aeron, I believe you met my sister, Lady Dinalia, yesterday at the Greeting and then at the Welcome Masquerade Ball.”

I smiled down at her, “Yes, I believe I did.” Then turning my gaze to the man that threatens to harm what should be mine, “And her companion?”

“This is Christopher. Our fighting master.”

Our? Saphrina fights as well?

“Fighting master? He’s trained you both?” I question.

“Well, yes but Dinalia mastered fighting years ago. I never got the hang of it.”

I look Dinalia over. She has the same blades I saw her with the night of the raid. When she came bursting into her Mother’s study andthreatened the life of King Elio. “Mastered dual swords? Interesting, few women tend to want to wield one let alone two.”

She lifts her chin a little higher, replying, “I found myself out of step with a single sword. With my dual blades I am at harmony with my fighting. Dismantling any opponent I come across.”

I walk over to her. I’ve wanted to see her wield her blades since that night. She is lethal.

I’m dying on the inside from just being near her and she doesn’t even know it. Walking over to her, I contemplate what I should do with this situation. Knowing her pride she would not deny me a sparring match.

Just to get a taste of how skilled she has become. “I should like to spar.”

“With me?”, she counters.

“Yes. Right now.”

“Now? Don’t you have some royal celebration or activity to attend for my sister’s wedding?”

Does she not want to fight me? You would think she would after all the Shadowlands has done to her life. This would be a perfect opportunity to best the greatest fighter the Shadowlands has ever seen.

And yet she hesitates.

I glance back to Saphrina. She’s looking between the two of us. Unsure of what to do or say. No doubt, never put in a position to make a decision before. Even if it is a minuscule as this one. “N-nothing is pressing. We have time.” She finally says.

“Excellent!” I exclaim, removing my jacket ever so slowly. Being sure to flash my muscular physique in front of Dinalia and this so called fighting master. I can feel her eyes on me. Watching the movement. I turn away from her. Hiding the smile that has spread across my face as I walk over to the rack of weapons against the wall.

The weapons selection is vast. And not a single one has been dulled. In fact, they all appear to be freshly sharpened.

Ready for battle.

I grab the biggest sword available. None of them matching the size of my actual weapon I take into battle. I stand at the end of the mat. Waiting for Dinalia.

She’s moving toward her side when she’s stopped byhim.I’m about to lash out at him for touching what is mine. Mates or not. Claimed or not. I will not see another man’s hands on her. Not when I have this constant burning for her. And every thought leads back to her. She is the most mesmerizing being to ever plague my mind. Filling my world with nothing else.

I will rip his arm from his body. But not before I make him pay. Slowly. Painfully. Ripping his fingernails from the roots. Peeling back his flesh. I will teach him a lesson for touching what is mine.

They share what seems like an intimate moment. Heads close together. Whispering words only the other can hear.

Are they involved?

The thought sends my mind into a frenzy. I haven’t had a woman in years. Not able to bear the thought of another woman touching me that isn’t her. That day in the forest changed me forever. If she has moved on and indulged in other men I will rectify that. I will be sure I am the last man to touch her. She will be longing for me. My touch will consume her every thought. As she has mine. I will make sure she forgets every man that came before me.

She stands opposite me on the training mat. Both our blades drawn. “Ready?” I ask.

She smiles and huffs at me, “Are you?”

That’s my girl.

Smiling back, I say, “More than you know.”

---