Page 37 of The Other Side of the Mirror

My mouth twitched in bemused annoyance. “Remind me to invite your better half to spar with us next time.”

Yael’s grin widened. “Oh, that I’d pay to see. I’m pretty sure Marin got so good at healing only so she could stitch up her opponents after they met her double blades.”

My laughter cut off as I sensed someone behind me.

“My turn.”

I spun just as Bash’s sword crashed downwards, blocking it on instinct alone. Our movements blended into each other like the steps of a dance, the two of us knowing the way the other fought well enough now to counter each strike. Time seemed to still as we sparred, the only sound the clang of our weapons.

Bash lifted his sword, and I turned into him, my back against his chest as our blades locked together in front of us.

“You’re holding back, Princess.” A shiver went through me I knew he could feel as his breath caressed the curve of my ear.

I gritted my teeth, suddenly furious at his words but mostly at myself. At the dread building in my gut that any minute it would be time to leave this place. Time to leavehim.

Thrusting my elbow backward, I simultaneously stomped on his instep. He leapt back with a curse. I swung my blade around so quickly that if he had been a half-second slower and this a real sword, I would have sliced into his lower abdomen instead of glancing off the ties of his pants.

My eyes caught his. “So are you.”

I threw myself into a counterattack to keep my thoughts at bay. Those mismatched eyes were abruptly the same color gray as shadows crisscrossed up Bash’s sword—darkly beautiful as they amplified his every blow. With an exhale, I thrust my magic around my blade like a ribbon winding up it, streaks of darkness following in the wake of every swing. It wasn’t long before the room around us dissipated into shades of shadow and night, our magics sweeping around us like a veil.

Bash had been unusually silent as we fought, this sparring session glaringly quiet compared to our usual banter. His blows came quickly—each a deadly mix of his skill, speed, and magic—leaving me too breathless to form a retort even if I wanted to as I struggled to keep pace. He moved with such deadly swiftness, it was like he became shadow itself.

When we came apart, our swords disengaged with a clash that reverberated through me. As we stood there, panting, that prick of unease found me once again at what would happen when this fight was over.

Bash stilled, giving me that look I knew too well—the one that cut right through me, seeing all the things I didn’t want him to see. He lowered his sword at the same moment I did, the only sound our heavy breathing in the swirling darkness.

I wasn’t sure when Rivan and Yael left, but I only now realized that we were alone. Slowly I turned, shadows trailing at my feet as I walked over to hang up my practice sword, the sound glaringly loud in the silence.

“Don’t stop fighting, hellion.”

Bash came up behind me, so close I could feel his heat at my back. That woodsy scent rippled over me as I turned to stare into those captivating, dual-toned eyes. Wisps of darkness still swirled around us, the haze of our magics lingering in the air.

“I won’t stop training, freckles. Even if you aren’t my teacher anymore,” I said, turning to look at him. Though I didn’t think that was what he meant. At least, not entirely. “Though I’ll miss…I’ll miss this.”

I’ll miss you, I almost said.

The stricken look on his face seemed to betray that he had read the words I hadn’t voiced behind my eyes.

Bash reached forward, sweeping a stray lock of hair that had escaped my bun behind my ear, just as he had done at the lake. He paused, and I shivered at the lingering touch. I wondered if he was also thinking about the way our bodies had molded together the moment his lips met mine. His fingers tightened, cupping the shell of my ear before sliding slowly down the side of my face. Like he was trying to convince himself to let me go…and failing.

I bit down on my lower lip, and something primal flashed behind Bash’s eyes.

His mouth parted as if he wanted to say something, then closed in a tight line. I stared at him wordlessly as he yanked his hand away, reeling from the sudden ache in my chest.

The door slammed open, Yael striding forward as Bash took a step back from me, lowering his head. Yael’s eyes narrowed slightly as they darted between us before focusing on me.

“You’d better shower and get ready.”

“For?”

But I already knew.

“Your prince awaits.”

Chapter18

Eva

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