Page 33 of Once the Skies Fade

“Not even to me?” Isa smiled knowingly.

“Not even you, my friend.”

Chapter 16

Matthias

Connor lunged, thrusting his sword at me. I easily parried his attack, finding the familiar sound of steel on steel oddly comforting. I stepped to the side and delivered a counter stroke, slicing through the space between us in a backhanded swing. Connor shifted out of reach as he brought his weapon up to meet mine, and in one swift motion, he twisted his blade around, forcing my wrist into such an unnatural angle I had to release my grip.

He began to laugh triumphantly, but cut it short when I summoned a quick burst of power to catch the hilt of my sword before it could hit the dirt floor of the training ring. Before he could move to parry or dodge, I jabbed the blade toward his gut, stopping before it could do more than nick a hole in his shirt.

A half-hearted groan rumbled from my friend as he jammed his sword home into its sheath.

“Done already?” I asked around my frown.

Connor looked at me quizzically. “It’s been two hours. Lieke’s expecting us soon.”

Glancing outside, I noted how the trees’ shadows had shifted since we’d started sparring this morning. “So it has,” I said, and tossed my sword to my other hand before slipping it back intoplace at my waist. I moved toward the waiting water pitcher on the table against the wall, but Connor cleared his throat, stopping me mid-step.

“Got anything stronger?” he asked, his eyes flicking up to the ceiling.

“Not for you, I don’t,” I said, grinning.

Connor recoiled in offense. “That’s some way to treat your future king.”

I bowed my head reverently. “Simply watching out for your health, Your Highness.”

“And protecting your precious brandy.”

“We all remember what happened the last time.”

“You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”

I smirked as I shook my head. “Not a chance.”

“I could order you to share it.”

“But you won’t.”

“How do you know?”

“Because Lieke would be disappointed with you if you did.”

Connor stared at me blankly for a moment before finally letting his shoulders slump in defeat. “You’re right. And even if she pretended not to be?—”

“You’d still feel it yourself,” I said. I scrunched my nose at him. “Makes me more and more glad I have no desire—or chance—of ever getting trapped in such a bond.”

Connor gave a short laugh. “You can barely handle your own feelings. I can’t imagine you having to deal with anyone else’s.”

I stiffened. Handle my own feelings? I managed them better than most—better than him, especially. I scoffed. “I don’t know. I’ve handled your mood swings just fine for years.”

Pivoting on my heel, I headed for the door. As soon as I stepped onto the grass, he was beside me, his hands buried in his pockets. “Seems like only yesterday you were lecturing me about needing to be open and honest.”

Apparently, he wasn’t going to let me escape this conversation easily—or at all.

I eyed him sharply as we walked. “With the woman you loved, Your Highness. Bit different.”

Connor pursed his lips and nodded. “True, though I had to first be honest with myself about how I felt. You can’t run away from?—”

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