Page 2 of The Storm of the Empire

“I’m a good friend, too,” I ventured like that would convince her. “Surely you want good things for all of your friends?”

“Luka,” Zaria grumbled in warning.

“Who is she?” I breathed as the fae worked through a set of combat forms with a fluid grace I’d never seen in any warrior. She was a sight. Deadly and beautiful.

“She’s the top weapons instructor in the King’s Army,” Zaria said sternly. “Which makes her off limits for your games.”

“Does she have a name?”

Zaria sighed. “Hazel.”

I wanted her.

No, I needed her.

I needed to fall to my knees and drink honey from her skin, worship at the altar of her body.

“It’s not polite to stare.” Hazel’s musical tone filtered through the air, but she didn’t falter or miss a step.

“I can’t help it.” I stepped into the room against Zaria’s warning glare.

“Goddess spare me, I can’t watch,” moaned Zaria, and I heard her footsteps retreating, but I didn’t take my eyes off Hazel’s movements. I walked toward her, venturing into the space she used, leaning out of the way of her sword while I studied her movements.

“What are you doing?” She didn’t pull any of her cuts. It was a practice sword, after all.

“You won’t hit me.”

“You shouldn’t trust me that much.” The tip of her sword flew a millimeter from my lips as I leaned so it didn’t hit me.

“I trust myself.”

She snapped to a stop. “Aren’t you the new fae they found in the ruins?” Her gaze danced over my features and down my body.

“Yes.”

“I heard you train here, but you’re not a ryder?” She searched my eyes.

“That’s right.”

“Whose favor do you have?” She resumed her practice, making me duck and barely miss her stab.

“The General’s.” My heart hammered in my chest, but I didn’t let it show in my voice.

“For what purpose?”

“I have my uses.” I let my smile reach my eyes.

“Hrumpf.” She turned away, dancing in her sword play to the other side of the mat.

“I’d like to join your class.” I’d been missing out, and I’d had no idea.

“What makes you think you’re good enough to join my class? You haven’t even been here a year.”

I picked up a practice sword from one of the bins, testing it with a few cuts before mimicking the form I’d seen her do.

She stopped again and watched as I worked through some movements. “How do you know that move?”

“I saw you do it.”

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