Page 29 of Blooms of Darkness

I rubbed my tightened chest, trying to relieve the pain from the thought of losing him.

He would heal from whatever ailed him. He had always been the strongest in our land, and alongside Elisabeth’s healing abilities, not much could bring down Fae in the castle. Nothing anyone knew of at least. He’d be okay.

He’d be okay.

As I repeated the sentiment, blindly moving through the halls, my mind wandered back to the two of them. They were a source of power for each other, and not the magical kind. The kind of power where one could step in when the other felt weaker. The kind of power stemming from respect and true love.

I’d never experienced anything at all remotely close to such a fierce, protective love, at least not in the romantic sense. I hadn’t even been in love before. Being stuck inside the palace grounds made having a dating life difficult.

There were plenty of awkward kisses with boys, but given my position, and who I pretended to be in the shadows, I couldcount on one hand how many had ventured past groping me atop my clothing and getting more of me.

Butlove?Love was a concept I couldn’t explore as freely as I wished. Too many people wanted to use me for my title. Use me for my parents' riches. Use me for the glory of living in the castle, or worse, simply to say they bedded the princess.

Love wouldn’t matter anymore now, no matter how desperately I craved it one day. My marriage would simply be to the victor of the trials. It would be forced, likely to a brute, who cared nothing of my wishes or desires.

I paused at one of the beautiful gold-framed glass windows. The knowledge of losing this choice left me aching for a life unconfined by walls and guards and the pageantry of the Royal Court.

My mind filled with all the desires I had never voiced as I continued down the endless halls and out of the side entrance, near the kitchen. Down the steep hill, I headed toward the training grounds, not even realizing where my feet lead me. Perhaps my soul knew a bit of swordplay would help clear my mind.

With all the freedoms taken from me, I needed to be somewhere which reminded me my lack of magic didn't leave me without options to protect myself.

Chapter 9

Kalliah and Ian were in the heat of their duel, flawlessly using wooden training swords.

She blocked every move Ian made. His smile grew wider each time she accomplished another.

Leif sat on the edge of the pit, his arms crossed as he studied the pair. Kalliah had learned quickly these past few months. She already perfected nearly everything Ian had taught me in my first year.

I sat next to Leif, nudging him with my shoulder. “Don’t think I don’t see that look,” I teased.

He arched an eyebrow. When I wiggled mine, he scoffed. “If I wanted to bed a tiger, yes, I’d go after your lady. But I like my bits intact, thank you very much.”

My laughter caught Kalliah’s attention, and she and Ian looked our way. “Shouldn’t you be off brooding or are we finally going to put everything behind us?” she asked.

I responded with a tight smile. “Nothing like going round for round in the sparring ring to settle the score,” I insisted.

Despite wearing a dress, I bunched it up in my hands and jumped into the pit. Misjudging slightly, I stumbled, stubbing my toe on a rock. “Tits and daggers!” I hissed.

“Bleeding hell, Lan, you’re a damn princess. You can’t run your mouth like a drunk in a tavern.” Ian’s expression contorted with disgust while Leif choked back laughter.

Ian pointed at Leif. “Don’t encourage her,” he said. “Go on, you two.” He motioned between me and Kalliah. “Show me I’ve at least taught you something.”

“You two are the ones who have stuff to work out,” Kalliah said, leaning on her training sword.

Ian shook his head, stepping out of the ring. “She looks like she’d kill me at any moment. You can wear her down a bit first.”

I stuck my tongue out before I curtsied to him, obnoxiously low, before assuming my position in front of Kalliah. I retrieved the extra wooden sword from the dirt floor as Leif returned to his duties in the palace.

Kalliah and I circled each other before she dove into a relentless barrage of attacks. I barely had time to block half of her blows, and she managed to get in a few hits right off the bat.

“You’re sloppy today, Lana,” Ian chastised.

“I’m doingfine,” I snipped. Anger welled inside of me, waiting to explode like a volcano.

“You’re not fine. You’ve missed the last three parries we’ve been practicing for weeks. It’s unlike you.”

I slashed my wooden sword against Kalliah’s harder than I meant to. “I’mfine,” I screeched as Kalliah retaliated and knocked the practice weapon from my hand. “Agh!”

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