Page 5 of The Fated and the Damned
Insufferable.
An asshat.
Stubborn.
A small smile curled my lips. Yes, I could be stubborn when it came to the things I wanted, and there was nothing I wanted more than her. It’s about time she remembered that.
I straightened my tunic, unsheathing my training sword and making to step into the ring.
“I wouldn’t advise that,” Margit said from behind me. Gods, she was like a wraith when she wanted to be, silent and deadly.
“And what, may I ask, are you referring to?” I asked, lifting a brow as I looked over my shoulder.
She tossed her long black hair and smirked, those clear blue eyes glittering with amusement. “Do you really think she needs any more reason to run you through with a sword?”
I ran a finger down my blade, glancing at my cousin with a dark smile. “What makes you think she’ll have the chance?”
Margit tilted her head. “Have you seen the bruises and scrapes András wears these days? And that’s sparring with someone she actually likes.”
“Ouch.” I slapped a hand on her shoulder, making her wince. “Don’t worry, cousin dearest. Violence is the least of my worries. In fact, I’m counting on it.”
Margit scoffed. “This will only end badly,” she sang, waltzing away with a dismissive wave. “Don’t come running to me when you’re licking your wounds.”
I turned my attention back to Kitarni, who was holding her own against András. She was good. Really fucking good, but she could be better. Stalking towards her, I blocked her blow with my sword, saving András from a harsh whack to his ribs.
“Allow me to cut in,” I said smoothly.
András looked at me gratefully, then shifted subtly, giving me an ‘are you sure you want to go there’ look. When I didn’t move, he sighed under his breath, taking up a perch in the shade of a nearby tree.
Kitarni’s glare was murderous. “I was doing perfectly fine sparring with András.”
“Ah, she speaks. A good sign.” I grinned, pointing my sword at her. “Your footwork is sloppy and you’re favouring your right leg. Sheer strength will only get you so far.”
“I’m not sparring with you,” she snapped. “Get out of my way.”
I shifted my stance and raised a brow. “Too afraid to take me?”
She gritted her teeth and I knew I’d hit a nerve. “Nothing would give me more pleasure,” she said, an angry rumble releasing from her chest as she rushed me. I batted her sword away easily, side-stepping at the last second and forcing her to stumble past me.
When she charged at me again, her eyes brimming with fury, I deflected each blow, then grunted as she punched me in the jaw, spitting out blood onto the compacted dirt. She followed that up with a sharp thwack to my ribs, then a stab to my stomach. I could only imagine how she wished the training blade was of true, sharp steel.
Damn, she was certainly not holding back, which is just what I’d counted on. My little hellcat wanted to play dirty? Fine by me. I rubbed my stubble with one hand, my smile growing wider.
It only infuriated her more.
The next flurry of movement had me on the back foot, but after recovering I advanced swiftly, anticipating every step and swing of her sword until she was panting heavily, her back pressed against a stone column. Her arms trembled as she held up her guard, her sword buckling as she struggled against my own.
“You are strong, Kitarni, but you’re ruled by emotion. Every expression tells me a story, and every step taken in anger gives me an advantage. Let go of the pain and let your sword be your anchor.”
She glanced away, her teeth gritting.
“Look at me.” She struggled against me futilely, huffing. “Look at me, Freckles.”
That name made her face crease, uncertainty flashing in her eyes just long enough to allow me to swipe her sword away so that it clattered to the ground. I leaned my hands either side of her head, caging her in so that our faces were mere inches apart.
Sweat dripped down her brow, her hair plastered to her skin as her chest heaved with effort. When she looked at me again, it was with pure wrath. “Let me go, Dante.” The words were slow and measured, every word coated in dark warning.
I had the sense she meant more than simply letting her walk away from this encounter. “Never,” I replied in a deep voice, the muscles in my arms cording as I shifted even closer.
