Page 18 of Courting the Fae Captain
She grinned and held a hand out to help me up. “A priestess from a temple that worships Valere, God of Torment and Terror. Bodily pain is part of the average day of the week. Still, they did teach me one thing I agree with. Your body is a weapon when sharpened. Only you can decide what will break you. Now get up, I’m not finished sparring yet.”
“You’re enjoying this way too much.” I sent a pleading look to Sherai, who was too busy avoiding the punches of anotherheavyset opponent to notice. There was grace and lightness in her steps. Perhaps she would make a good dancer or lithe warrior someday after all. With a bit of training. I winced as her opponent clocked her in the side. Okay, a lot of training.
“Halt,” our instructor, Jaren, called. He had been one of the males I’d overheard speaking with Raithe a week ago. Turned out, he was a lieutenant stationed at this castle, but a relatively green soldier. Even by Fae standards, he was young and likely untested in the field. He was too cheery to be anything but. It also explained why he was chosen to oversee our training, instead of a duty worthy of his rank.He was damn handsome though, so there was that. Short brown hair, brown eyes, and a face that could have been chiselled by a sculptor. He was also a huge flirt and seemed to enjoy his current job immensely, regardless of having to stoop to teach females.
“I’ve been assessing your skillset over the past week, and it’s downright deplorable. You’re about as competent as a pack of blind puppies, but with some hard conditioning and a whole lot of training, you’ll be in better shape before you know it.” He scanned us all, his eyes lingering on me momentarily before he turned on his heel. Not for the first time, I wondered if Raithe had told him about our encounter. “You’ll be placed into groups of similar skillsets. These will be your primary training squads for drills. The only exception is one day of the week, when you will duel a random opponent with no set rules. This will determine your skills’ progression.”
Whispers broke out among the females, with more than a few shuffling on their feet. All of this was entirely new for some of them, and most didn’t appear to enjoy the thought of a weekly duel. I wasn’t too keen on it either, but I kept my gaze trained on Jaren.Kill or be killed. Show no fear, offer no mercy.That’s the only way I’d survive here until I could hatch an escape plan and find out what happened to the females from previous Rites.
Jaren ushered a servant over, who handed him a scroll bound with leather. Jaren untied it slowly, seeming to enjoy the building tension as we hopped from foot to foot in our sweaty gear. Exposed to the cold weather, we’d be lucky not to die of hyperthermia with the slick combat suits sticking to our skin. At last, he began reading from the list. I watched as, one by one, those with the least skill were ushered by the servant to form rows to one side. I was in the next group.
I didn’t fail to notice that Portia was in the elite squad. She grinned and winked at Jaren as she sauntered over to her place. He didn’t bat an eye. Bonus points to Jaren for having some taste.
I glanced at Sherai, who stood in the first group, and winced. Not a good place to be. Especially when everyone else was eyeing them off like a fucking buffet. I wasn’t particularly pleased about my spot either, but at least being in the middle meant we were simply average. Not an easy target and not a huge threat to those vying for the captain.Akira was with the elites, looking none too pleased about it and putting more than a little distance between herself and the rest of her group.
I frowned. Typical. The only two allies I had in this place, and we’d been separated. I’d rather keep them close, but I guess we’d have to adjust. If I counted the captain as an ally, of course, that would make three. But there was absolutely no reason to trust that the son of my enemy wouldn’t change his mind about gutting me at the first opportunity. My usefulness to him would only last so long if I didn’t offer any new information soon.
As if on cue, his dark eyes met mine across the courtyard. He didn’t even blink as he parried his opponent’s sword without looking, then turned and knocked the other male back with a savage kick, sending them sprawling. He shifted his gaze to the next opponent.
My eyes trailed Raithe’s body as his muscles shifted and rippled like water. He was shirtless despite the frigid air, which was just showing off at this point. Well, fuck him, because it was working. I found I couldn’t look away as he fought multiple opponents at once, fending them off with ease. Gods, he moved like the wind, his blade slicing through the air with a fluidity that reminded me just how deadly this male was. A ship captain, bending the sea to his will. It was clear he could kill me in a heartbeat, and that wasn’t even taking into consideration his shadow magic.He caught my gaze again, his eyes narrowing, and I looked away quickly.
“That, ladies, is what comes from years of hard work and training,” Jaren said. Startled, I whipped my head to look at him, only to realise I hadn’t been the only one staring at the captain. “And in case you needed a reminder or some extra motivation, he’s also the reason why you’re here. Marry that male and you get to see those chiselled abs and rippling muscles every day.”
Raithe threw Jaren a withering glare across the courtyard, but our instructor just grinned. “Right. Enough chatter. Clear the mats and form lines on either side of the square here.”
“Giving our captain a clear view of the worthy females?” Portia said. “He’ll soon know which of us deserves to be on his arm.” She sneered pointedly at me.
“I guess that leaves you out then,” I bit back.
Akira snorted, and Sherai covered a nervous laugh with a cough.
Jaren’s eyes darkened momentarily as he eyed off Portia. “The captain is more than capable of deciding that for himself. Now clear the mats and get in line. We’re finished with hand-to-hand drills today. This is your weekly combat hour.”
The servant from before ran up to his side, then cleared his throat theatrically before reading from his scroll. “Aeris Lockhart and Portia Cope, step forward.”
My heart beat like a drum at the sound of my name.Please. Anyone but her. Anyone but the murderous little… Portia stepped forward, and any hope I’d had wilted as the fanged female took one look at me and smiled a death promise.
I was royally screwed.
She strode into the middle with an emphasised swish in her hips, making sure to give the captain a sultry look before she turned on the spot. I knew he was watching, but I didn’t look. Not as I stepped into the middle with my heart in my throat. Certainly not as I spotted the small dagger sheathed at Portia’s hip. I had no such weapon.
Jaren stepped between us and raised a brow. “I’d like a clean fight, and I’d prefer it if both of you remained breathing at the end. Remember, there are no rules but one.No wielding.” He nodded at us both, his eyes catching mine before he turned. “The square is yours. Good luck.”
As soon as he was clear, Portia lunged. My breath caught in my throat as I leapt back, ducking a jab to my head. She struck out again, her fists lashing out in a flurry. It was all I could do to keep my guard up as my boots slid along the muddied stone.
“Don’t let her corner you,” Akira yelled. “Push back!”
Portia’s fist cracked into my nose, and my head whipped back as burning pain flared. Blood dripped from my nostrils, and I wiped it with the back of my arm. My opponent took a moment to look for Raithe’s approval, giving me the perfect opening. I dropped, swiping her legs out from beneath her before diving onto her chest. She hissed, caught off guard as I landed a few hits to her ribs.Then, she grasped my wrists mid-air and maneuvered my body to kick me over her head. I landed on the ground with a thud, the breath leaving my lungs in a rush.
“Behind you!” Sherai cried.
I rolled just as Portia’s blade sank into the mud.Well, it didn’t take long for her weapon to come out.But I still had hope.Even if I was a little rusty, my mentor had taught me to find the chinks in my opponent’s armour. Portia was a good fighter, but she was cocky, and she put too much weight into her punches, which unbalanced her. She was also easy to read … and if my guess was correct, to rile. If I could just wear her down, I might just survive this thing.
“What’s the matter, Portia? Not used to fighting your victims head-on? I guess stabbing them in the back is more your style.”
Her snarl drifted towards me. “For you? I’m going to enjoy watching the light go out of your eyes as I kill you.”
I flicked my fingers in a come-hither motion and offered her a smirk. “Come on then. Maybe you’ll get it right this time.”
