Page 28 of Jack of Diamonds

Look away, Alice,I scolded myself as I ran.Look the fuck away from him!

I imagined a pair of wireless earbuds, and within seconds they were blasting my favorite workout mix into my head. My brain was filled only with the beat of the music and the sensation of my feet hitting the ground. All I had to focus on was trying not to fall.

I never imagined that my life would lead me here, to this beautiful, frozen Kingdom of Diamonds and Ice. I clenched my jaw as I landed one sneaker in front of the other, nodding in time to the beat. This was my reality now—no more Hollywood afterparties, no more designer dresses, and no more getting dragged and bullied on social media for being a dumbass.

All I had to concern myself with was mastering the cold, hard steel of the Vorpal Sword and bearing the weight of a kingdom’s fate on my shoulders.

Suddenly I collided with a wall of black leather.

I let out a scream before coming back to my senses.

Jack was standing in front of me.

His piercing red eyes assessed me with a mix of curiosity and skepticism, like I was a puzzle he was trying to solve. The cold air of the training courtyard bit into my skin, but it was nothing compared to the chill his gaze sent through me.

“Alice!”

He snapped his fingers and my earbuds disappeared. “Enough running for now,” he announced while pressing my practice sword into my hand. “It’s time to correct your shoddy footwork.”

Even though I was panting from all the running, I nodded and gave him a thumbs-up. “Sounds great!” I huffed with fake enthusiasm. “Where do we start?”

Without missing a beat, Jack began coaching me on a series of drills using the agility ladder. It was basically like playing hopscotch on ice. He walked slow circles around me, his arms crossed, watching me with an intensity that made the air feel heavier.

“Begin with the basic one-two step,” he instructed, his voice a commanding echo in the cavernous room. “Focus on precision, not speed.”

I nodded and started moving my feet in and out of the squares. It felt awkward, the sword a cumbersome companion in this dance of agility.

“No,” Jack interrupted, his tone sharp. “You’re not a clodhopping peasant at a fair. You’re a warrior. Do it again. This time with elegance and grace.”

I stopped, suppressing a sigh. “Yeah, grace and elegance have never been my strong suit,” I joked.

“Then make them your strong suit,” Jack replied coolly. “Your life may depend on it.”

I rolled my eyes. “Do you ever laugh?”

One of Jack’s eyebrows lifted as he studied me.

“No. Now do the two-step until you’ve shown at least a modicum of grace.”

I tried again, this time attempting to channel the elegant movements of a ballerina. It felt slightly better, but still far from the fluidity that Jack embodied.

“Better,” Jack conceded, although his voice was devoid of praise. “But don’t let your guard down. The Red Queen won’t show mercy.”

I got back into starting position and lifted my sword, my grip firm even though I was trembling with fatigue.

“Now, integrate the side-step weave. Keep in mind that each movement is a potential dodge in combat.”

I moved through the ladder, adding the side-step weave. It was a challenge to keep the rhythm and not tangle my feet.

“Imagine each square is a trap on the battlefield,” Jack said, circling closer around me like a silver lion about to pounce. The wild, outdoorsy scent of leather and balsam drifted near my nose, making my focus wobble. “Each misstep could be fatal. Precision, Alice. Precision.”

“Easy for you to say,” I retorted, trying to keep up with the footwork while ignoring his invigorating scent. “I’m sure you’ve had a few extra centuries to practice compared to me.”

“A fair point,” he admitted, his voice softening slightly. “But you have the potential to learn quickly. Now, add an offensive movement. Strike as you step.”

Balancing the footwork with the sword strikes felt as logical as trying to find valet parking at a Taco Bell. I flailed around and fucked up my steps, then whacked the side of my leg with my sword before slipping on the ice and falling on my ass.

Stifling a groan, Jack halted me with a raised hand. “Please...stop whatever this is that you’re doing. Step aside and observe.”

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