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“You are so ridiculously arrogant. You think you know my own body better than I do?” Ayda leaned across the tiny gap between them and poked him in the chest.
Hùisdean grinned. “I probably know a few things that would blow your mind, love.”
Ayda's face flushed, and she stuttered in indignation. “U-ugh! As if I'd ever be interested in you like that. You're too insufferable to be around for more than a minute. You do realize that, right?”
Hùisdean was unperturbed. “I’d only need a little bit of time.”
Ayda thought she would finally snap and lunge for Hùisdean's neck. He must have seen the growing anger on her face because he stepped back, hopping off the treadmill and walking a few paces backward.
“You know,” he mused aloud, “you never did tell me why you hate me so much. Care to enlighten me?”
Ayda fumed, getting off her machine and shaking her head as she stared at the prince. “How about because you're a cocky asshole?”
“Hmm.” Hùisdean pretended to think for a minute. “No. Not good enough. Every powerful, magical ruler is a little bit of an asshole—even Calum. You've been around magical people your whole life. You are one. That wouldn't deter you.” Hùisdean took another step closer, filling Ayda's senses with the smell of pine and frost.
“I don't owe you anything,” Ayda rebutted.
Hùisdean only shrugged. “You don't, but I am asking, and I'm curious. We've never gotten along. Why do you think that is?” He got closer still. Ayda only came up to his shoulder when they stood close together, and she struggled to keep her eyes straight ahead.
“I don't want to.”
“Just tell me.”
“You're ridiculous.”
“I’m not going to stop.” Hùisdean was practically on top of Ayda, only a hair's width apart. His head was leaning towards her to make up for the gap in their height. Any closer, and they’d be chest to chest.
Ayda struggled to maintain a regular pulse and didn't think it had anything to do with her workout.
“You insufferable—”
“Why?”
“Because you doubted my magic!” Ayda snapped, putting her hands on Hùisdean and shoving him as hard as she could. She rarely let her emotions get the best of her, but suddenly, they all came pouring out. Hùisdean stumbled backward, nearly falling to the ground before he caught himself and stood upright. He smiled widely at Ayda and clapped his hands together.
“Okay! Now we're getting somewhere. Tell me, witch, when did I doubt your magic?”
Ayda was heaving with anger. “From the moment we met! Lachlan, Darragh, and Emmett called you in to help me defeat their uncle, but when you showed up, you acted like I had no idea what I was doing. You looked over my shoulder and second-guessed everything I did! I’ve been watching over this county since my mother vacated her post, and I don't need your approval.”
Hùisdean held his hands up. “I never said that you did. It seems you want my approval if you're acting like it means so much to you.” His expression was playful, and Ayda wanted to knock the look off his face. He was dangerously charming, and she knew she needed to keep him far, far away from her.
“I don’t,” Ayda growled. “Aren't you the one who made the trip up here to ask for my help?”
“Certainly.” Hùisdean gave a short half-bow. “You're talented, Ayda. I have never denied that.”
“No,” Ayda scoffed. “You just never let me work and always looked over my shoulder…”
“Did it ever occur to you,” Hùisdean drawled, “that I was asking questions because I was curious?”
All the air was sucked out of the gym. Ayda froze. No, it hadn't occurred to her that Hùisdean might have been curious about her methods. Ayda practiced what she often described as ‘trash magic,’ manipulating earth energies using techniques from both her Scottish and Indian ancestry.
It would look bizarre from an elf's perspective, Ayda's brain supplied unhelpfully.
“Sure,” Ayda recovered, “but if you were simply curious, I would think you'd have been more polite.”
“Polite?” Hùisdean's eyes widened, and he nearly choked on his laughter. “Ayda, I’m as old as dirt. I’m a prince. We were in a conflict. Elves are Norse, darling. We respect everyone's time by getting straight to the point.”
“That doesn’t…” Ayda held up a finger.
