“No need to hold back, then, is there?”I moved into a battle stance, twirling my staff, the blades whizzing through the air, my thoughts an open provocation. To be honest, I was eager to tangle with him, to tumble us both into the magnificent turmoil of clashing steel and pumping hearts. I suspected there was no area under the Allfather’s sun where I wouldn’t enjoy pitting myself against him.
Even if doing so in front of an audience might not be the best idea.Not everyone was as oblivious as Aramaz to the tension between us. Zamani, her scimitars in hand, frowned and whispered to Sha’am as they joined us on the training field, her violet eyes too sharp for my comfort. None of the others had begun to train yet, every gaze on me and the most rebellious member of the Council.
“Let’s see what you’ve got, my queen.” Belekoroz’s voice warned me he was reveling in this, though his movements stayed relaxed, the point of his sword still aimed downward.
He was sure he would win this fight. All glittering obsidian gaze and smug smile. Arrogant bastard.
I attacked without the courtesy of a warning I would have given every other member of my brethren, so swiftly he barely got his blade up to meet my weapon. Steel clashed as our gazes did, a wild grin on my lips at his floundering. It wavered quickly when his eyes narrowed, his counterattack so forceful I staggered back. Only a surge of power kept my staff from flying out of my hands.
He flashed an icy smile at me.“Told you I wouldn’t be holding back.”
I retaliated with a lightning-quick strike at his head. Our weapons met again and again, our bodies shifting against each other in an all-encompassing dance of violence and grace. It was as glorious as I had imagined. I needed every bit of my skills and powers to keep up with him.
When my brethren and I had begun training, I’d thought I had a natural aptitude for battle, my speed and agility making up for any physical strength I lacked compared to the more muscular Aurea like Sha’am or M’tar. Now I wasn’t so sure. Belekoroz’s skills were on a different level. He had spoken the truth: Aramaz had been too soft on me.
The revelation made me snarl and reach for more power to compensate for my lack of ability. A wave of Darkness answered,glimmering sparks raining down around us as our magic clashed. Khiraz cried out in shock. Both the Goddess of Mercy and Namtaz, the Goddess of Healing, had joined our training at Aramaz’s direct order, despite their aversion to violence.
Belekoroz smiled, unimpressed by my show of temper. He drew his shadows closer, hiding behind them. I gasped as they parted, revealing three identical forms, all wearing the same smug expression. He had crafted a flawless illusion of himself to confuse me. With an angry cry, I thrust my staff at the middle opponent’s throat, only to freeze in horror as the sharp blade passed through him without resistance. The body flickered and vanished, leaving me open for a counterattack.
“You are dead.” The steel of his sword was a cold kiss to my skin as the Belekoroz on the left let it whisper down the side of my neck with a derisive laugh.“I fear you were wrong, little queen. I am the most powerful among us, no doubt about it. And the most cunning.”
The thought that he might be right, that he was not only more skilled in battle but also cleverer, sent violent anger through me. I did nothing to suppress the swell of my powers, a flash of Light destroying his remaining illusion as I shoved his blade away.
He didn’t chastise me for blatantly breaking the training rules, meeting my renewed attack with the same condescending amusement that had set me on edge since the moment we had started this fight. I channeled more magic, sending it toward him in a blazing arc he couldn’t escape. See how he dealt with that.
He didn’t. He vanished an instant before it hit, the force so great the air shimmered in the aftermath, small patches of grass catching fire. I barely noticed Ashur and Namtaz dousing the fires with their Water magic, too occupied with the blade that touched my neck again, this time from behind.
“Dead again.” He had shifted. I had not even thought of doing that during a fight.“Curse it. You’re a goddess.”Belekoroz’s voice in my mind sounded nearly disappointed.“Use your magic to your advantage. Don’t be so fucking predictable.”
I whirled around, retaliating with a storm of blazing lights. This time, I got through his defenses. A tendril of magic grazed his cheek like an angry lover’s slap, cutting his skin, drops of bright red blood pearling down.
He ignored the shocked outcries of our brethren, his eyes never leaving mine. A provoking smile played on his lips as he wiped off the blood. “Such a sore loser, my queen?”
My powers roared in my ears, urging me to unleash them, to show him his place.
“I think this is quite enough.”
Aramaz. Worry sharpening his voice. Despite all his blindness, my betrothed was not completely oblivious.
“Stay out of it!” I didn’t even look at the king, my eyes fixed on his brother. “No magic,” I growled, not trusting my control, but unwilling to give up. My hands tightened around my staff in single-minded determination. I could take him on. I refused to accept anything else.
That vexing smile deepened, his eyes glinting. At least one of us was enjoying themselves immensely. “If you think that will help.”
It might have been the fact that I let my anger rule me, attacking with no finesse, forgetting all my training, just trying to wipe that condescending expression off his face. Or maybe Belekorozhadheld back and now lost his patience. Whatever the reason, this round ended even quicker. A powerful thrust of his sword sent me down, my staff flying from my grasp.
The impact of the ground beneath my knees hurt less than the blow to my pride.
“You’re dead again.” Of course, Belekoroz did nothing to lighten it, triumphant glee in his voice.“I told you my brother is being too soft on you.”My hands buried into the dark earth in impotent rage at his taunting. A suggestive laugh echoed through my mind.“Though I must admit, seeing you on your knees in the mud brings back some wonderful memories.”
Something inside me cracked. My control was eviscerated to ashes as my powers rose to a violent storm, drowning the world in a red haze.
When I came to myself once more, I was straddling a tall, muscular body clad in armor. Belekoroz. I must have shifted, my magic slamming him into the ground. His head was thrown back, the dark waterfall of his hair splayed around him.
My hand was on his throat, my flesh shimmering and shifting as my grip on my corporeal form slipped. He stared up at me, no apprehension on his face, his powers oddly dormant. For a breathless moment, I saw myself reflected in his fathomless eyes—gleaming fangs, glowing silver eyes, flames writhing around me like fiery wings.
I heard Aramaz shout my name as if from a faraway distance, Tanez and Khiraz cry out in panic, Sha’am’s vicious curses. Burning heat gathered between my fingers. It would be so easy to call in the Flame and let it burn free, to incinerate Belekoroz’s very being until only ashes remained. Destroy him, destroy everything, make it all end.
“Oh, yes. There you are, my queen.”His voice was the only thing that reached me.“More glorious than ever.”
