My catalyst was the root of my failure. Dances woven from Tirnanog myrmidon’s techniques, steps taken in my mother’s honor. Descriptions of my father’s fated duel with his future wife.
Just another mirage. I’d aspired to a woman who did not exist, pined for a kingdom I did not know.
My Stormborn magic was the lie. My shadows were the truth.
If I were right, I could keep them separate. I could weave lies in Reese’s presence and call upon the truth when I needed it.
Steadying my breath, I readied Cierthine. Reese rolled up his sleeves and flicked his golden sword. Phantom twins burst from its steel. They hovered around his shoulders as he leaned forward—and lunged.
Spinning Cierthine, I danced forward—and embraced my lies.
Wind erupted from the blade’s arc, cleaving out around me, cutting the phantoms down from the sky. Our blades met.
Reese grinned. Exhilarated. Proud. Wildly handsome.
Cinders rushed through the night as his rapier burned and twisted into an elegant spear. I staggered back as streaks of fire rushed past me, sending columns of smoke into the sky. Burning flakes dusted my eyes, and I choked, blinded.
Radiance shone overhead as a hail of golden swords and spears rained down on me. They slammed into the ground beside me, behind me, boxing me in. Reese grabbed one from the air as he rushed forward. I managed to block one strike before he twisted Cierthine from my hands and leveled both his blades at my throat.
I’d come so far, but he could still kill me in his sleep. If we were truly fated to clash, the outcome was certain.
Reese dropped the phantom blade and swept his hand through the air. The flames died. He offered me a hand, and I took it.
I must have stood too quickly—the world blurred and my eyes stung from the lingering cinders. Stumbling forward, I reached out and pressed a hand to his chest, steadying myself. He wrapped an arm around my waist, catching me.
Coughing, I blinked the embers from my vision and looked up into beautiful, golden eyes.
Reese swallowed, jaw tensing. “Some of the Lecovair might try to hurt you. I can’t promise I won’t retaliate.”
“Who would stop you? Aren’t you the most important man in the world?”
“The Lecovair exist for a reason—all Solhearts want power, so they keep each other from gaining too much.”
“Ah. We’d be in deep shit then. Never mind.”
He smiled, but I saw a vein on his neck pulse. “One of them in particular hates me. You’ll be the target of his ire. Promise me you’ll stay near me.”
“I’m just your squire. Why would I be the target?”
“You know why,” Reese breathed.
A lump formed in my throat, and I became intimately aware of how we stood, alone, out here in the dark, of my hand pressing against the hard planes of his muscles. I leaned forward and stopped.
What was I doing? My limbs had moved without consulting my mind first.
A mind that screamed,‘Get the hell away from him.’
My body did not obey.
Reese tilted his head toward me. Closing my eyes, I felt his hair brush my face, felt him cup my cheek. I breathed in his scent: warm and clean, like linens, wood, and a touch of rose.
Then he snapped his head away and released me.
Rubbing my face, I retrieved Cierthine and sheathed it. My heart thundered wildly.
This was forbidden—even without the layers of deception I hid beneath.
Marriage and courtship between races were outlawed.
