Daka had prowled at night in the surrounding forest, but they seemed to stay away for the most part. One tried to attack Xavier the first night, but it quickly ran off when Xavier started to fight it. Since then, they only seemed to circle our camp at night, like they were waiting for something but never attacking.
Last night, Jaxon decided it was time for me to start training again. Until my magic was whole, I wasn’t comfortable taking off the charm that blocked my magic, but I could do hand-to-hand training.
It felt like old times back on the sparring mat in Velra, but this time, we had two very opinionated warriors shouting their observations from the sidelines. Dedra and Xavier took turns sparring with me, but Xavier was particularly infuriating. He barely laid a finger on me, yet somehow managed to send me sprawling onto the ground repeatedly. A smug smile on his lips as he did.
Jaxon and Dedra provided relentless feedback, their voices overlapping with tips and techniques, making my bones ache and my head spin.
Today, every muscle in my body ached, and I knew it would only intensify as we continued. But I had to be ready. The people here were faster and stronger than anyone back home, and I needed to learn how to defend myself against their kind.
What I really needed was to learn how to control my magic andfight and defend with it, but I was too afraid to try. I was scared it would take me back to Morgana, to my death. I knew that made me seem weak, but the others hadn’t pushed or even mentioned it since we left the castle.
Xavier rode within my line of sight, and I stole a glance at him. As if sensing my gaze, he turned, the intensity of his stare making my cheeks flush. Damn him.
With a playful wink, Xavier spurred his horse into a gallop, the others quickly following suit. I urged my mare forward, racing to catch up with Dedra, who wore a broad smile ahead of me. I glanced over at Jaxon, and he mirrored her expression, a lightness in the air that felt contagious.
As we crested a hill, the back of Xavier's head came into view, and suddenly, our horses came to a halt at the edge of a cliff. I moved to Xavier’s right, my eyes fixed ahead.
I could feel his gaze on me as I absorbed the view, and when I turned to look at him, his broad smile nearly took my breath away.
“Welcome to Niverrian.”
Waves crashed against the rugged cliffs far below, their thunderous roars echoing up to where we perched at its edge. Distant seabirds, their feathers iridescent with hues I'd never seen before, wheeled and dipped in the salty, warm breeze, their calls mingling with the sound of the waves crashing against the rock.
To my left and right, a series of jagged cliffs jutted out into the sea, each one more imposing than the last. Tufts of hardy green shrubs and wildflowers clung effortlessly to their narrow ledges, their petals glimmering with a faint glow in the sun.
Nestled within the cliffs were the villages, and I inhaled deeply, the scent of the sea filling my lungs as I took in the whitewashed houses and shops woven seamlessly into the rocky landscape. Narrow, winding pathways and steep staircases connected the buildings, zigzagging precariously up and down the cliffs like veins of the earth itself.
Villagers could be seen below, their laughter and song carried to us on the breeze. Large naval ships floated on the water below,their sails billowing gently. Massive docks stretched from the shore, where tiny boats bobbed and swayed on the soft tide.
A long bridge arched gracefully between two cliffs, its structure stretching far down into the churning sea. Beyond the bridge, a grand stone castle loomed, its massive frame casting a shadow over the villages. The castle's towers reached skyward, dark clouds forming overhead.
A storm was coming.
Chapter 32
Xavier
The skies opened up, icy rain pelting us as we rode through the large iron gates. As we approached the castle, the doors swung wide, and we dismounted, handing our horses over to the guards waiting nearby. I glanced over my shoulder and caught sight of Zara shivering against the cold. My teeth ground together at the sight, but I resisted the urge to go to her, just as I had fought against getting close these past few days.
Since that night, I couldn’t get the feel of her, the scent of her arousal, ofher,out of my mind.
If I were alone with her again…Fates, just near her again…
Mine.
I shook my head, fighting against the thoughts that threatened to overwhelm me. I had to control my emotions, but it was becoming increasingly difficult—the primal need to be near her, to be inside her, clawed at my insides. The mating bond would drive me more irrational and unstable the longer I ignored it. It was why I had foolishly kissed her that night.Teasing her, us, in that way. But I couldn’t resist—the way her mouth had set in that stubborn way of hers.
Mine.
A low growl escaped me, deep and primal, catching the attention of a passing guard. He eyed me warily, moving further away as he continued down the hall. Good. They should all keep their distance from me, fromher.
“Xavier! I'm glad to see you made it in one piece!” Gunnar’s booming voice echoed in the hall, pulling my attention to him as he waited near a door to our right. He wore a bright yellow cloak, his usual blue and gold attire shimmering beneath. It took him a moment, but his eyes widened in understanding once he caught my gaze. He didn’t bother glancing behind me at the others; wise move.
“We should talk alone while the others get settled,” he suggested, watching me warily. I turned to see Jaxon already herding the rest of our group down the hallway. His nervous glances back at me made me bare my teeth at him. He practically shoved them through a door, leaving me alone with Gunnar.
Gunnar raised an eyebrow as I looked back at him. “I might have a tonic that could help.”
My frustration simmered beneath the surface as I followed him into the study, letting out a sharp grunt.
