Page 122 of A Legacy of the Light

“Think I should get a free shot to your ribs,” I joke, rubbing where her hit landed.

“How about no,” she chuckles. “And in fairness, you did sort of spin into it.”

I’m about to argue, but she’s right.

Reyne gets into position and indicates for me to attack her. “Give me your best, lass.”

I release a breath and do my best to ignore the pain in my side. She blocks each of the punches I throw her way.

“Good. You’re putting enough power behind those hits. Make sure to exhale with the punch. You’re much stronger than I thought,” she comments as I attempt to land a kick to her gut.

She brushes my foot aside as if it were a troublesome fly. The move makes my blood boil and a growl of frustration slips past my lips.

“You’re still learning, don’t be hard on yourself.”

She never condescends in her instructions, only guides and encourages. She calls me out when I’m not using the right technique but Reyne gently corrects me before I continue. She’s a fantastic teacher and a big part of the reason why I have progressed so quickly.

I keep throwing punches, picking up my pace. I’m moving faster than I ever have in my life.

Reyne grins with each attack I launch. “Yes, that’s it, Elsie!”

I settle into the movements and put together the combinations she has been showing me over the last week. Punches blend seamlessly with kicks and I let my body flow with how it naturally wants to move; how it wants to attack. Power courses through my veins.

A smile of my own breaks across my face. The hits might not be landing, but that’s not the point. I’ve never felt more in tune with my body than in this moment. I’ve never felt more in control.

The snow around us falls thick and fast, settling in our hair and on our lashes as Reyne and I keep sparring.

She blocks the kick I aim at her ribs and I quickly follow it with another punch to her face. She grabs my fist and pulls me closer, her blue eyes sparkling with the challenge. Adrenaline floods through me. She throws a jab at my ribs again and I quickly block her.

“Hey!” I grumble. “I thought I was the one attacking.”

Reyne smiles wide and ignores my gripe. “Well done. That was a good effort for a first sparring session.”

Her gaze locks with mine, her smile drops, and her eyes widen. “Elsie,” she whispers, gripping my clenched hand tighter. “Your eyes . . .”

I still in her grasp.

“What?” I ask feigning ignorance, praying she’s not going to say what I think she is.

Reyne looks around to check no one is paying us any attention. “There’s a ring of white around them.”

“It must be a trick of the light with the snow,” I say quickly. The excuse is poor but it’s all I have. I still don’t know what it means and I haven’t seen it since that time in the mirror. Having been so caught up in everything over the last few weeks that I almost forgot it happened.

Almost.

I blink a few times, hoping it clears away as quickly as it came. Reyne watches me closely, her brows lowering as she stares at me. After a minute she sighs. “Hmm it must be.” Her disbelief evident in her tone.

“Are we done for today?”

Reyne opens her mouth to reply but is interrupted by loud horns sounding a fanfare from the far side of the grounds.

Chapter 30

Reyne looks at me and smiles. But it doesn’t reach her eyes and I can tell she wants to ask more about what just happened. “They’re back.”

The guards who were using the other rings are already heading into the courtyard to greet the returning royals. I tug on Reyne’s arm to follow them and her tight grin is replaced by a genuine one.

“Someone is keen to see the prince,” she teases.