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He met my eyes and nodded.
“Good,” I said, stepping to the edge of the ring. “Now, let’s add a few more fighters. We’re going to be outnumbered and need to fight multiple foes at once. But remember, think first, strike second.”
Three more rebels entered the arena, their faces a mixture of trepidation and excitement. I knew I had to earn their respect, the same way I had with my men, but I didn’t have years to do it. I only had moments.
They circled me, their weapons raised. One charged forward, a wild swing aimed at my head. I ducked, sidestepping the attack and sending a foot out to sweep his legs out from under him.
“No,” I called out, the sand kicking up beneath my feet as I moved. “Don’t charge in blindly.”
Another came at me, two swift strikes, both of which I parried. “Don’t leave yourself open,” I said, counterattacking and disarming him with a flick of my wrist.
As each of them attacked, I pointed out their mistakes, showing them how their attacks would fail. Soon, all of them were down, their breath heavy as the dust settled around us.
“Now that you’re resting, let me tell you how you could’ve beaten me.” I grinned, looking at each of them, their faces etched with sweat and dirt as they glared at me.
“You’re too fast.”
“Getting under my guard is difficult,” I agreed. “A different weapon could make it easier.”
The Zerkir Remnant eyed me. “We need pikes.”
I nodded, pleased. “Any weapon that lets you keep your distance will help you maintain good measure. Pikes, halberds, arrows. We’ll need to thin them out on the walls as much as possible.”
He dipped his chin, and I did the same, returning the respect he’d given me.
A voice called out behind me, “Mind if I have a turn?”
I turned around, a grin spreading across my face as I recognized the voice.
Kael stood there, a glint in her eye, her sword held casually at her side. She was gorgeous; a warrior queen—no, a goddess ready to rain down destruction.
And she was mine.
“Anything for you,Sihaya.”
Chapter 5
Kael
AssoonasIsuggested a sparring match to Theron, his face lit up with a sly grin. My breath caught, his joy making him painfully handsome. Something had changed when I’d publicly claimed him. He seemed happier—lighter—despite the situation I’d thrown him into. He stepped forward, his eyes shining with the challenge I’d issued and I had to fight the urge to sway towards him. I almost wanted to step back, the intensity of my feelings surprising me, but I stood my ground, meeting him eye-to-eye.
His stare shifted to my lips. “You think you can handle me?”
I held his gaze and replied with a hint of flirtation in my voice, “I can take anything you give me.”
Theron let out a low chuckle as he reached out and brushed a lock of hair behind my ear. His touch sent shivers down my spine, and heat flooded into my cheeks. He leaned in close—our noses almost touching—and spoke in a soft growl that was as intoxicating as it was dangerous. “What do I get when I win?”
I raised my brow. “You mean when I win?”
“So confident. I think I’ll choose the chains.” He stepped away slowly, with another mischievous grin on his face.
I took off my tiara and handed it to Raenisa, her amused gaze darting between us. “This is going to be interesting.”
“No magic,” I said. My eyes locked onto Theron’s as I entered the ring. “Let’s show them how to fight without it.”
“Then I won’t need this,” Theron purred, unbuckling his chest plate.
He removed his armor, letting it slide off of his muscular frame. His gaze never left mine as he moved, challenging me to look away first. I saw a glint of amusement in his eyes as my face flushed with heat.
