“You're dropping your guard again, Liana,” Kael barked, his voice sharp over the clash of blades. “Do that in a real fight, and you're dead.”
Gritting my teeth, I tightened my grip on the sword and lunged at him. Sweat slicked my palms, but I forced my body to move faster, and stronger. Kael parried my strike effortlessly, his amber eyes gleaming with challenge.
“Is that all you've got?” he taunted.
“Not even close,” I shot back, pivoting on my heel and slicing toward his side.
He blocked it with a grunt, but the impact drove him back a step. Satisfaction flared in my chest, but I didn’t let it distract me. Kael was relentless, and I needed to be too.
The warriors training around us had paused to watch, their murmurs blending with the rhythmic thud of boots on dirt. I was an
