THE EMPEROR'S LAST CONQUEST.

CHAPTER 3: THE FIRST DEFEAT.

The first strike came from Seraya.

Kael blocked it effortlessly.

Wood struck wood with a sharp crack.

Seraya stepped back.

Kael didn't.

He simply watched her.

His expression was unreadable.

Seraya tightened her grip on the practice sword.

"Are you going to stand there all day?"

One of his eyebrows lifted.

"You attacked me."

"And?"

"You seem impatient."

"I am."

Kael's mouth twitched.

"Good."

He moved.

Seraya barely had time to raise her sword.

His blade struck hers with enough force to send a shock through her arms.

She stumbled backward.

Kael advanced.

One step.

Two.

Three.

His movements were frighteningly precise.

There was no unnecessary motion.

No wasted energy.

Every strike was deliberate.

Seraya blocked the first.

Then the second.

The third nearly knocked the sword from her hands.

She spun away.

Kael followed.

Their blades collided again.

This time Seraya ducked beneath his arm.

She swung toward his ribs.

Kael twisted aside.

Her blade missed him by inches.

He looked at her.

"You've been trained well."

Seraya attacked again.

"Was that supposed to be a compliment?"

"No."

"Then don't bother."

She struck.

Kael blocked.

She struck again.

He blocked again.

Their swords moved faster.

Seraya's breathing grew heavier.

Kael remained almost unnervingly calm.

It irritated her.

Everything about him irritated her.

His confidence.

His silence.

The way he looked at her as though he already knew how the fight would end.

She feinted left.

Kael followed.

She changed direction.

His sword met hers.

Seraya's eyes narrowed.

He had anticipated her.

Again.

She tried a different maneuver.

Again.

He blocked.

"You read your opponents," she said.

Kael pushed her sword aside.

"I have fought enough of them."

"Then you've never fought me."

His eyes met hers.

"Not yet."

Seraya attacked with everything she had.

Kael met her.

Their swords collided so violently that the wooden blade in Seraya's hand cracked.

She immediately discarded it.

Kael stopped.

"You've lost your weapon."

Seraya looked toward the weapons rack.

Then back at him.

"I don't need one."

Kael's expression changed.

Just slightly.

Seraya rushed forward.

He expected another attack.

Instead, she grabbed his wrist.

Kael reacted instantly.

He twisted.

Seraya followed the movement, using his momentum against him.

For half a second, Kael lost his balance.

Seraya swept his leg.

He stumbled.

She caught his shoulder.

He caught her waist.

They both froze.

They were suddenly far too close.

Seraya could feel the warmth of his body.

Could hear his breathing.

Kael looked down at her.

His gray eyes were no longer cold.

They were curious.

Seraya shoved him away.

"Let go."

He did.

Immediately.

She stepped back.

Neither spoke.

Kael looked at her.

"You fight dirty."

"You fight predictably."

His eyes narrowed.

"Predictably?"

Seraya smiled.

"Yes."

Something almost amused flickered across his face.

"Then you should have won."

"I haven't finished trying."

She turned toward the weapons rack.

Kael watched her walk away.

There was something about her.

Something he couldn't quite identify.

She didn't fight like someone trying to impress him.

She fought like someone who genuinely wanted to beat him.

And Kael Draven had spent his entire life surrounded by people who wanted something from him.

Power.

Protection.

Wealth.

Approval.

Fear.

Seraya wanted none of it.

She wanted to defeat him.

For some reason...

he found that fascinating.

---

Seraya selected a new practice sword.

She returned to the center of the yard.

Kael was already waiting.

"Again?"

She raised an eyebrow.

"Afraid?"

He almost laughed.

"No one has ever accused me of that."

"There is always a first time."

Kael raised his sword.

"Come."

They fought again.

This time, Kael didn't underestimate her.

He moved faster.

Seraya followed.

His blade came toward her shoulder.

She blocked.

He turned.

She ducked.

He struck toward her side.

She jumped backward.

He advanced.

She retreated.

For several minutes, neither gained an advantage.

Then Seraya saw it.

A weakness.

A small opening in his stance.

She waited.

Kael attacked.

She stepped aside.

His sword passed her.

She turned.

Struck his wrist.

His sword fell.

The sound of wood hitting stone echoed across the courtyard.

Kael froze.

Seraya stood behind him.

Her practice sword rested lightly against his back.

Silence.

Somewhere near the entrance, a guard whispered,

"Impossible."

Kael slowly turned his head.

He looked at the sword against him.

Then at Seraya.

She was breathing heavily.

A strand of hair had fallen across her face.

There was a small smile on her lips.

"You're disarmed."

Kael stared at her.

For several seconds...

he said nothing.

Seraya lowered the sword.

"I believe that means I win."

Kael turned fully toward her.

The entire training yard seemed to be holding its breath.

Then he laughed.

A low, surprised sound.

Seraya blinked.

"You find this funny?"

"No."

He looked at his fallen sword.

"I'm impressed."

She hadn't expected that.

"By what?"

"You."

The answer came so simply that Seraya didn't know what to say.

Kael walked toward his sword and picked it up.

He examined the weapon briefly.

Then looked back at her.

"No one has disarmed me in years."

"Perhaps you've become too comfortable."

"Perhaps."

His gaze remained on her.

Seraya felt something strange.

Not attraction.

Not yet.

Something else.

Recognition.

For the first time, she felt as though Kael was actually looking at her.

Not as his conquered princess.

Not as his newest wife.

But as an equal.

She didn't like the feeling.

So she turned away.

"I'm finished."

Kael's voice followed her.

"Tomorrow."

Seraya stopped.

She glanced over her shoulder.

"What?"

"Same time."

"You assume I'll come."

"I know you will."

"How?"

His gray eyes gleamed.

"Because you haven't beaten me properly yet."

Seraya's eyebrows rose.

"I just disarmed you."

"You surprised me."

"You were defeated."

"I wasn't."

She laughed softly.

"Your pride is remarkable."

"So I've been told."

She walked away.

Kael watched her leave.

His expression slowly changed.

The faint amusement disappeared.

Something else took its place.

Something he hadn't felt in a very long time.

Interest.

---

That evening, Seraya returned to her chambers.

She dismissed the maids.

She wanted silence.

She wanted to think.

But she couldn't stop remembering the duel.

Not the victory.

Not even the moment she had disarmed him.

Something else.

When their swords had collided for the final time...

she had felt something.

A strange warmth.

It had traveled through the wooden sword and into her palm.

At first she had assumed it was simply the force of the impact.

But now...

she wasn't sure.

Seraya looked down at her hand.

There was nothing there.

No wound.

No mark.

Nothing unusual.

She shook her head.

It was exhaustion.

Nothing more.

She walked toward the mirror.

Then stopped.

For the briefest moment...

the candle beside her flickered.

The flame turned blue.

Seraya stared.

Her heart skipped.

The flame returned to normal.

She blinked.

Nothing.

She approached the candle.

She touched the holder.

Cold.

Very cold.

She pulled her hand away.

A shiver ran through her.

Then came a knock at the door.

Seraya turned quickly.

"Who is it?"

A maid answered.

"Your Highness, dinner has been prepared."

Seraya looked once more at the candle.

It burned normally.

"Leave it outside."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Footsteps disappeared.

Seraya remained still.

She didn't know why...

but suddenly she remembered something her mother had told her when she was a child.

A warning she hadn't understood at the time.

Never let anyone see what happens when your blood awakens.

Seraya frowned.

She hadn't thought about those words in years.

She dismissed the memory.

Her mother had always been secretive.

There was no reason to connect an old childhood warning to a candle.

Still...

she didn't sleep well that night.

---

Across the palace, Kael stood alone in his private chambers.

He had removed his coat.

His sword rested on the table.

He stared at it.

Then at his hand.

During the duel, when Seraya had struck his wrist...

something had happened.

For the smallest fraction of a second, he had felt a strange pulse travel through the blade.

He had felt it before.

Once.

Long ago.

When he was a child.

His father had forbidden him from speaking of it.

Kael had forgotten about it.

Until today.

He closed his hand slowly.

His eyes hardened.

There was something unusual about Seraya.

He knew it now.

The question was...

what?

A soft knock interrupted his thoughts.

His chamberlain entered.

"Your Majesty."

Kael didn't look at him.

"What?"

"The council requests your presence tomorrow morning."

"Tell them to wait."

"Of course."

The man hesitated.

"There is also another matter."

Kael finally looked at him.

"What matter?"

"The Emperor's wives have been informed about Princess Seraya's arrival."

Kael's expression remained cold.

"And?"

"They are displeased."

Kael almost smiled.

"They may remain displeased."

The chamberlain bowed.

"There is one more thing."

Kael waited.

"The Queen Mother has requested to see you."

Kael's face hardened.

"Why?"

"She says she wishes to speak with you about your new wife."

Kael said nothing.

The Queen Mother rarely interfered with his affairs.

If she wanted to speak about Seraya...

there was probably a reason.

"Tomorrow."

"Yes, Majesty."

The chamberlain left.

Kael returned his attention to the sword.

His fingers brushed the blade.

His thoughts returned to Seraya's eyes.

Fearless.

Defiant.

Impossible.

He had conquered fifty-seven kingdoms.

Taken fifty-seven princesses.

Broken armies.

Destroyed dynasties.

Yet one young woman had managed to accomplish something none of his enemies had ever done.

She had made him wonder.

Kael Draven did not like wondering.

He preferred certainty.

And something told him...

Seraya Valen was about to destroy every certainty he had ever possessed.