Chapter 3: Dawn, Sweet & Stubbornness
1303 Words
Dawn came entirely too early.
Or perhaps it was just that Kaelen Vance had a personal vendetta against sleep and comfort.
I stood in the middle of the Training Grounds, yawning so wide my jaw cracked, wearing leggings and a tunic that was way too thin for the morning chill. The sun was barely peeking over the horizon, painting the sky in shades of purple and orange, but all I could see was the man standing ten feet away looking annoyingly fresh and awake.
Kaelen was dressed in fighting gear—black pants and a sleeveless top that showcased arms built by the gods themselves. He was stretching, and every movement was fluid, powerful, and completely unfair to my poor sleep-deprived eyes.
"You are late," he stated without even looking at me.
"I am not late," I argued, rubbing my eyes. "I am exactly on time. It is just that you wake up at an hour that is legally still night."
He finally looked at me, raising an eyebrow. "A Seal Master does not wait for the sun. We command it. Now, come here."
I trudged over to him. "What are we doing today? More magic stuff? Reading scrolls? Predicting the future?"
"We are building foundation," he said, stepping closer. "The power inside you is volatile, Elara. If you don't learn to control your body, you won't be able to control your magic. So today... we fight."
I blinked at him. "Fight? You want me to fight you? Are you insane? You could snap me like a twig."
"Then don't get caught," he grinned, a challenging glint in his grey eyes. "Defend yourself."
Before I could even process what was happening, he moved.
It wasn't fast, not really. He was holding back. But to me, it was like a blur. I barely saw his arm move before his hand was aimed straight at my shoulder. Panic kicked in, and I ducked instinctively, stumbling away from him.
"Hey!" I yelped. "Warning! Give me a warning!"
"War doesn't give warnings," he said smoothly, coming at me again. "And neither do I."
This time, I was ready. I tried to block him, but his arm was like steel. He easily redirected my movement, and suddenly, I was spinning, off-balance, and right into his chest.
His arms wrapped around me instantly to steady me, holding me against him. My back was pressed to his front, and I could feel every hard line of his body, feel the heat radiating off his skin.
"Stance too wide," he whispered right next to my ear, his voice dropping low and husky. "Center of gravity too high. You fight like a drunk duck."
I elbowed him hard in the ribs. "I fight like a person who was dragged out of bed! Let go of me, you oaf!"
He chuckled, the vibration going straight through my spine, and released me, spinning me around to face him. "Anger is good. Use it. Channel it. Don't just stand there looking pretty and annoyed."
"I am plenty pretty," I huffed, wiping sweat from my forehead. "And you are enjoying this way too much."
"Oh, immensely," he admitted shamelessly. "Now, again. Try to hit me."
For the next hour, it was pure torture.
He dodged everything I threw at him like it was child's play. He blocked, he parried, he twisted my arms gently but firmly until I yelped, and he always, always ended up with me somehow pressed against him or trapped in his hold.
My hair was messy, my clothes were soaked with sweat, and my legs were shaking. But I refused to give up. I was Elara, damn it. I didn't quit.
"One more time," he panted, though he barely looked winded. "Come at me with everything you have."
I took a deep breath, closing my eyes for a split second. I focused. I didn't think about how hot he looked or how mean he was being. I thought about the bond. I felt that tether inside me, warm and alive.
Come on, I thought. Help me out here.
I opened my eyes and lunged.
This time, I didn't just use my body. I let that strange energy flow. I moved faster than I ever had before. I saw his hand coming to grab me, and I ducked under it, spun, and aimed a kick at his side.
He actually looked surprised. His eyes widened slightly. He barely managed to block it, but the force made him take a step back.
"Not bad," he muttered, looking impressed.
"Not bad?" I grinned, feeling a surge of confidence. "Watch this!"
I attacked again, faster, bolder. We danced across the grass, a blur of motion. For a moment, I wasn't just the girl he was training. I was his equal. I felt powerful. I felt alive.
I saw an opening. I feinted left, then went right, aiming straight for his chest to push him back.
But Kaelen, being the annoying genius that he was, anticipated it.
Instead of blocking, he grabbed my wrist, pulled me forward, and used my own momentum against me. I stumbled, losing my balance, and this time, I didn't just bump into him.
I crashed straight into his chest, and his arms locked around my waist, pinning me against him completely.
We both stopped.
The world seemed to pause. The birds stopped chirping. The wind stopped blowing.
I was breathing hard, my chest heaving up and down against his. My hands were resting on his bare shoulders, his skin hot and smooth under my palms. His face was so close, his grey eyes dark and dilated, staring down at my lips like he was starving.
"You..." I breathed, trying to sound angry but failing miserably. "You cheated."
His hands on my waist tightened, pulling me even closer until there was zero space left between us.
"I don't cheat," he whispered, his voice rough and deep. "I win."
His head started to lower. Slowly. Torturously slow.
My heart stopped beating entirely. This was it. This time, there was no interruption. No doors opening. No magic exploding. Just us. Just dawn. Just sweat and tension and everything we had been pretending wasn't there.
I stood on my tiptoes without even realizing it.
"Kaelen..."
"Elara..."
Just as his lips were about to brush against mine, a loud, obnoxious clearing of a throat echoed from the entrance of the training grounds.
"Ahem! Grand Master! I hate to interrupt... the Council is waiting for you in the War Room!"
Kaelen froze. I practically jumped out of his arms, spinning around to hide my bright red face, while he slowly turned toward the messenger with a look that could kill.
I swear, I saw actual smoke coming out of his ears.
"Tell them," Kaelen said, his voice dangerously low and filled with murder, "that I am busy."
"B-but sir, they said it's urgent—"
"I said," Kaelen repeated, not taking his eyes off me, "I am busy."
The messenger gulped, nodded frantically, and scurried away like a frightened rabbit.
Silence fell again.
Kaelen looked back at me. He ran a hand through his messy hair, looking frustrated, annoyed, and incredibly sexy.
"As I was saying," he growled, taking a step toward me again. "Where were we?"
I bit my lip, my heart racing a mile a minute.
"I think..." I whispered, taking a step back, teasing him. "I think class is over. I'm tired. And I need a bath."
His eyes darkened.
"You are playing with fire, woman."
"Maybe," I smiled, turning and walking away, swaying my hips just a little more than necessary. "But you're the one who taught me how to burn, remember?"
I left him standing there, staring after me, looking like a man who was very much looking forward to the next lesson.
- Writer
