Forbidde to Love You

Chapter Three — The Tournament III

The first collision was brutal.

Steel crashed against steel. The two teams surged forward simultaneously, shields slamming together as the field dissolved into movement.

Ewan was the first Harrington to break through.

He moved like a storm. His sword came down hard against an opponent's shield, then again, forcing the man backward. Ewan spun, struck another competitor across the shoulder plate, and drove him beyond the boundary.

The crowd roared.

"EWAN HARRINGTON!"

Serena smiled despite herself. Then she saw Alexander. He had been waiting.

While Ewan drew attention toward the left side of the field, Alexander attacked from the opposite flank.

Two opponents moved toward him. He didn't retreat and stepped between them. The first sword came toward his chest and he blocked it.

The second came from behind. He ducked. Then he drove his shoulder into the first man's chest and sent him crashing into the dirt.

The crowd erupted again. Serena couldn't help but smile more. Her brothers were good.

But then she noticed William. He wasn't fighting like Ewan or Alexander. Instead, he was watching every movement, opening and mistake. He barely wasted a step. An opponent swung, he moved aside. A second strike came. He caught it on his shield, twisted his wrist, and used the man's momentum to send him stumbling past. Another competitor rushed him, but William stepped forward instead of backward.

Their swords collided. Then William struck the man's leg and the competitor dropped to one knee. William's sword stopped inches from his throat. The man yielded. The crowd cheered. William lowered his blade, calm, precise and controlled.

But then he looked toward the stands again.

Toward her. This time, he didn't look away.

Something in him changed. The controlled young nobleman disappeared and the next opponent barely had time to raise his shield.

William hit him so hard that the man staggered backward.

William followed.

One strike.

Two.

Three.

He drove his shoulder into the man and sent him over the boundary. The crowd screamed and Serena sat straighter.

Another opponent charged and William met him head-on. Their swords struck with such force that the sound echoed through the arena.

William's arms shook. He gritted his teeth then he attacked. There was nothing measured about it now. He moved faster, harder and relentlessly.

"God," Katherine murmured.

Serena couldn't answer but couldn't look away. William was fighting as though the entire tournament had suddenly become personal.

As though someone had given him one reason to win. And Serena knew exactly what that reason was.

Her.