The Rogue King's Daughter

Chapter 4 The Sparring Match

Enya

I know Max will kick my *ss after I'm done with Prince Kellan. He warned me not to do anything reckless, and guess what? I did exactly that. But I couldn't help myself, the picture of beating His Highn*ss is too tempting.

Most of the time, I'm the one going with the scouts. But on this mission, I'm going with the group accompanying Prince Kellan, which means Max wants to have me under control. I bet this is not my only punishment. I'm sure of it because of the way Max is looking at me right now. It is the first sign that a talk is what awaits me later. He signals for me to stay in the conference room while all the other warriors, plus Prince Kellan, are walking to the gym for our sparring match.

'You overdid yourself this time, you know that? You can't challenge the Prince, Enya! No matter the results, you are screwed. This is not fun anymore. You need to grow up and start behaving like an adult. Take responsibility for your actions. I can't be the one always saving your *ss.' Max tells me when we are alone.

'We both know he deserves to get his *ss kicked for the way he treats others most of the time. Like you don't know. You have to hear a story or two about him. Besides, he was the one challenging me. I did nothing.' I point out, but Max is not getting it.

'We both know how it really was. You set a trap, and he fell into it head first.' Max counters. Okay, this may be true. I'm a pro at these games.

'His bad. Look, I can go easy on him if that's what you want.' I propose to Max, hoping he won't tell me to do as I suggested. Max contemplates my words and then sighs heavily.

'No, you need to prove yourself. Even if that means beating him. He wants to see your all, and that's what you are going to deliver.' Max tells me in the end and runs his hand down his face. He isn't happy about the situation and I don't blame him. Like he said, I'm screwed either way.

If I let His Highn*ss win, because let's face it, that's the only way he can take me down, I will be degraded for challenging a member of the royal family. Even though, technically, it wasn't me who issued the challenge. What's more, I will be a laughingstock of the other warriors for losing to that shallow prick, who doesn't even train anymore.

If I win, which is exactly what will happen, I may be punished for challenging a member of the royal family, again, even though it wasn't me who said it out loud, and fall out of favor of the royal family for humiliating one of their members. The Prince, of all. Looks like a win-win situation for me. Yay.

'As you wish.' I tell Max, trying hard not to smile at the idea of the upcoming sparring match.

'Like you care what I wish for. I wish for a peaceful mission, but that's not going to happen, apparently.' Max says and makes his way out of the conference room. Poor Max. I'm giving him a headache, probably. Again.

I follow him to the gym, trying very hard to contain my excitement. And failing miserably.

By the time we enter the gym, I'm smiling like a fool. Taylor, my other brother, approaches me. F*ck! This wasn't planned.

'What the hell, Enya? How could you end up in this mess? Don't answer that question, it was a rhetorical one. I can picture just fine how this happened.' Taylor starts, looking on the verge of losing his sh*t. Not that I blame him. He's very protective of me. We are close.

I like both of my brothers, but Taylor, he's my favorite, and I'm not even hiding it. He understands me better than Tom. And respects my opinions, unlike Tom. Before our Dad died, we were all very close. Sometimes I have a feeling that Tom left us the same day we lost our Dad. He has better days and then there are worse days when Tom is acting like a jack*ss. But Taylor is always there for me, every time I need his advice or just his embrace.

'Tell me, Max, how bad it is this time.' Taylor looks at Max expectantly, waiting for his answer.

'It's hard to tell. It depends on what Enya will do. I told her to give the match her all. That's my best advice.' Max says, clapping Taylor on his back, and leaves us, so we can have a minute alone.

'Listen to me. Don't play with him, do it as quickly as you can. This is not a game anymore.' Taylor instructs me and I nod my head in approval. I can see he's worried about me.

I don't want to add more to his already full plate. He works in the Special Forces like me and Tom, but unlike us, he isn't the one working outside the Royal Pack. He works at the commander's center as one of the higher-ranked leaders. His job is mainly to oversee the missions. And a lot of paperwork.

Sometimes I help him with that, writing stupid made-up stories about the missions in the reports. He then scolds me for doing so but laughs at the same time at my stupid sense of humor.

Taylor looks into my eyes and nods, which is my signal to go to the center of the gym where Prince Kellan is waiting for me. He is so confident in himself. He still doesn't know what awaits him. I smile at that thought. Remember Enya, make it as fast as possible. No playing with him. I repeat my brother's words in my head on and on again.

'Show me what's in you, baby.' Prince Kellan says with a smirk. Well, f*ck me. To hell with Taylor's words. Let the fun begin.

'There are only two rules - no permanent injuries like ripped parts of your bodies, and no unintentional marking. We don't want to deal with any of that. Understood?' Max explains the rules.

'Understood.' Prince Kellan and I say at the same time, looking into each other's eyes. Gosh, that smirk. It's still there. I can't wait to rip it off of his face. No ripping of the face, though! It will be a shame to mutilate such a handsome face.

'Prince Kellan, you can choose in which form you would like to spar. You can also choose both forms. It's up to you.' Max asks him.

I don't mind either form, I'm trained in both. Most of the time, I switch forms during training spars, making the most of both. Shifting is not an issue for me. I need half the time to shift that other warriors need. My wolf and I are synced to perfection.

'No shifting. Just our human forms, although we can use our wolves' senses and speed.' Prince Kellan says, surprising me. I thought he would opt for the wolf form, since his wolf is bigger than mine, giving him an advantage. Maybe he's holding back, thinking I need him to.

'No shifting it is.' Max repeats and steps aside to give us space.

I stretch my legs and crack a few bones in my body. Prince Kellan is just standing there, looking at me with curiosity, indicating with his index and middle finger to me to attack him first. I want to roll my eyes. Such a d*ckhead. I take a few steps back, ensuring I have enough space for my first move.

With a smirk, I lunge at him, pretending to go for his head. He stands motionless, waiting to stop my attack. In the last second, I punch lower, into his stomach, taking him by surprise. He doubles over from the strength I used, holding his stomach with one of his hands and trying to punch me with his other. I grab it and twist it to the back, moving my body behind his. I let go of his hand and kick his *ss, making him stumble forward. When I'm sure he's not going to attack me, I take a look at Taylor, gauging his reaction. He mouths 'No playing!' and this time, I roll my eyes.

Prince Kellan is now lunging at me, going for my face. So predictable. I duck and grab his hand, throwing his body over my back to my other side, and punching him to his side. I hear his bones cracking, but I know it's not a severe injury, and he will heal from it in no time. I take a few steps back again, waiting for his next move. He is now panting heavily. What a loser. I haven't even warmed up.

From the corner of my eyes, I see the King coming to watch the sparring match. I take a quick look at him, hoping Prince Kellan wouldn't use my momentous distraction to his advantage. I'm met with a disdainful look, but it's not directed at me but at his son. I look back at Prince Kellan and when I see he's too looking at the King, I contemplate using HIS distraction to MY advantage.

Then I halt on my next move because the way Prince Kellan looks to the ground tells me he saw his father's expression and is now feeling bad. Bad that he is failing his family.

I sigh. It's not like me to take pity during sparring matches, but here I am, ending this match quickly before the Prince is more humiliated. I lunge for the last time, sliding towards his legs, and taking him down. He falls on his back and I jump on him, sitting on his stomach so he can't kick me hard enough to throw me off of him, pinning his hands to the ground. Then I go for his throat, mimicking tearing it without extending my canines. When I'm sure Max saw my victory, I stand up and go to the side.