CHAPTER NINE
1398 Words
Phaeryl rolled her shoulders as she stepped into the expanse of well trimmed grass. Word had spread quickly about the attractive stranger in the Lanster Manor. Xhanes’ true identity stayed between her parents and her brother.
A faint sensation slowly crept over her. He was here. He's probably watching her.
A faint pull at the edge of her awareness.
Annoying. Yara would be so shocked if she found out what was going on.
Phaeryl prayed inwardly that Espen would stop being lazy about training and appear in front of her.
“Starting without me?”
His voice slid in behind her, in its usual monotone, calm and unhurried form.
“I don’t remember inviting you” She threw out when she heard his footsteps approaching her. Of course, Xhanes wasn't going to listen to her.
“I wasn’t aware I needed one,” He was pretty smug for someone seeking refuge in another pack’s territory.
Phaeryl exhaled sharply and spun to face him.
“Go away.”
“No.”
Giving such a short, annoying, and direct answer was surely Xhanes’ personality. “Do you always ignore people when they tell you to leave?”
“Only when they don’t mean it.” She retorted.
“I mean it.”
“You don’t.”
“Try me.”
Something flickered in his eyes; interest, maybe. Phaeryl found Xhanes’ personality mysterious. And the fact he was able to get her father to accommodate him.
“Gladly.”
He stood still, straight with his hands behind him. There is no hint of concern or seriousness in his stance.
Phaeryl lunged at him, fast and direct.
Her punch cut through the air toward his temple.
And met nothing.
She was astonished that he had already stepped aside. The last time she had seen that kind of speed was at the Keld palace.
“You’re predictable. You didn't think before, you attacked. I– ” It was almost the same as her father lecturing her, but it was different this time.
She attacked again, but with more force than before. He blocked this time by holding her arm.
“I’m not predictable.”
“You attack first,” he replied. “Every time.”
She pushed harder, forcing him back a step.
“That’s called being efficient.”
“That’s called being impulsive.”
Her eyes flashed.
She drove forward again, faster now, strikes sharper, more aggressive.
Xhanes met each one with minimal effort, deflecting rather than countering.
This was bothersome. Everything about Xhanes was bothersome.
“You’re not even trying.” She rasped between quickened breaths.
“I am.”
“You’re not.”
“I don’t need to.”
That did it. Xhanes was never going to take her seriously unless she gave him a reason to.
She feinted left, then twisted sharply, aiming for his shoulder—
His hand shot out.
Caught her wrist again.
It seemed like time had frozen.
Too close.
Phaeryl stilled as if she also froze with time.
Her breath hitched—barely.
The space between them felt tense, just like the night she found out she was his mate.
Her eyes flicked up to meet him.He was already looking at her with a steady, unmoving gaze.
“You rely on speed,” he said quietly. “But you leave yourself open.”
She swallowed, forcing her voice to stay sharp. It seemed more tiring to maintain a strong facade before Xhanes. It was as though he saw through her like glass.
“Let go.” He didn’t.
Instead, he stepped closer. Xhanes was surely teasing her.
“Your stance,” he continued, as if nothing had shifted, “is unbalanced.”
“I don’t need your—” She broke off when his free hand moved to her shoulder, adjusting her position slightly.
Just a brief contact, which, for a weird reason, lingered.
“ Oh, trust me, you do,” he said.
Bothersome.
“Stop touching me.”
“Then stop doing it wrong.”
Her eyes widened slightly. She wondered if he just really said that.
“Excuse me?”
“You lean too far forward,” he went on, correcting her mistakes, ignoring her tone completely. “It makes you easier to counter.”
“I’m not easy to counter.”
“You were just caught.”
“That was a distraction.”
“That was a mistake.”
“I said stop correcting me.”She uttered, yanking her wrist free.
“And I said you’re doing it wrong.”
“I am not.”
“You are.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
She stared at him, frustration bubbling up. Xhanes was undeniably petty.
“Why do you care?”
The question slipped out before she could stop it.
Phaeryl couldn’t help focus on Xhanes’ pause.
“Because you’re my mate.”
The words landed between them. She wondered if it was the cause of the sudden heat.
Simple.
Unfiltered.
“That is none of your business. I just met you like one week ago”
“So?”
Her lips parted to retort, but nothing came out.
She quickly stepped back, creating distance between them. This was confirmation that Xhanes was weird.
“You’re stubborn.”
“You’re insufferable.”
A faint smile swept over his lips, making Phaeryl’s annoyance grow.
“And yet, here we are.”
Phaeryl scoffed and turned away to leave.
“I don’t need your help.”
“I didn’t say you did.”
“Then stop acting like it.”
“Then stop making it necessary.”
She spun back toward him.
“I am perfectly capable—”
Her foot shifted.
Just slightly. Wrong angle.
Xhanes noticed immediately.
“Your footing—”
“I said I’m fine.”
She moved again and slipped.
Not enough to fall.
But enough to lose balance.
His hand caught her arm instantly, steadying her before she could stumble.
Too fast and natural. She tried to hide the shame creeping over her.
His firm, warm grip made her chest feel tight.
“I had it,”
“You didn’t.”
“I did.”
“You didn’t.”
“I just slipped.”
“Because your footing is wrong.”
What was happening? Just a few days ago, she was trying to escape from him, and now, he was correcting her fight style.
She pulled her arm free, stepping back quickly.
“I know how to stand.”
“You clearly don’t.”
Her nose crunched in irritation.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“Immensely.”
“I’m done.”
“You just started.”
“I’m finished.”
“You’re avoiding it.”
“I’m ignoring you.”
“You’re bad at that.”
Phaeryl didn’t think he would be this insufferable. He countered her statements as quickly as he blocked her attacks.
She grabbed a cloth from the bench, wiping her hands more aggressively than necessary.
“I’m doing a great job right now.”
“You’ve responded to everything I’ve said.”
“That’s because you keep talking.”
“And you keep listening.”
She paused. Just briefly.
Then, he resumed wiping her hands.
“I’m not listening.”
“You are.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I’m not.”
He stepped closer again.
Not too close.
Just enough.
“You are,” he said quietly.
Phaeryl exhaled sharply, tossing the cloth back onto the bench.
“Why are you like this?”
“Like what?”
“Annoying.”
“Accurate.”
“I didn’t ask for accuracy.”
“You needed it.”
She turned toward him again, ready to argue—
Then stopped.
Because he was already watching her.
I'm not amused this time.
Not entirely.
Phaeryl looked away first as usual.
“I’m going back,” she muttered.
“To avoid losing again?”
“I didn’t lose.”
“You did.”
“I slipped.”
“You lost.”
“I didn’t.”
“You did.”
She grabbed her things, walking past him.
“This is exactly why I didn’t want a mate.” That slipped out in a way she didn't think of.
“Because they tell you the truth?”
“Because they don’t leave.”
Phaeryl caught his slight pause before she walked away
- Writer
