Chapter 35
My eyebrows dipped into a frown. Okay that wasn’t what I expected.
I was taken aback as I blinked. “What?”
Alaric’s jaw tightened. “You stood in the middle of the battlefield like a naive child. Without a weapon. Without protection. You trusted me not to kill you.”
A cold chill ran down my spine.
I swallowed. “You didn’t.”
“That isn’t the point.”
His voice was controlled, but there was something beneath it.
Something dangerous.
He took a step forward. “You had no reason to believe I wouldn’t have ripped you apart.”
I lifted my chin. “But you didn’t.”
His eyes darkened.
“That was reckless.” His fingers curled into fists. “It was a stupid decision.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Would you rather I had run? Stood back and watched you lose yourself? Stayed in like a pretty bride to be. Screaming and crying.”
His lips pressed into a thin line. “I would rather you had lived.”
The words sent something sharp through my chest.
I hadn’t expected that.
Not from him.
He exhaled, turning slightly, running a hand through his hair. “You don’t understand what you
I clenched my fists. “Then tell me.”
His shoulders tensed.
I stepped closer.
His eyes flicked to mine, and for a moment, just a moment, something in them burned.
Want.
Need.
But then-
Gone.
Shut away like a door slamming shut.
“I don’t have to explain myself to you,” he said coldly.
I swallowed down the frustration curling in my throat.
Of course.
Alaric was a fortress, walls so high they scraped the sky.
“I’m not sorry,” I said finally.
did.”
1/4
9:25 AM
Chapter 35
His head snapped toward me, his gaze sharp. “What?”
I took another step forward, challenging the space between us. “I’m not sorry for what I did. I’d do it again.”
A muscle in his jaw twitched.
“You think this is some kind of game?”
I shook my head. “No. But I refuse to be someone who just stands by.”
His gaze dropped–just for a second. Not to the ground. Not in defeat.
To my lips.
Heat crawled up my neck, but I held my ground.
The air in the room felt thicker.
His fingers twitched at his sides, as if fighting something.
“I don’t need a reckless Luna,” he said, voice lower now.
I raised a brow. “Then maybe you should have picked someone else.”
A slow, sharp exhale.
Something flickered in his eyes.
Then, he was moving.
Fast.
Too fast.
One second, there was space between us.
The next there wasn’t at all.
He was right there, his scent, smoke and something like wild forest pressing into me.
His hand slammed onto the table behind me, caging me in without touching me.
Not touching.
But so close it sent my pulse into a sprint.
I refused to move.
Refused to let him see the way my breath hitched.
He leaned in, his voice a low, quiet thing.
“Do not test me.”
I stared right back. “Do not underestimate me.”
His eyes darkened.
Another second.
Another breath.
Then…
He pulled back just as fast, stepping away, turning toward the fire like nothing had happened.
Like he hadn’t just burned me alive without ever laying a hand on me.
2/4
+15
Chapter 35
The air felt empty between us now.
Colder.
I swallowed hard, forcing my pulse to slow.
Silence stretched.
Then-
“Knox is increasing your training,” he said, voice clipped. “You need to be prepared.”
I inhaled. “For what?”
His back was to me.
But I saw the way his shoulders tensed.
Like he knew something I didn’t.
Like he didn’t want to say it.
Finally, he turned.
His gaze met mine.
And the words that left his lips made my stomach drop.
“For war.”
I blinked.
For a second, I thought I misheard him.
“But you just said I wouldn’t be involved…” My lips curved into a slow smile. “Unless… you actually want me to be involved?”
Alaric rolled his eyes. “You are to be my Luna. You must be strong and know how to deal with war. I just don’t like the idea of you going into battle unprepared.”
My smile widened. “So you admit you were impressed?”
He gave me a blank look. “You’re an idiot.”
I grinned.
He sighed, shaking his head before turning away. “Knox will inform you of your new schedule.”
Right on cue, the doors opened, and Knox stepped inside.
His silver eyes flicked between us, a smirk already tugging at his lips. “Am I interrupting something?”
Alaric shot him a glare. “You wish.”
Knox just grinned and turned his attention to me. “New schedule, new training. We’re adding hand–to–hand combat and weapons handling to your lessons.”
I raised a brow. “Weapons handling?”
Knox nodded. “You need to be versatile. It’s not just about knowing how to swing a sword. You should be able to fight with anything–a blade, a dagger, even your bare hands.”
I tilted my head. “That sounds like a lot.”
Alaric crossed his arms. “If you have time to complain, you have time to train.”
I bit back a retort and turned back to Knox. “What about my etiquette lessons? Cecelia might have something to say about this.”
Knox’s smirk widened. “That’s the other part of the news.”
3/4
9:25 AM
Chapter 35
I frowned. “What?”
“Cecelia informed me that there’s a female meeting this afternoon,” he said. “You’ll be expected to attend.”
I exhaled sharply. “As long as Brielle isn’t there.”
Knox snorted. “You really hate her, don’t you?”
I shrugged. “She’s annoying.”
Cecelia’s voice came from the doorway. “I, for one, love seeing the look on her face when you two fight.”
I turned to find her leaning against the frame, arms crossed, looking way too amused.
I sighed. “This is my life now.”
Cecelia grinned. “And it gets better. Guess who’s sitting right beside Lady Brielle? People are saying that they are now best friends. Brielle is sticking to her hip and respecting her as if she was some god.”
I stared at her, already not caring.
“I doubt if it concerns me. If she even have the goddess as her best friend. She should stay away.”
“But it does concern you. You will never guess who the person is.”
I frowned. *Who?”
She smirked.
“Your sister.”
