Page 37 of Wild Bond

“Yes, we’ve met,” the prince spoke over him, eyeing me like I was mud on his boot as he turned back to Mordrick. “As I said, what is she doing here?”

The man was instantly flustered. “Well, she was just—”

“I was just leaving,” I hastily excused myself, making to move around him.

But the prince grabbed my arm, his grip almost painful as he glared down at me. “Why are you wandering around the castle unaccompanied?”

Skye released a low growl, but I shot her a warning in the bond, and she quieted. I could feel how tense she was, though.

“I was just at tea with Her Majesty and got turned around. It was my mistake.”

He regarded me with suspicion for a moment more, then released my arm. “See that it doesn’t happen again. The last thing we need is a thief lurking about.”

Anger sparked at his words, but I pushed it down and simply nodded. Unaccustomed to the flowing fabric around my legs, I nearly tripped on my dress as I made a hasty exit from the room and down the hall.

Thankfully, it was only a few minutes before I found my way outside and back into the familiar city streets. I breathed in the sunlight and open air, trying to leave the stuffiness of that room and the cold chill of that strange meeting behind.

AsImademyway over to the practice fields for my lesson with Dembe early the next morning, with Skye in tow, thoughts of Rake kept plaguing my mind. Due to my unexpected visit to the castle yesterday, I hadn’t had a flying lesson with him. In fact, I hadn’t seen him at all. I tried to convince myself I wasn’t disappointed by that.

The way I had responded to him the other night made it clear I could no longer lie to myself about what I was feeling for Rake. I was attracted to him.Veryattracted to him, and I couldn’t afford to be. He was a leader among the dragon riders, and I was a trainee. I wasn’t even a full-fledged rider yet, not until I passed the trials, and that wouldn’t be for several years yet. Not to mention there was a bit of an age difference. I was only twenty, and he had to be at least thirty or close to it. If anything were to develop between us, he would no doubt eventually come to see me as immature and inexperienced.

Youareinexperienced,a tiny voice in my head reminded me. A voice I quickly shoved down and ignored.

That was when I noticed a small crowd of teachers and other trainees had gathered around the ring where Dembe and I usually sparred. A sense of curiosity came from Skye where she flew a few feet above my head.

I wasn’t sure what could have caused such a stir this early in the morning, but as I came to a halt at the edge of the crowd and saw what they were all gawking at, I got my answer.

Rake. Rake was here.

And he was fighting Dembe.

And they were both shirtless.

I couldn’t help it. My mouth dropped open.

I was vaguely aware of Skye coming to rest on my shoulder as I took in the scene.

Each man held a sword in one hand, and they were fighting each other with a ferocity and power that was mesmerizing to watch. The way they moved was like nothing I had ever seen. They were both graceful and fluid in their movements despite their size, and so fast I could barely follow some of their blocks and strikes.

It was quickly apparent they were pretty evenly matched. Though Dembe was bulkier, and his blows rang against Rake’s sword like a hammer on an anvil, Rake was faster. His leanly muscled body bent and twisted out of the way with practiced ease.

I couldn’t take my eyes off all that bronze skin, his wide muscular shoulders, broad chest, and the ridges at his abdomen. Then my gaze traveled lower to where the two defined lines at his hips disappeared into his black fighting leathers. Swirling black ink covered most of his right arm and shoulder as well as his right pec, only stopping part way down his ribs. The design almost looked like flames, but then also seemed to form other shapes within them. I would have to be closer to see what they were. I was able to see that both men sported the familiar dragon rider tattoo on their right bicep.

Without consciously meaning to, I took a few steps closer until I was right on the edge of the chalk outline, where it was considered safe to stand and observe.

I realized Daisha and her two cronies, whose names I had now learned were Morina and Silva, were standing a few feet away from me, observing the fight as well. I didn’t think they’d noticed me yet.

“With moves like that, it makes you wonder what else he does well,” the redhead, Morina, murmured to Daisha.

“Shh!” Silva laughed, as all three giggled like little girls. “He might hear you.”

“Of course, Daisha doesn’t have to wonder,” Morina teased.

My gut tightened.

A smug smile flitted over Daisha’s beautiful face, before she said primly, “A lady doesn’t kiss and tell.”

The women laughed again.

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