Page 28 of Winds of Destiny

“I’m excellent, of course. How could I not be, given my instructor?” His smile is more like a smirk, infuriating and compelling at once.

“Then perhaps you’d like to test yourself against me,” I offer.

Turo’s face goes from pleased to alarmed in the space of a moment. “Commander Kai, I don’t think that—”

“Excuse me, myhusbandhas offered to spar with me,” Camrael cuts in, polite and vicious all at once. “I need to satisfy his curiosity.”

Oh, the things he could satisfy… I wait for Camrael to get his sword before pulling my own, then meet him where Morfan and Turo were fighting a few moments ago. The grass is fairly well tamped down this close to the road, and when Camrael turns to face me, his expression is eager. He holds his sword like he knows how to use it.

The sword isn’t my best weapon—I don’t move it like it’s an extension of my own body the way Turo does. The blade my people favor is short and broad, and I’d usually dual-wield with a shield if I were serious about protecting myself from damage. But tonight, I’m going to try something new. I’m going to trust my own skill and trust Camrael not to hurt me, and I’m going to meet him head-on in his own style.

I lift the sword toward my forehead in a mark of respect, which Camrael mimics. Then, blades lowered to the ready position, we begin.

The first few seconds of the bout make it clear that Camrael is skilled. He wields his blade with dexterity, blocking my attacks and striking back as fast as lightning, but I’m good enough to keep anything from landing. He can dance around me as much as he wants, but as long as I root in and set my stance, he won’t be able to get past my defenses. So that’s what I do—I weather every attack that comes my way, brushing them aside with my blade and occasionally redirecting with the long hilt of my sword, and striking back only when Camrael moves in close.

“Do you not like to dance?” he gently taunts me from just outside striking distance. “Are you so poor on your feet?”

“Do you never stand still?” I reply. “Will my prince have to tie you down in order to make you stay and listen for a bit?”

“I’m not averse to being tied down,” Camrael says before launching a new style of attack. He strikes from overhead, then loops back up from low at his hip. The way he bends his body is mesmerizing, enough to distract even the most focused mind, but I hear the way Turo gasps—and then I see the opening Camrael’s left for me.

It takes more strength than I’d prefer to use against him, but there’s a moment just as Camrael changes the direction of his blow where his grip is weaker. I bring my blade down hard against his, and with aclangit falls to the ground. At the same time, I finally move in—not to level a blade at his chest, but to grab him and pull him close to my own. Camrael’s eyes are wide, his pupils dark… He’sintothis.

Hells, so am I.

“How’s this for dancing?” I say, tilting him back ever so slightly until he has to loop his arms around my neck to stay upright.

“Just the kind I like,” he replies, shifting so that the front of his body is pressed even tighter to me, and—

Oh. He’s hard. And now, so am I.

Fuck it. I’m taking Camrael to bed.

Chapter Sixteen

Cam

I swear that all I was thinking about when I stood up was keeping Turo from annihilating Kai. I wasn’t thinking about showing off with moves that justhappento make me look especially good or putting on a performance that would make these Dellians’ jaws drop. I genuinely was thinking only of my proxy husband’s health and status, because Turo beating him might undermine his authority with his men.

That said, I’m not sad that things have turned out this way, with Kai’s bright eyes reflecting my own desire back at me. And I’mdefinitelynot sad that tonight is the first night we’ve set the tents up. It’s going to be a lot easier to meet my future husband without blushing over the fact that every single person he sent to get me has seen my bare body on display.

“Come to bed,” Kai murmurs, and I immediately nod. He turns us toward our waiting tent, not bothering to let go of me.

“Wait, my sword!” I try to turn back, and then—

I’m airborne, hoisted over Kai’s shoulder and with a perfect view of his ass as he doesn’t even break stride. I can’t help it—I start to laugh.

“Let Turo get that sword,” Kai says. “And I’ll concern myself with yours.”

Gods, such a terrible joke, and Turo has tohatethis, but I can’t stop laughing. I feel good, free and easy for the first time in way too long. I feel hot and needy, too.

I can’t wait to see what I’m about to get.

“You owe me a brace of hares, Rusen,” Deric says from behind us as Kai keeps walking away. “I told you they’d be fucking before the week was out.”

“Comeon, Kai!” his second calls out, aggrieved. “You couldn’t have held off with your prick for three more da—”

I lose track of his words as Kai bends abruptly, catching me before I fall off his shoulder as he lifts the tent flap and crawls inside. He sits back on his knees with me in his lap, puts one hand under my ass and the other on the back of my neck, and crushes our mouths together.

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