Page 36 of The Stygian Crown

Chapter Eight

Kara joined the training group in the palace courtyard in the morning, eager to work out some of her sexual frustration. The morning air was humid and thick with the promise of afternoon rain. Pippa and Tanith were there, clustered around a table laden with refreshments, which meant the princess was likely not far behind. Aidan led a group of soldiers through a set of drills on the far side of the yard, but Kara felt his gaze drift to her when she arrived.

Kara moved to a free spot on the grass and started stretching. She’d underestimated the effect the demon’s drip would have on her. Her appetite was shit, and she woke up in the middle of the night nauseous and drenched in cold sweat. The toll of the last few days was wearing on her, dragging her down.

Kara bent to touch her toes and exhaled roughly as a sharp pain lanced through her abdomen. She scrunched her eyes against the discomfort and slowly unfolded. So much for her warmup.

Pippa and a tall Vespertine with short-cropped black hair paired off with practice staves, and Kara watched them as she stretched her arms. Pippa was surprisingly deft with the longstaff, lunging and darting on sprightly feet. Thomas would like her.

Logan and Jon walked into the courtyard together, and Kara breathed a sigh of relief. They must be on speaking terms again. Logan wore a sleeveless leather jerkin that bared his arms today. He and Jon squared off with swords—wooden ones, thank the goddess. The bunch of Logan’s tan, silken muscles and the nimble motions of his wrist as he swung his sword were hypnotizing. Kara caught herself biting her lip and forced her eyes away from him.

Princess Ariana had joined Tanith by the refreshments. She wore tight-fitted buckskin breeches and a smart blue tailcoat with golden buttons. She pulled on a pair of kidskin gloves and gestured for a soldier to pass her her weapon.

“Lady Grey,” Ariana called out. “You look unoccupied. How about a friendly duel? I’ve heard you’re decent with a blade.”

“Truly, I’m not. I’d embarrass myself.”

“Pish-posh,” Pippa said as her bout with the Vespertine ended. “I’ve seen you out here, Celine!

“Are you calling my friends liars, then?” Ariana asked.

Kara looked to the sky and breathed through her nose. “Very well.”

Normally she’d be concerned that her bloodlust would get the better of her in a fight with Ariana, but today she was just sotired. Her eyelids felt like they had tiny weights attached to them, dragging them down.

Kara picked a blunted practice sword from the rack by the refreshment table and moved to a clear spot in the yard. Ariana took her time of it, meandering over as she half-watched Logan and Jon’s duel before finally crossing her blade with Kara’s.

Kara blinked. The princess’s sword was made of bright metal and battle sharp. Ariana’s blue eyes glinted as she stepped in to swing.

Kara dodged, but her timing was off. She felt like she was wading through water. Ariana continued her attacks, quick and precise. She’d been well-trained. Kara parried her with ease, but when she saw an opening in the princess’s defenses, she only tapped Ariana with the tip of her sword. They’d probably hang her from the ramparts if she drew royal blood.

As Kara scored more taps, Ariana’s swings grew more reckless. Kara dodged the blade going straight for her gut, and the twist of her abdomen burned like fire. Her face contorted in a wince.

Ariana saw it, and she capitalized on the weakness, aiming most of her strikes at Kara’s abdomen and legs. Kara dodged another gut shot, and Ariana followed it up with a wild swing at her face. Kara faltered, a moment too slow, stunned by the princess’s eagerness to do her harm. She wasn’t even pretending at caution. Kara drew her left forearm up at the last second to block the swing, and the sword bit into her.

Kara cried out in pain. She dropped her sword and clutched her arm, backing away from Ariana as blood began to spill over her fingers.

The entire courtyard went still, watching.

“Oh goddess. I’m so sorry. I assumed you were more skilled than you are. I should have been more careful.” The glee in the princess’s eyes didn’t fade. Her sword was streaked red with Kara’s blood.

“I think I’ve had enough for the day.”

Logan waited on the sidelines, his face tight. His eyes tracked her like a hawk.

Kara walked into the shade of an overhanging balcony and examined her arm. The cut wasn’t too deep, but it stung like the mother and bled freely. Her stomach was a big ball of writhing knots. Sweat stuck to her skin, and Kara glared up at the sun wavering in the sky. She was going to start banning Merry from waking her before noon.

Logan crossed the yard to her, his face intent. Jon lingered behind, though he tossed her a smile when their eyes met.

“Are you alright?”

Sweat streaked down his arms and the vee of his neck, glittering atop his skin.

Kara forced herself to tear her gaze away. “Are you deigning to speak to me in public now?”

Logan’s brow furrowed. “We were both angry. I don’t want us to be angry with each other anymore.”

Kara rolled her eyes. “Before today I thought I was the bloodthirsty one.”

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