Page 90 of The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating

“You can,” I countered, more harshly than I intended. Memories of her father’s twisted schemes still clung to my mind.“You already proved that with the flowers. This is just the next step.”

She turned to face me, hazel eyes sparking with defiance. “Flowers don’t have heartbeats. They don’t feel fear.”

I studied her face, the stubborn set of her jaw. That conviction was wrapped in a deceptively delicate package. “The world won’t always give you flowers to practice on,” I pointed out, trying to soften my tone. “Enemies come with teeth and claws.”

Her arms folded over her chest. “So this is about preparing me to face enemies?”

“Among other things,” I said.

She narrowed her eyes. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Many things,” I admitted, noticing the mouse making another bid for freedom. A flick of my hand dragged it squeaking back toward Arabella. “But right now, we’re focusing on your training. Try again. Don’t hesitate.”

I’d been driving her hard since returning from the Evenfall estate. Three hours in this chamber today alone, but she hadn’t complained. She exhaled a shaky breath and closed her eyes. A faint shimmer of golden light illuminated her skin, signaling the stir of her magic. My own power answered, reaching for hers in a way I still couldn’t fully control.

The mouse gave a final squeak, then went limp. A warm orb of pure, throbbing energy hovered above Arabella’s palm, pulsing with stolen life force.

“Good,” I murmured, stepping closer. “Now mold the energy.”

A crease formed on her forehead as she concentrated. Gradually, the shimmering ball took shape. Wings, a beak, tiny feet. Until it coalesced into a small bird of light. It fluttered around the chamber in a trail of radiant sparks.

“Beautiful,” she whispered.

“And deadly,” I reminded her, tracking the bird’s path. “That construct could blind an opponent, poison them, or explode on impact.”

She shot me a glare. “That’s not why I created it.”

“You’ve made something extraordinary. What you do with it is your choice,” I said briskly. “I’m only giving you options.”

Arabella’s concentration wavered, and the bird dissolved into a shower of sparks. She wobbled on her feet, and I lunged to catch her shoulders before she fell. Her skin burned hot beneath the enchanted leathers.

“You’ve done enough for now,” I managed, my voice rough.

She pulled away, bracing her hand on the table. “I’m fine. What’s next?”

I almost told her all of it. Her father’s betrayal, the Heirloom’s requirement, everything I truly needed. Instead, I swallowed the truth. “We’ll start something different. A test of your defense.”

Without warning, I pulled a bolt of shadow magic from the rune carved along my forearm and hurled it at her chest. She reacted instantly, forming a glowing, golden barrier that absorbed the hit.

“Not bad,” I said, allowing approval into my tone. “But that was a warning shot.”

I struck again, multiple tendrils arcing around her from every angle. She spun with impressive agility, extending the shield until it enclosed her in a radiant dome. My shadows hammered at it, searching for weaknesses and finding none.

“You’re still thinking like a healer,” I called, circling her as black power battered the edges of her barrier. “Defense isn’t merely blocking. It’s redirecting.”

She adjusted, letting the shadow energy flow along her shield instead of resisting the impact head-on.

“Better,” I noted. “Now send it back.”

She drew on my own dark force and hurled it at me. I deflected with practiced ease.

“You’re a quick study, Lady Blackrose.”

She gave me a brief, amused glance. “I have a good teacher.”

Our eyes locked, and tension flared between us again, bright and undeniable. My next breath caught in my throat, so I turned and snatched a small vial from a nearby shelf. Thick, black liquid swirled inside.

“This is alchemically stabilized shadow essence,” I explained. “Think of it as a smaller, manageable sliver of pure shadow magic. I want you to manipulate it without actually touching the vial.”

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