Page 96 of A Dance With Fire
In the few days they’d been traveling, Shula noticed the animosity between the others and Weylyn. With each other, they laughed and joked; even quiet Uric was included. Weylyn, however, was treated with outright hostility. Like he didn’t quite belong.
It made Shula feel the strangest sort of kinship with him, because she felt as equally discarded as he was. Like she was little more than a burden to them when she wasn’t even here by choice, at least she hadn’t been at first. Neither was Weylyn. The king had ordered him to come, and he took their hatred without a word or single expression to hint at any discomfort.
Their relentless teasing was starting to grate on Shula’s nerves. Every time they slew their words at him, it felt like a personal attack against herself. She’d been observing Weylyn. Despite being withdrawn, she could feel the press of pride that surrounded him. He wouldn’t back down from such an open challenge, just like he always did their bidding.
Slowly, Shula unfurled her fingers from the grass and pushed herself to her feet.
“I want to go,” she declared. She swore, everyone held their breath at the declaration. Six heads turned towards her direction, six mouths gaping open.
She didn’t fidget under the judging stares but tilted her head higher and walked towards the clearing with a confidence her pounding heart didn’t mirror.
“Fire Dancer, this isn’t a joke. These are real weapons.” Clay looked at her like she lost her mind. But she hadn’t. Her thoughts were clear as a summer day.
“I want to learn.” The obstinance shone in her gaze and body language. She wanted nothing more than for him to argue with her, just so she could prove him wrong.
“But—”
“Give her your sword,” Valerio cut in. Shula didn’t turn to look at the prince. “Let’s see what she’s got.”
Clay reluctantly handed over his sword. It seemed realer then, and Shula hesitated a mere second before reaching for it and wrapping her hand around the hilt. Clay let go and her arm nearly fell to the ground. It was heavy, and she gritted her teeth as she lifted the weapon up, pointing it in Julius’s direction.
The ginger Fae was smirking with malice that should have thrown her into a stupor, but she narrowed her eyes and focused. Her body mimicked his stance, feet set apart, both hands on the hilt, back slightly bent, arms strong. It was harder than it looked.
“I was waiting for the moment you stopped watching us and decided to join,” Julius said, his tone implying a taunt. He dropped his arm to the side and prowled back and forth, sizing her up. “For you to finally get brave enough to want to learn something useful.”
Shula knew what he was doing. He did it to everyone before they trained. He tried to distract them by getting them riled up. It wouldn’t work on her.
“I’m no damsel in distress,” Shula replied. “No matter what any of you may think.”
Julius’s bushy eyebrows shot up to his forehead. “Oh, really? I’ve heard the contrary.”
Shula snorted. “Whatever you may have been told,I’mthe one who escaped from the Brotherhood. Me. On my own. You Fae assholes didn’t do shit.”
“‘Fae assholes.’ You say that as if you aren’t one of us.”
Don’t fall for his bullshit.Shula swallowed the lump in her throat. “I know exactly what I am, you think I could ever forget? I’ve been on my own for ten years. I did just fine surviving without you, and I’ll continue to do so.”
“Not anymore, Shula.” Julius raised his sword, pointing it at her like an accusation. “Times have changed. Humans are growing bolder. Hiding your ears isn’t going to be enough. You need to be prepared.”
Shula just met his gaze with an equally cold one of her own. If he thought he could scare her, he had another thing coming. Shula had lived in fear so long, it took up a permanent place inside her; never resting, always there, waiting for just the right moment to strike into her heart.
“I am prepared,” she challenged.
“You will be.”
And Julius barreled towards her. The ground beneath his feet rumbled, or maybe it was the fear in her body making her shake. Shula had only a split second to throw the sword up before his was careening towards her.
The percussive clang of metal against metal vibrated through to her skull. She gritted her teeth and tried to push back, but he was stronger than she was. A single, forceful shove made her feet skid across the ground, causing her to nearly lose her footing.
Already, her breaths were coming out in labored pants.
“Arms up!” Julius snapped before charging again.
This time she didn’t meet him in the middle but dodged as he swung, exposing her back to the hilt of his sword. Pain sliced up her spine and she went down, losing the sword in the process. She struggled for breath as she pushed herself up, but Julius was a relentless, cruel adversary.
“Use your nimble, quick feet to your advantage!”
Shula scrambled to get her sword back, dodging with only a few centimeters to spare as the sword came crashing down near her. Her muscles protested as she lifted the weapon once more and swung, switching to an offensive maneuver instead of defensive.
