Page 26 of To Wake a Kingdom

“Who taught you to stand like that?” Ronan asked after several more hours of training. The snow was still flying, but the sun had set, the windows now a row of black holes lining the walls. The chandeliers glowed with golden light, stretching our shadows along the floor.

“My father’s captain taught me a few things,” I replied as Ronan brought down his blade and I blocked it.

“I’d say you’re a natural at this, Little Lion.” I shouldn’t have enjoyed his praise as much as I did, but the admiration in his eyes did erratic things to my pulse.

“You really think so?”

“Maybe you should give up this princess thing and join my army.”

He flashed me a smile of perfect white teeth as I snorted. “I haven’t hit my headthatmany times today.” Ronan let out a laugh, and it sang through him as he tipped his head back.

I admired the column of his throat, covered in a layer of day-old scruff. He’d long ago undone the top laces of his black tunic, exposing an expanse of taut, tanned flesh that had distracted me for much longer than I would ever admit.

“We’ll have you bringing down your deadliest foes in no time,” he said, and I tucked those words into my pocket for safekeeping. How I hoped he was right. Maybe he was flattering me, but he couldn’t know how close to the truth he’d come.

Chapter Twelve

25 days left

Mybodywasonegiant pulsating bruise. For three days, Ronan had been relentless with my training. I ached in every muscle I had and ones I hadn’t even known existed. If I’d thought he’d go easy on me because I was a princess, I was sorely mistaken.

Ronan had barely broken a sweat. He was so damn competent it almost made me hate him, except he had been nothing but patient and kind through every one of my clumsy and artless fumbles. Teaching a useless princess how to hold a sword couldn’t have been high on his list of priorities. He hadn’t mentioned his father, but there were moments I sensed him withdrawing into a veil of troubled thoughts.

“I think I need a break,” I said, arching my back, seeking the relief of a stretch.

“So soon, Your Highness?” he taunted, rocking from foot to foot.

I glared, hobbling toward the door, when I summoned a reserve of strength and lunged for him. Catching him off guard, I finally got in a hit, slamming my blunted sword into his ribs with a satisfying thump. He grunted as he brought the pommel of his weapon down on my wrist, causing me to drop my blade. When I dove for it, he snatched me around the waist, pulling me up against him. His deep laughter brushed my ear, raising a map of goosebumps over my skin.

“Well done, Little Lion. You’ve taught me an important lesson about never underestimating my opponent.” Once again, I preened at the respect in his voice. His opinion shouldn’t have mattered, but I couldn’t stop the smile he’d coaxed from the hard knot of anxiety that had taken up residence in my chest.

His strong, sculpted arm flexed where he held me, his large palm spread over my ribs. Drawing me closer, I wasn’t sure if the movement was intentional or if he was finding his balance. Whichever it was, he didn’t let go as his breath split into a forest of tendrils that wound around my limbs, setting off another wave of shivers that vibrated straight to the floor.

We went entirely still, both of us turned into crystal, afraid to shatter if we made too sudden a movement. The room was silent but for the sound of the howling wind. His hard, muscled chest pressed against my back, his powerful thighs against mine. Every place he touched me came alive in a congestion of senses. Over the past three days, he’d touched me countless times—the clinical touches of a student and teacher—but this was something entirely different. This touch slipped us into another dimension.

“Thanks,” I whispered, my throat too tight. “I had an excellent teacher.”

After a huff of laughter, he slowly dropped his arm. When I turned to face him, we both remained caught in the spell sucking us under. His smile died, playful green eyes shifting into a dangerous place. I needed to get it together. Focus on my task. The luxury of distraction wasn’t something I could afford.

He cleared his throat. “It was my pleasure, Your Highness. I had an equally talented student.” He dipped his head as I turned to leave the room, my heart sprinting away.

Twelve chairs lined up in two rows, facing each other, six on each side. I walked through the chamber where the Fae had once planned to keep vigil as I slept, still hoping to find a way around Mare’s curse.

Kianna and I had cleaned up the blood, but nothing could ever wash away the stains of so much violence. They would remain here forever, forged into the walls and the floors like a brand seared into skin.

After I’d left Ronan in the ballroom, I’d returned to my bedroom to peruseCommon Magical Cures. But after re-reading the same page three times, I’d conceded defeat for the day.

This room had been calling me, a tattered song whistling through the castle’s halls. Though I’d tried to ignore it, I could no longer shut out the melody that haunted my dreams.

Constructed of large gray stones, the round room was lined with arched windows overlooking Lake Ravalyn. As if a lakeside view would have mattered while I slept. Still, it had been a nice thought. Ice crystals grew in the corners of the glass, the ledges covered in snow. The wind had died down, and a pristine white sheet sparkled under the moonlight.

Still limping, I approached the bier where I’d slept. Flowers cascaded along the walls, reminding me of funerals. The irony wasn’t lost on me. Though I hadn’t died in the literal sense, I’d left in every way that had mattered.

Arms braced against the frame, I lifted myself onto the platform, my sore muscles protesting. I lay back, crossing my hands over my heart, just as I had for so long.

Though my parents had spent many years pretending neither Mare nor Kianna’s curses would be my fate, they’d constructed this shrine, anyway. My head nestled on the soft velvet cushion, I stared at the ceiling, remembering the day before my twenty-first birthday. The Fae had escorted me here while my mother, claiming she couldn’t bear to watch, remained in the throne room, surrounded by her family and friends.Myfamily and friends.

In the silence, I watched the gently falling snow glittering like tears from the sky. Footsteps clicked on the stones, and I turned to watch Ronan as he approached. As he took in the strange room, I sat up on the equally strange bed where I lay.

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