Finally noticing she’d stopped walking, he turned to her, putting his back to the shadows. It was only a second—just one breath of a moment—when she saw the darkness shift.
Faster than she’d ever moved before, she lunged for Trey. His eyes widened in shock as she slid her arm across his body and tore his sword from its sheath. Spinning out, she pointed it straight at the imposing male body suddenly standing a few feet before them.
Now in possession of both daggers, he was practically dripping lethal promises. With one in each hand, he glared at Trey, and she saw his muscles tense to attack. Primal anger surged up inside her at the thought of him attacking an unarmed man—a man who’d shown her a taste of friendship and had sworn to always have her back.
Using all the pent-up emotion the evening had bottled up inside her, she adjusted her body to completely block Trey and bared her teeth in a growl.
JAREN
He’d been leaning back against the rough wall of, what he’d confirmed was the armory, when he saw two figures appear at the opposite end of the empty training field. It was well into the night, and he was perfectly tucked into the shadows along the edge of the structure.
He didn’t recognize her at first. Her shimmering gown stood out starkly in the moonlight. Her hair had been pulled up, exposing an elegant neck and warm skin. The snug bodice cut sharply down the front, exposing the full breasts he’d already known were there.
And as she came closer, he could make out the muscles of her arms straining against the sheer fabric. She truly was like a fucking star, all at once ethereal and fierce.
The man accompanying her was a simple guard. The masks always made it difficult to appraise them fully, but the way he held himself indicated his youth.
The poor fool kept glancing at the stunning creature beside him. Jaren scoffed. As if a simple man could ever be worthy of a zhu like her. But his distraction would undoubtedly work in Jaren’s favor.
He watched her survey the training area and her eyes seemed to be memorizing the sight as if she didn’t expect to see it again. The idea only solidified his plan. He had to act before she disappeared. He unsheathed his twin blades, shuddering at the raw emotion he felt at possessing both.
Before giving the guard time to notice his presence, Jaren tapped into his speed and lunged. Pulling his arm back, he was going to slam his blade straight into the man’s chest before holding his other to her throat to warn her from screaming. It’d be fluid and fast.
He’d barely darted forward when she moved first. He had to rear back sharply to avoid slamming into her. His senses had scarcely seen her move fast enough to stop his body from impaling itself on the blade she now held.
The guard stood just to her side—eyes comically large. Jaren couldn’t risk giving the man the chance to gather his wits, he needed to remove the liability now.
The thought had only just entered his head when she seemed to sense it and shifted completely in front of him. Dropping into a stance, she practically glowed in the moonlight as she raised the sword, and a vicious sound tore from her throat.
He hesitated. He couldn’t allow the guard to live, not after seeing him this close to the palace. But she was staking a claim. He’d have to get through her first and that certainly wouldn’t help convince her to leave with him.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
“Take one more step, and I will drive this through your heart.” Her voice lowered and vibrated with the strength of her anger.
He couldn’t stop the smirk that crept across his face, earning him another growl. He knew better than to underestimate her. She meant every word, but he couldn’t deny the thrill it sent under his skin. She was so gods damn beautiful.
“I’d love to see you try, little star.” His smirk deepened when she bristled. She didn’t appear to appreciate his endearment, which only ensured he’d continue using it.
“Don’t move, Trey.” The guard had been edging forward, attempting to step around her, but she elbowed him back.
He snapped his head her way. “Dammit V—”
“I said don’t move.” The words lashed out like a whip, and it was obvious the guard hadn’t been expecting her to take charge. He kept looking back and forth between her and Jaren, completely befuddled. Someone was apparently keeping secrets from her little friend.
Never taking her eyes off him, she tightened her grip, “I’m not arrogant enough to claim my skill exceeds your own, but I can assure you, I will not make it easy for you.”
The words hadn’t even finished leaving her mouth before she darted forward, swinging. He brought both daggers up, blocking her attack, but she only came for him again and again, relentlessly driving him back.
She was a force to be reckoned with, a violent storm that called to his raging soul and demanded he succumb. Her scent was all around him, her anger trying to consume him with the strength of her blows and the flash of her furious gray eyes.
She spun, and he braced himself for the impact of her next blow. But as she moved, her skirt tangled in her legs, just enough to disrupt her momentum. She stumbled forward, straight into Jaren’s outstretched blade.
He saw it happening, almost in slow motion, and had only a second to pull back. It wasn’t enough to miss her entirely, but it made his dagger graze her side rather than cut straight through.
She hissed, jumping back, and raising her sword again, but he’d already lowered his blades. He may have considered hurting her the first two times they met, but he had no such feelings now. Quite the opposite.
Her eyes flickered down to his daggers as if expecting him to attack her with them at any point. “You got what you came for, just leave.” She was breathing heavily, and her side was bleeding, but she kept her defenses up like the warrior she was.
Fighting down the instinct to check her wound, he forced himself to act nonchalant. He held up the dagger that had pierced her skin, flipping it in his hand. “Are you sure about that?”
He needed to hurry. The longer they stood here out in the open, the higher the chance someone would see him and raise the alarm, which was most likely her exact plan. Jaren had to force her hand and make her leave so he could get them somewhere far from the city, and safe.
His voice came out steadier than he felt. “If you fail to beat me, little star, I will slit his throat.” He pointed his dagger at her wound. “Are you willing to bet his life?”
She didn’t lower her stance, but he saw the flicker of doubt in her eyes. It was there and gone in an instant, but it was enough.
“There’s certainly a chance you could still win and kill me where I stand. A small one, but still a chance, nonetheless. However, if you lose, I will not kill you. I will kill him.” He didn’t miss the way she flinched at the threat.
“Or…” he continued, “you can willingly agree to come with me, and I swear I will not kill him. Your choice. But I suggest you choose quickly.”
Chapter 15
VERA