“I didn’t shift for two weeks,” I finally said, meeting their gaping expressions as I pulled my neckline back into place. “I wanted this one to last.”
“I think I’m going to enjoy having you on our crew,” Sadie said with an approving grunt, unfolding her arms and heading to the weapons rack. “Here.” She tossed a wooden dagger to me and I caught it in midair. “That sword is too big for you.”
“I know.” I scowled. “I was just building my strength. I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“Come to vent?” Maez asked with a knowing smirk. “We’ve all had those days. I can’t imagine meeting King Nero helped.”
“Indeed,” I said, causing them to chuckle.
Sadie selected a matching dagger from the rack. “Did Grae not tell you what the King was like?”
She unbuckled her belt and placed her actual weapons on the rickety bench. Steel weaponry was expensive. They wouldn’t dent and blunt their most powerful tools, hacking away at each other in a sparring match.
“Grae didn’t tell me a lot of things,” I muttered, stretching my neck from side to side as Sadie approached.
Maez turned toward Hector, readying her stance. “My cousin has reasons for his silence.”
It was all she said, though I knew there must be more there. The other guards seemed to agree. What did they know that I didn’t? I’ve always felt protective of you. Betrayal swarmed my senses. Why had he said that?
I beckoned Sadie to attack, needing a distraction from my swirling thoughts. She was fast, her movements sharp and unfamiliar, but I was faster. I darted and ducked out of each of her strikes, landing a blow on her hip with my practice blade.
She panted a heavy breath. “Nice.”
I bowed my head, receiving the compliment. “Vellia trained me as best she could, but I’m glad to have living sparring partners now.”
Even as I praised her, I seethed at the fact that Vellia had done us a disservice by making the Silver Wolves seem like family. She should’ve been harder on us, prepared us for their disdain and manipulation. I thought I’d be welcomed into a new pack, but instead, I was a pawn in the greedy King’s ministrations.
Sadie attacked again, her dulled dagger slicing my arm at the same time I held the tip of my blade to her side. It would’ve been a killing blow.
“You’re welcome to train with us whenever you like.” Sadie’s lips twisted up as she scanned me from head to toe. Pride bloomed in my gut at the impressed look she gave me. “Seeing as Grae and Briar will be together most of the time. I think our little trio will soon become four, anyway.”
I waited until she was ready and lurched forward again. She blocked each of my strikes, each of us trying to make the other pivot, trying to find the upper hand. It felt glorious. Like a battle and a dance all at once. Block, strike, duck, spin. Again and again, the dull clank of our wooden daggers filled the space.
Sadie’s eyes darted over my right shoulder, only a split second, but with her focus diverted I found my opening. Lunging forward, I hit her hard in the ribs, and whirled to whoever she spotted behind me. The bite of steel halted the sweep of my dagger, a hand grabbing my wrist to stop my strike, and Grae’s storming eyes stared down at me.
Nine
I twisted out of his grip, trying to land a punch to his side, but Grae was faster. He blocked my strike and I retreated a step, kicking at his knee while swiping my wooden blade. I blinked at him—at his speed and skill—and realized how easily he could’ve disarmed me in that hallway. He let me think I had the upper hand, but he could’ve pried that dagger from my grip at any moment.
I scowled at him, slicing my weapon through the air. He ducked under it, narrowly avoiding the strike to the head. Lunging forward, he tried to knock me off balance, but I was right there, forcing him to circle around me like a predator stalking prey.
A man behind him, watching our exchange, clapped slowly. I squinted, noting he was the guard who’d led me to the King’s office.
“She’s got claws,” he said with a chuckle.
“Aiden,” Grae snapped, using his friend’s name as a reprimand. He sheathed his sword and held up his fists. “Trying to make it fair,” he murmured.
“It wasn’t fair the moment you brought us to this place.” I chucked the dagger at his feet. “You’ve blindfolded us with your smiles and fake friendship.”
Grae paused, lowering his hands at my words, and I struck like an asp, punching him across the jaw.
Aiden guffawed, and the rest of the guards paused from their training. I thought they might attack me for that—for taking a cheap shot at their prince—but they snickered as if hiding their delight.
Grae held a hand to his bruised cheek. “I suppose I deserved that.”
“What happened to your eye?” I asked, still holding my clenched fists aloft.
“Are you going to even it out?” Grae turned his face, offering me his unbruised eye.
“We got a little rowdy training before,” Aiden said, walking up and clapping Grae on the shoulder.
Grae smiled—a fake smile—and I knew it was a lie.
“It doesn’t seem like you’re too concerned about the prince’s bruises, though.” Aiden chuckled, inspecting Grae’s jaw. “Seeing as you’ve given him another one. Come.” Aiden gave me a wary glance. “Let the girl train in peace. You’ve got a wedding to prepare for.”
I curled my lip at the word “girl.” I had always hated being called girl, even when I’d been the right age for the word, though I resented being called lady just as much now. Why call me such trivial things when I could be called a warrior, a Wolf, a royal?
Grae turned back to me, words dying on his lips. Whatever he was going to say, I didn’t care anymore. I didn’t want to hear any more of his lies.
“Go,” I gritted out. “Your bride awaits.” I hated how petty it was. I hated how bitter I sounded.
Taking a step closer to me, Grae lowered his head until his breath brushed my hair, making my skin ripple. “You say that as if you care, Calla.”
I forced myself to look up into those beautiful, dark eyes—the ones that bewitched me the moment I first saw them—and said, “I don’t.”
“Why not?”
My mouth dropped open. Why not? What in the Moon’s name was that supposed to mean? Why would he want me to care about something I could never have?
Aiden dropped his hand on Grae’s shoulder and steered him toward the doorway. “Come on. Let them train,” he said.
My body felt boneless as I watched him walk away, steered by his father’s guard like cattle through the archway.
“This wedding has made him broodier than a snow snake with a fresh kill,” Sadie muttered.
“That’s rich coming from you,” Maez said, making the shorter guard frown. “You’re as gloomy as they come, Sads.”
Sadie rolled her eyes. Standing from the bench, she circled the splintering dagger in her hands. “Everyone is edgy around the full moon.”
“Then your world must be full of full moons,” Hector taunted.
Maez hit him in the hip with the broadside of her training sword.