The midday sun was hot enough to make a Dark Draíolon sweat, since they thrived on the cooler weather of fall and winter, but Evelayn welcomed the warmth and the extra boost of power it meant for her and her people, as she walked out to the practice fields where Kelwyn waited with a couple of other Draíolon. When they saw her approaching, they all bowed—which she hated. But every time she told them to stop doing it, Kel would lecture her on proper decorum for someone of her station.
“Many happy wishes for this special day, my princess,” he said as he and the other two Draíolon straightened.
She had to squint in the sun, still becoming accustomed to her heightened senses. Evelayn recognized the first Draíolon—a female Light Sentry whose name she believed was Dela; they’d been at a few training sessions together. But when she turned to meet the bemused gaze of the male Draíolon, her heart stuttered in her chest, her pleasant smile nearly slipping from her face. In the full light of day, his skin was the color of sunshine, and now his hair was tied back from his face, but it was those same inquisitive amber eyes she immediately recognized.The combination of citrus and spice mingled with Kelwyn’s crisp scent of verbena and mint and the female sentry’s lilac.
What was the Draiolon from the forest doing here at the castle—at her training?
“Thank you,” Evelayn responded, turning back to Kelwyn, lifting her chin slightly, and adopting the mask she used whenever she wanted to hide what she was truly thinking. Years of practice served her well in that moment, as she could still feel the male Draíolon’s eyes on her. Please let him keep our encounter this morning to himself, she sent up a silent plea before asking, “What will we be working on today?”
“Have you attempted to access your power yet this morning?” Kel returned her question with one of his own.
“A little.” Evelayn didn’t dare look at the male when she answered, not wanting to admit to any of them what had happened in the forest at dawn. She hadn’t tried anything since, choosing instead to wait until the last possible moment to call for Tyne to help her pin up her long hair and lace up the back of her training outfit—supple leather pants and boots, a soft, close-fitting white shirt, and an over-vest made of the same leather as the pants. Usually, only Dark Draíolon favored wearing leather and other warmer clothing, while the Light Draíolon mainly stuck to flowing fabrics; but when it came to training they, too, wore leathers to protect their bodies. “What are we going to work on today?” she repeated, trying to move past the subject of how she’d spent her morning.
Kel studied her for a long moment as she struggled not to squirm beneath his searching gaze. Royalty didn’t squirm—even when being scrutinized by someone as intimidating as Kelwyn. She noticed flecks of brown in his moss-green eyes that she’d never noticed before, the same color of newly tilled earth as his skin and hair. He and her father had trained together as younglings before Kel joined the Light Sentries and Drystan had become king of éadrolan. Kel had been her father’s closest friend and most trusted sentry, so there was no question who the queen wanted to train her daughter, despite Kel’s wish to remain on the front lines of the war. But she’d insisted, so Kel was at the castle, training the princess for the next few months, while Evelayn’s mother led her troops into battle against King Bain—most likely causing her to miss her daughter’s birthday.
But that was a dangerous line of thought, fraut with fear and possible heartbreak, so Evelayn cut it off before it could fully form.
“We’re going to have you utilize your new abilities to begin target practice,” Kel finally answered, though his eyes were still slightly narrowed. “I want to give you the opportunity to feel just how much power you have access to now, and this is one of the best ways to do that.” Kel gestured to the two other Draíolon. “You remember Dela, and I’ve also asked Tanvir, High Lord of the Delsachts and an incredibly proficient marksmale, to join us today to help me.”
Evelayn knew she should be focusing entirely on Kelwyn, but instead she couldn’t tear her attention away from Tanvir. He was a High Lord? What had he been doing in the forest this morning—and why was he helping with her training?
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness.” She hoped she was the only one who noticed the hint of wryness in his tone as Lord Tanvir stepped forward, the scent of citrus and spice growing stronger with his proximity. He bowed to her a second time. When he rose, their eyes met again and this time a little thrill ran through Evelayn’s body. There was something about the directness of his gaze that was disconcerting and enticing all at once.
But she’d met plenty of attractive nobles before, and very few of them had remained attractive to her once she’d had the chance to get to know them better—and they’d had the chance to show their eagerness to be Bound to the next queen of éadrolan. Normally, she would be considered far too young for such a thing … if she’d been anyone other than the only living daughter of the king and queen. Her sister had died during birth, her mother had never conceived again before the king was killed, and she’d never been willing to be Bound again afterward. Evelayn was the only heir to the crown—and the power—of the Light Kingdom. Which meant there was quite a bit of pressure for her to be Bound and produce another heir as soon as possible.
So it wasn’t hard for her to nod at him coolly, despite the slight increase in her pulse, and murmur, “The pleasure is all mine, Lord Tanvir.”
“Please, just call me Tanvir,” he quickly requested. “I still haven’t become accustomed to being addressed so formally.”
“You’ll find that you and Lord Tanvir have much in common—including the tendency to despise formal titles and formal manners.” Kel shook his head, but the look he gave Tanvir was more fond than annoyed.
“It’s true, I generally can’t abide any formality,” Tanvir agreed. “Though I admit myself surprised to hear that the princess shares the same vice.”