"You just declared war on the most powerful man in the kingdom."
Kael's voice was carefully neutral as we walked through the castle corridors, followed by four guards at a discreet distance. Not close enough to hear our conversation, but close enough to prevent us from fleeing.
"I know," I said.
"He could have you arrested. Thrown in the dungeons. Executed, even, if he could manufacture a good enough excuse."
"I know that too."
"Then why" He stopped walking, turning to face me. "Why did you do that? Challenge him so openly?"
I met his gray eyes. "Because he was trying to make me afraid of you. Trying to drive a wedge between us before we'd even had a chance to..." I trailed off, not sure how to finish that sentence.
"A chance to what?"
"I don't know. Be partners? Build trust?" I looked away, uncomfortable. "Everything you said would happen, happened. He offered me protection. Tried to isolate me. Planted doubts about you. If I'd gone along with any of it, accepted his version of events, we'd have lost before we even started."
"So instead you accused him of attempted murder in front of his entire court."
"Did I lie?"
Kael was quiet for a moment. "No. You didn't lie. Those shadow beasts were summoned, I'm certain of it. And Father is the most likely suspect."
He started walking again. "But proving it is another matter entirely. And now that you've called him out publicly, he'll be more careful. More dangerous."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make things harder for you."
"Harder?" He laughed, a sharp, surprised sound.
"Elara, no one has challenged my father like that in years. Certainly not to his face. Not even me." He glanced at me with something that might have been admiration. "You're either the bravest person I know or you have a death wish."
"Stop saying that."
"Then stop proving it true."
We reached our chambers. The guards took up positions outside the doors, two on each side, standing at attention. We'd have no privacy, no chance to leave without being watched.
Inside, someone had prepared the rooms while we were gone. Food waited on a table by the window. The bed had been turned down.
Fresh clothes had been laid out for both of us.
And sitting on the desk, gleaming in the candlelight, was a knife.
Kael picked it up, examining it.
"From Morgana," he said, reading a note that had been left beside it. "She says every lady in Shadowmere should know how to defend herself."
"She's not wrong."
"No. She's not." He held the knife out to me, hilt first. "Your first lesson starts now."
I took the weapon carefully. It was heavier than I expected, the blade sharp enough to catch the light. "Now? We just survived a throne room confrontation and you want to teach me knife fighting?"
"I want to teach you how not to die." He moved behind me, adjusting my grip on the weapon. His hands were warm against mine. "In Shadowmere, threats don't wait for convenient times. You need to be able to defend yourself always. Starting now."
"What about rest? Food? You said I needed to recover"
"And you will. After this." His breath was warm against my ear. "Ten minutes. That's all. Just the basics. How to hold it, how to strike, where to aim for maximum damage."
I wanted to argue. I was exhausted, hurt, overwhelmed. But he was right. I needed to learn this. Needed every advantage I could get.
"All right," I said. "Ten minutes."
We trained for an hour.
Kael showed me how to grip the knife properly, how to keep my wrist locked, how to strike at vulnerable points, throat, eyes, inner thigh where the major arteries were close to the surface. He taught me defensive moves, how to block and deflect, how to create distance between myself and an attacker.
"Your size is a disadvantage," he said, circling me as I practiced the forms he'd shown me. "You're small, lighter than most opponents you'll face. But that also makes you fast. Harder to pin down. Use that."
I struck at him, not seriously, just practicing, and he deflected easily, catching my wrist. "Faster. Don't telegraph your movements. Keep your emotions off your face."
Again. And again. Until my arm ached and sweat ran down my back despite the cool air.
"Enough," he said finally. "You're moving slower. That's when mistakes happen."
I lowered the knife, breathing hard. "How did I do?"
"Honestly? Terrible." But he smiled to soften the words. "But that's expected for a first lesson. You'll get better. We'll practice every day until it becomes instinct."
"Every day?"
"Every day," he confirmed. "Along with your other lessons. Magic theory, court politics, Shadowmere history. You'll need all of it to survive here."
I sank into a chair, suddenly aware of how tired I was. How much everything hurt. "This is really my life now. Fighting lessons and political games and watching for assassins."
"Yes." He poured wine, handing me a cup. "I'm sorry. You didn't choose this."
"Neither did you."
"No. But I was born into it. Trained for it." He sat across from me. "You were raised to be ornamental. To smile and look pretty and produce heirs. Not to fight."
"My father would have an attack if he could see me now. Barefoot, holding a knife, discussing assassination attempts."
"Would you rather go back? To Eldoria, to that life?"
I considered the question seriously. Would I? Back to my cage of a palace, where I couldn't go outside, couldn't make choices, couldn't even speak freely? Back to being invisible, valueless, nothing but a trading piece?
"No," I said finally. "This is terrifying and dangerous and I have no idea what I'm doing. But at least I'm doing something. At least I matter, even if it's only as leverage against you."
"You matter more than that."
"Do I?" I looked at him directly. "Be honest, Kael. If your father wasn't trying to use me against you, would you even care that I exist? Or would I just be another obligation? Another burden?"
He was quiet for a long time. Long enough that I thought he wasn't going to answer.
"I don't know," he said finally. "The truth is, I didn't want to marry you. Didn't want to put anyone else in danger because of my curse.
I've spent my whole life keeping people at a distance, refusing to care about anyone, because everyone I care about ends up dead or broken." He met my eyes. "But then you stood in that throne room and defended me. Called out my father. Chose me over safety. And I realized…"
"Realized what?"
"That maybe you're not just an obligation." He stood, moving to the window. "Maybe you're a choice I would have made, if I'd been brave enough."
My heart did something complicated in my chest. "Kael"
A knock on the door interrupted us. One of the guards stepped inside without waiting for permission.
"Prince Kael. Lady Morgana requests your presence. Immediately."
Kael's expression went carefully blank. "For what purpose?"
"She didn't say, Your Highness. Only that it was urgent."
"I'll come with you," I said, starting to stand.
"No." Kael's voice was sharp. "You stay here. Rest."
"But you said we stay together"
"Lady Morgana is trustworthy. And you need sleep." He softened his tone.
"I'll be back within the hour. Lock the door behind me. Don't open it for anyone except me. Understand?"
I wanted to argue, but the look in his eyes stopped me. Whatever this was about, it was serious.
"All right. Be careful."
"Always."