The morning sun was sharp and bright over the stone training grounds. I stood in the center of the yard, wearing a simple leather tunic and trousers. My violet hair was tied back tightly. In my hand, I held a small training dagger. It felt heavy and cold.
I wasn't a warrior. In my "Modern World," the most dangerous thing I ever held was a kitchen knife. But after the week of shadows and the High Priest's attack, I knew I couldn't just sit in a silk dress and wait to be saved.
"Your stance is wrong, Felina."
The deep, low rumble of Alaric's voice came from behind me. I didn't need to turn around to feel him. The air grew warm, and the Dragon Heart Stone on my chest began to hum with a soft, sunset glow.
Alaric walked into my view. He wasn't wearing his royal robes or his armor. He was dressed in a simple black vest that was open at the chest, showing the shimmering obsidian scales that traced his muscles. He looked like a predator—strong, fast, and beautiful.
"I don't know what I'm doing," I admitted, my voice a bit shaky. "In the book, Seraphina never fought. She just used poison and lies."
Alaric stepped closer, his shadow falling over me. "You are not her. And in this world, the shadows are growing longer. If I am not by your side for one second, I need to know that you can bite back."
He stepped behind me, his chest brushing against my back. I felt a powerful "shiver" race down my spine. He was so much larger than me, his heat surrounding me like a physical blanket. He reached out and placed his large, warm hands over mine on the hilt of the dagger.
"Hold it like this," he whispered into my ear. His breath was hot, smelling of woodsmoke and the sweet honey from the pancakes I made him. "Do not grip it like a tool. Grip it like it is a part of your own arm."
He guided my movements, pulling my arms back and then thrusting forward. Because he was standing so close, every time I moved, I felt the hard muscles of his chest and thighs against me. It wasn't just a lesson; it was an intimate dance.
The Soul-Link flared. Through the stone, I felt his focus. It was a "spicy," dark concentration. He wasn't just teaching me to fight; he was memorizing the way my body moved.
"Again," he commanded, his voice dropping an octave.
We practiced for an hour. My muscles began to ache, and sweat beaded on my forehead. Alaric was a hard teacher. He didn't go easy on me just because I was his Queen. Every time I made a mistake, he would pull me back against him to correct my form, his touch lingering a little too long on my waist or my shoulders.
"You're distracted," Alaric teased, his lips inches from the pulse point of my neck. "The Dragon can feel your heart racing, Felina. Are you thinking about the dagger... or are you thinking about me?"
"You're making it very hard to focus on the dagger," I gasped, turning around in his arms.
I was breathless, my face flushed from the exercise. Alaric looked down at me, his golden eyes darkening until they were almost orange. He reached out and wiped a drop of sweat from my temple with his thumb. His touch was scorching.
"Good," he rasped. "A real enemy will try to distract you. They will try to make you panic. You must learn to use that fire, not let it burn you."
He suddenly moved, faster than a human could follow. In a heartbeat, he had me pinned against the stone wall of the courtyard. He didn't use his strength to hurt me, but his presence was overwhelming. He held my wrists above my head with one hand, while the other rested on the wall next to my ear.
"If an assassin catches you like this," Alaric whispered, his gaze dropping to my lips. "What do you do?"
My heart thundered. Through the stone, I felt a wave of his obsessive protectiveness. He wanted me to be strong, but he also wanted me to belong only to him.
"I... I use my knee," I said, trying to remember the "Modern World" self-defense videos I had seen.
Alaric let out a low, rough laugh. "Exactly. Or you use this."
He leaned in, his lips brushing against mine in a ghost of a kiss. It was "spicy" and teasing, making my knees feel weak. "Never let them see your fear. Let them see your teeth."
He released my wrists and stepped back, his expression turning serious again. "That is enough for today. Your body is still healing from the prison. We will practice every morning until you can disarm Kael with your eyes closed."
He picked up a fur cloak and wrapped it around my shoulders, tucking me into his side as we walked back toward the palace. He was being incredibly attentive again, checking my breathing and making sure I wasn't in pain.
"I want to show you something tonight," Alaric said as we entered the royal hallway. "Something I found in the old library. It's a map of the 'Forbidden Lands.' I think there is a place there... a place that might explain how you came to this world."
I looked at him, my heart skipping a beat. "You want to find out the truth about the 'Book'?"
Alaric stopped and looked at me, his eyes full of a deep, haunting love. "I want to make sure that whatever 'System' brought you here can never take you back. I am going to find the door you walked through, Felina... and I am going to lock it from this side."
I felt a "shiver," but this time it was one of hope. We had 28 chapters left before the "System" would try to pull us apart, and my Dragon King was already preparing for a war against fate itself.
"I'm not going anywhere, Alaric," I promised, leaning into his heat.
"I know," he growled, kissing the top of my head. "Because I'll burn the sky before I let you go."