Layala and Thane stepped out into the hallway. His usual calm, even arrogant expression changed to one of worry. It made the nervous ache in her gut intensify.
You need to trust Thane. He’ll figure something out. He always does. Layala wanted to believe that, but at the moment he looked as lost as she felt. He closed the door to the queen’s office leaving them alone in a quiet, dimly-lit corridor.
“You know I love you, right?” he said and took hold of both her hands.
“Yes,” she said skeptically.
“I’m going to fight Prince Yoren. Alone.”
The shock of his statement had her blinking instead of speaking. Fight the dragon prince by himself? “What? No, that’s an insane idea. We need to ask them for another way to prove ourselves.”
“This is the only way. I’ll get it.”
“How could you possibly defeat him?”
His deep chuckle sent vibrations through her chest. “I’m glad to know you think so highly of me. I did kill a dragon shifter once already. It was easy.”
She sighed. That’s not how she meant it. “In his human form, I have no doubt you could beat him. But in his beast form, he’ll be impossible. Dragon scales cannot be penetrated by weapons.”
“Can’t be penetrated by metal weapons. Our metal weapons.”
“You think you can get to him with your magic? Or they have weapons that can?”
“I’m willing to bet my life on it. The guards here carry swords and spears. They wouldn’t if they were useless.”
“Alright, let’s say they have a sword that can cut through dragon scales. If they’d even allow you to use it, he’s still bigger than a house. I mean, their backs reached higher than the tops of the trees. His claws will be nearly as long as you are tall. A sword would merely be a scratch.”
“Layala,” he said gently. “I must do this, or we’ll never get the scepter. I’m not going to spend the rest of our lives running from my father and Mathekis. It’s not in me to run. I hate it.” He paused. “And we need to know who you really are and why you can free him.”
“I’ll fight with you then. If it takes both of us to reunite the two pieces, then it’s only fair.”
He tore his gaze away and pursed his lips. “I don’t want you to fight with me. It’s too dangerous.”
“Then if it can only be one of us, I’ll fight him on my own.”
His head snapped right back. “No.”
“See how that feels.”
“This is different.”
“Why?”
“Because I could never live in a world without you, but you could go on without me.”
Tears pricked and her vision blurred. If that wasn’t a slap in the face… Did he truly think so little of her? Even Varlett had said something similar. “Why would you say that? You know I love you.”
“You left me once. You could do it again. I’m not saying you love me less. I mean you’re stronger than I am.” He brushed his fingers across her collarbone. “My entire life has been to protect you, to love you, to make sure you were safe. If I didn’t have you, what would I live for?”
She clenched her teeth. This line of talk scared her. “Stop it.” Layala pulled away. She wanted to smack him upside the head. “You’re acting like this is the end, that it’s already over and you lost.”
“I’m only preparing you for a possibility. Yoren is old, powerful and has never been defeated.”
Her bottom lip trembled. “If you die, I die, remember? Bond or not.” She whirled away from him, determined to go through that office door.
“Layala,” he quietly called. His fingers brushed her arm, but she jerked away.
Even if the dragons scared the shit out of her, to potentially watch the one she loved more than life die, frightened her even more. There was one way to get this done. She shoved through the door. “Thane and I accept the challenge.”
Prince Yoren looked her up and down and then turned to the queen. She gave one slight nod. Prince Yoren’s face lit up with a huge grin; he may as well have been clapping. Was this a huge mistake? Probably, but she didn’t regret it.
She felt the breeze of Thane’s presence just before his hand rested on her lower back. Yoren stopped in front of them. “I accept your challenge Lady Lightbringer and King Thane. I’ll give you two days to prepare, and no one will blame you if you change your mind.” His normally dark-brown eyes flashed yellow, and the round pupils turned to slits. “And make sure to prepare arrangements for where you want your bodies sent, just in case. We’ll at least give you that for having the courage to try.”
The door clicked shut in Layala’s face. Thane glared daggers at the door before he turned that furious gaze on her. He could be angry all he wanted, she wouldn’t back out, nothing he said would change her mind. She raised her chin and waited for whatever argument he wanted to have out.
Thane’s nostrils flared and he opened his mouth only to be cut off by Ronan slipping out to meet them. He slow-clapped. “Bold move.” He let out a giddy laugh and threw his arms around both of their shoulders, walking in between them down the empty hall. “Let’s go get you two ready, eh? If you want a chance at not dying, you’ll need my help.”
The morning sun hung level with the mountain range, staining the sky a vibrant pink. Layala stared at how the colors changed from light blue, to salmon, to pink. The wide, blue slow-moving river trickled serenely, and wind brushed through the needles of anciently-tall pine trees.
Things seemed more beautiful when life threats lurked around every corner. Although, she refused to die in two days’ time. She had too many things left to do. Even if fate tried to deal her that hand, she’d pull an ace from up her sleeve and fight it. That dragon prince had no idea who he was dealing with. And Layala had a feeling they’d only seen the seedling of Thane’s power of what could be a mighty oak. Like her, he didn’t rely on his magic, didn’t use it except when necessary. What would happen if he’d leaned into it fully? And now that she would be fighting beside him, he’d do anything to win. When it was only his life on the line, he seemed to allow death an option.
Prince Ronan gave them fire-resistant, bronze-colored armor that shimmered in the sunlight. She brushed her fingers over the coin-sized pieces, seamlessly melded together, dragon scales. Real ones. It was surprisingly pliable, considering its weight. She was covered from neck to ankle and the pieces must add an extra twenty pounds to her frame. Thane tightened one of the buckles on her left, jerking it tighter than necessary. Layala rolled her eyes. “You can be pissy all you want. It’s not going to change anything.”
“I will be pissy. Thanks for your permission.” He moved onto the next buckle and tugged on it like a brute would a saddle.
“I’m not a horse you know.”
“Clearly. A horse would listen.” He stepped back, fury smoldering. “Now I’ll have to not only take on a dragon, but make certain you don’t get hurt or killed while I’m at it.”
“You’ve known since the day you met me that I don’t follow orders like one of your servants.” He reached for another loose strap on her side, and she smacked his hand away. “And you don’t need to make sure of anything. You do what you need to do, and I’ll do the same.” Layala worked furiously on latching her own armor. “It will probably be me saving your ass.”
Prince Ronan stood beside Piper with his arms crossed. “They always like this?”
“Half the time,” Piper answered with one hand on her popped-out hip. “This isn’t as bad as they used to be though. They’ve had some epic blowouts. I mean, she tried to murder him once in his sleep.”
Prince Ronan laughed and slapped his thigh. “Oh, that’s spectacular.”
Thane rolled his shoulders and neck. “I would have gotten out of that cage without you, you know. Those chains were close to breaking.”
Oh, now he wanted to bring up what happened in Newarden? If she, Piper and Fennan hadn’t come to save him, he would have been tortured to death. “Your ego is astounding.” Layala picked up her sword. “And here I thought you were grateful we came.”
“I am. I’ve already said thank you. All I’m saying is I’d have gotten free.” He swung both his swords in figure eights in front of him. “And I’m not the only one of the two of us that’s needed rescuing. If we’re going to keep a tally I’ve got a couple marks on you, my dear.”
Layala arched an eyebrow. “Do you? Shall we talk about the sirens?”
“How about,” Piper said, stepping in between the two of them. “You work together rather than try to prove who has saved who more times. And please for the love of the Maker, stop arguing. You have two days to prepare to fight a dragon prince.”
Ronan crossed his arms over his broad chest. “Your lives depend on you working together.”
“Why are you helping us anyway?” Layala asked. “If we win, that means your brother is dead.”
Ronan tsked. “Oh, sweet child, they’ll never allow you to kill Yoren. Defeat him, possibly, but don’t count on it. And look out for other obstacles.”
Other obstacles? Like what? And how was that fair?
“We can’t kill him, but he can kill us?” Thane drawled. “And if he has to cheat to win, he shouldn’t be the guardian of the scepter.”
“You are on our land. You must play by our rules. No one ever said it would be fair. No one told you you had to fight him. The choice is yours.” He looked at his fingernails.
Piper eyed him skeptically. “What do you stand to gain from this? Do you have no loyalty to your family? Or did your parents ask you to help prepare them?”
“Elves are so distrustful.” He lifted a shoulder. “Look, I’m as curious about exploring other realms as anyone. If the legends are true and you two can get us to our original realm, I’m willing to help you get there. And if not, well, we get to watch you be slaughtered in the arena.”
Ronan waved his hand and out of thin air two swords appeared and hovered beside him. With a push of magic, the swords floated over to Layala and Thane. “We give all competitors at least a fighting chance by allowing them our weapons. You’ll need these. Your weapons will break on dragon scales. And even if he doesn’t shift into his beast form, he’ll certainly be armored with scales.”
“I’m curious,” Layala asked, sheathing her sword, and grasping the other. The handle was made from gold of course, with a red jewel in the pommel; the blade wide and shiny silver. “If it were up to you, would you have us fight your brother for the scepter?”
“All fight my brother for the scepter. It’s the way.”
Without saying anything, Thane swung his sword at Layala. She brought her blade up and blocked his light chop. The ping of the weapons echoed in the forest clearing. Thane still used his own swords, to make sure he didn’t accidentally hurt her, no doubt. The dragon blades could cut through dragon-scale armor. “It’s been too long since either one of us sparred.” He smacked her hard on the left shoulder. His sword bounced off her, but it stung, and she suppressed a wince. “A little rusty?” He teased and stepped to the side.
“Oh, you’re asking for a beating.” Layala swung at his thigh; he promptly blocked it.
“Don’t threaten me with a good time.” Their swords clashed over and over in quick succession.
“Keep being a naughty boy and see what happens.”
“Will you threaten to slay me? I do so enjoy that.” He parried her strike and somehow wrapped his arm around her torso from behind, tugging her hard against him. He slipped his sword to her throat and raised her chin. “Tonight, when those pretty thighs are wrapped around me,” he purred, “I want you to be as feisty as you are now. You don’t need to be shy.”
Layala swallowed hard as heat flooded her body. She elbowed him in the gut and shoved his arm away, twisting out of his grasp. Now her blade point was at his throat, and she marched him backward into a tree. He grinned, thoroughly enjoying this. She didn’t know how she ever resisted him for so long before. “And you’re so certain you can have me tonight?”
“You’re bewitching when you threaten me. My absolutely beautiful, enchanting, betrothed.”
She lowered her sword. “I don’t know if I’ve forgiven you yet for saying I could simply walk away and would survive your death so easily.” Weapons clashed again, but both of them were relaxed. It felt good just to swing a sword and move her body again. She enjoyed the burn from pushing her long-ignored muscles.
“I’m sorry. Shall I get on my knees before you, so you’ll forgive me? You’re the only one I’ve ever gotten on my knees for.” He struck harder and faster now, putting her on the defensive, pushing her back. Now she was the one pinned to a tree. He pressed his sword against her, resting the blade on her chest. Maker, she loved and hated how good he was with a sword, as if the ability was a gift the same as his natural means to heal quickly. “I’ll start by kissing your thighs, beginning on the outer, then sliding my way to the soft inside. After you shudder with pleasure, I’ll work my way just a little higher until I hear you moan, quiet at first.” Her chest rose and fell rapidly, she felt out of breath. From the sparring or his seduction, she couldn’t be sure. He leaned down and brushed his lips over her jawline. “Mm, you smell good when you’re aroused.”
“Thane, they can probably hear you,” she whispered, cheeks burning, eyes darting to Piper and Prince Ronan who luckily were paying more attention to each other than them.
“Does it look like I care?” he asked and kissed her cheek. “Now if you want to hear the rest, you have to get through my defenses and strike a vital part of me. A nick on the forearm doesn’t count.”
“When I get through your defenses, you’ll show me the rest.” She slid her hand up his chest then shoved him away.
His answering grin warmed her to the core. “Alright, Lightbringer. Let’s see if you got it. And not to brag but no one has landed what would be considered a critical blow in a sparring match since I was fourteen years old. However, I might still give you a consolation prize for the effort.”
Laughing, Layala stepped around him. “I think you’ve forgotten how many times I’ve held a blade to your neck, Athayel.”
“That has only happened when I allowed it.”
Layala’s eyebrow ticked upward. “You’re still going with the story you let me in your room some months ago?”
“Oh, yes,” he said. “You intrigued me then and even more now. I even heard your heart pounding from across the room.”
She shook her head in disbelief and sliced her blade through the air with a whoosh. It clashed against Thane’s left-handed blade with a crack. “Oh, she’s bringing the heat. You must really want to know what else I plan to do to you.”
Clack, clack clack, they hit swords again and again. It wasn’t long before sweat beaded on her hairline. They danced around each other, striking and blocking. But no one laid out any rules, did they? She let the itch of her power cascade through her body, and her magical black vine worked its way up Thane’s ankle like a serpent. He went to step, and then looked down as it climbed up his thigh. Layala smiled and another vine climbed his other leg, effectively trapping him in one place. With a wave of her hand, she bound his wrists and cinched them together. He smiled even as he shook his head and dropped his arms down. Both his sword points fell into the dirt. Layala sauntered closer and pressed the tip of her blade over his heart. “Is this a critical strike?”
He was out of breath when he said, “I surrender.”
Off to the side, Ronan clapped. “Bravo. It seems my brother will be outmatched in the sword. So, I’m certain he’ll shift into his dragon form rather quickly. I suggest you don’t play nice.”
Layala heard him but her focus was on Thane and the primal gaze pinned on her. He would strip her bare right then and there if they didn’t have an audience. She was certain of it. She slid her blade between Thane’s wrists and cut him loose from her magical vines.
Thane easily stepped free of the ones wound around his legs and put his arm around her waist and tugged her flush against his chest. His fingertips slid over her mouth as if he was fascinated by them. He didn’t look at Ronan when he said, “We’re going to take a break from sparring.”
