As I walked back to the training grounds, the cool breeze slipped through the loose sleeves of my new outfit as I tried to steady my breathing.
When I reached him, he let his gaze roam over me, his expression unreadable but sharp, a faint smirk teasing at the edges of his mouth. "Ah, there you are," he drawled, his tone smug. He flicked a glance toward the sparring field where a group of his soldiers were running drills, each one more imposing and lethal than the last. Finally, he lifted a finger and pointed to one of the warriors—a tall, broad-shouldered man with a steely expression and a well-worn wooden sword gripped in his hand.
"Since my mate—" he emphasized the word, his smirk deepening as he locked eyes with me, "—doesn't wish to spar with me, the least she can do is entertain me by showing some spirit." His gaze burned into mine, challenging me, daring me to refuse. "Go on," he urged, gesturing lazily toward the field, his voice laced with amusement.
