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Maybe I can fly away from vampires for the rest of my life.I leapt back as Filip came at me again, blade arching and missing.

“Come on, Neve!” Sayyida yelled.

I chanced a glance to the side. The others had stopped practicing to watch. Why were we the center of attention?

“Head in the fight!” Vale boomed.

I whirled as Filip attacked again. That had been close.

Attack. Parry. Attack. Parry. We continued, falling into a rhythm and both breathing hard as sweat dripped down our faces.

“Imagine a vamp!” Sian shouted.

Would that work? I had no idea, but I was willing to try anything, do anything, to win this sparring match. To gain some real confidence against a person trained to fight.

In my mind’s eye, sweet Filip became the now deceased Prince Gervais. My heart rate ratcheted higher.

Well, that was something I could work with. I needed to hone my fear.

So I forced myself to remember the prince’s cruel laugh. The sharp pain when his fangs punctured my neck. How scared I’d been when he drank from me, and my blood slid down his throat.

“No!” I rushed Filip.

He sidestepped me, but now fear fueled me in addition to my desire to win, and I spun, slashing with my sword.

His blade caught mine, and I saw the brief widening of his eyes before he pushed me back. I stumbled and Filip was on me again.No.Prince Gervais was on me, and I envisioned Anna there too. Right behind me. I was protecting her again.

I found my footing and leapt over my adversary. He followed me, pivoting, reaching long with his sword, his weight all on his toes in anticipation of an easy strike. A win.

That was when I pulled a fast one, fluttering my wings to reverse my direction. Falling back the way I’d come; I attacked and swiped Filip clean across the back.

“You got him, Neve!” Sayyida cackled. “You’re down, little Balik!”

But he didn’t stop. Instead, Filip caught his balance and turned back to me.

Not fast enough, though. Not this time.

My sword swiped Filip in the side, clanging his chainmail. The young Balik stared down at where I’d struck him, as if in disbelief.

“Guts are spilling, brother,” Sian chortled. “You’re done.”

I lowered my sword. I’d done it. Vale had told him not to take it easy on me. I’d beaten him with no help, no hindrance from a magical growth spurt on his part.

Maybe I’d be able to protect myself.

I had to keep practicing. To do better. Grow. Be better.

I had to be able to defend myself against someone like Vale. At that, my elation dimmed. I hated that if Vale learned who I was, everything could very well change. He might see me as an enemy rather than a person worthy of his help. Of him.

Filip was still gaping down at where I’d swiped his side. My eyebrows knitted together and worry for the squire seeped in.

“Did it hurt?” I asked. The chain mail should have kept him protected.

“No.” Filip lifted his gaze to meet mine. “Good job. I have to say, I didn’t expect that, Princess Neve.”

“By that, you mean for me to win?”

His cheeks took on a pink hue. “Yes.”