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“I can’t say the same.”

His eyebrows shot up, and, from the sidelines, Sian snorted. “You married a fiery one.”

“It seems I did,” the prince said as we fell into position.

Over the hours, I’d learned the basics, footwork, and how to hold a wooden, then a real sword. Those weren’t too difficult. However, maneuvering the long wooden blade through the air posed more of an issue. To transition to a real sword so quickly would be even more challenging, but I took heart. In the short time we’d trained, I’d already improved, and I intended to continue to do so. And if I could, I’d wipe that smug expression off Vale’s face too.

“Call it,” Vale instructed.

Luccan counted us down, and it didn’t surprise me at all when Vale hesitated, handed me the first move.

I darted forward, sword slashing down. Vale deflected the attack, spun, and smacked me on the arse with the broad side of his sword.

“Oh-ho!” Luccan jeered. “That sounded like it hurt!”

“Rather pleasant,” I announced, playing it off because it hadn’t hurt. Only my pride stung.

“She enjoys rough play, Vale,” Thantrel teased. “I like your wife more and more by the minute.”

“Careful, Than,” Vale growled, probably pretending to be territorial over the female he supposedly loved. He acted so well that he almost made me believe it too.

Metal clanged and whined in the basement as we continued to spar. Round two, three, and four passed, all of which Vale ended with efficiency. As he’d said, I’d not managed a single strike and what was worse, the weight ofthe metal sword was already becoming too much. On the fifth turn, he allowed me to wear myself out a bit more, circling, darting forward, and then back.

He was toying with me, and it was infuriating.

The prince knew it too because a smile sprawled across his handsome face. “Shall we end this?”

I snarled, and a growl rose out of my throat, the sound far more ferocious than I intended.

A small chuckle left his lips. “I’ve awoken the beast inside. Very well, then. I suppose I should cage it.”

He lunged, long black braid flying behind him as he neared. I ran backward, parrying two upper strikes in rapid succession. Pride rose within me, and a grin spread across my face. I was warding off the famed Warrior Bear! I?—

My back slammed into a wall. My breath left me and before I slipped to either side, Vale was there, so close that I could smell his heady scent of falling snow and sandalwood. Slowly, he brought his sword tip to hover above the skin of my neck as his free arm rose, so that he leaned into the wall.

Blazing moon! I was trapped, and this time not by my own machinations!

“A cage for a very pretty little beast,” he whispered, his lips so close to mine that I shivered. “Admit defeat, Neve.”

I sucked in a breath. The scent of his sweat and the sharing of our breaths made my head spin. I wanted little more than to run my hands through his hair, feeling at the shaved under portions at the sides that were only visiblewhen he wore the longer parts pulled back like he did now. Feeling for the hidden parts of him that others rarely saw.

“You’ve done well, wife, but today is not the day you beat me.”

I blinked. Something in his cocky tone made me more aware of the sword hanging at my side. Forgotten in the moment of being trapped by him.

We’ll see about that.I took a deep breath so that my bosom rose and fluttered my lashes to distract him.

Desire clouded his eyes and his shoulders loosened, and that’s when I struck, quickly drawing my blade against the outside of his thigh, hard enough to draw blood, but not so hard that he wouldn’t heal within the hour.

Vale winced and his eyes widened at the realization of what I’d done.

“Strike for me. Looks like I beat you, husband,” I cooed as he groaned, and his friends erupted with laughter. “Perhaps you should finish the job next time before you begin gloating.”

“Such a dirty little fighter.” Vale shook his head and pressed off the wall, amusement in his eyes alongside the lingering desire.

“I do what I must.” I winked.

“I’ll keep that in mind. I?—”