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He chuckled. “Is there no one at the castle to hand your ass to you?”

My smile faded into neutrality. “The castle is the last place I wish to be right now.” Suddenly, the gleaming silver before me became the most interesting thing in the world.

“Ah, I see.” Odion didn’t pry, as I expected. Instead, he stalked over to my side, crossing his arms as he reviewed his own inventory. “Well, you have two options.”

We stood unmoving, and I waited.

“You could work it out with words, or…” He approached the rack and lifted a perfectly forged sword. “With steel.”

My lips cocked to one side as he extended the blade and I didn’t hesitate to accept.

Sweat slid down my brow. The sun reached the highest point in the sky somehow, a couple hours of training passing in an instant. It served its intended purpose, since my mind hadn’t felt this clear in weeks. Odion lunged, and I parried, our executions slowing from when we’d first begun.

He stumbled forward, and in a lazy attempt to end it for both of us, I flung the sword until it hung in the air inches from the back of his neck.

He laughed, accepting the defeat. “This body can’t give what it used to.”

I wiped the sweat from my face using my sleeve. “Apparently neither can mine. Losing you as a trainer will always be one of the greatest tragedies of my life,” I huffed, and Odion barked a laugh. I craned my neck to the side, stretching the cluster of tension.

He rose to his full height, bending back slightly to stretch his stiff back. “Maybe you need to come down from that castle more than once every few years, eh?”

A rush of air barreled from my nose. “You have no idea.” For too long I’d remained behind those walls, under the impression that things had been fine. Separated from the truth, barricaded by my privilege. Nora had opened my eyes to the state of things and taught me that one person could change the world.

Because she’d changed mine.

I strode to the water barrel and cupped my hands, splashing my face and the back of my neck to cool my heated skin, and wash away the thoughts of her that ached before grabbing a spare towel.

“There’s my girl!” Odion called.

I turned, expecting to see his wife. My eyes focused on an image I thought couldn’t possibly be real.

“Nora,” her name escaped my lips. There she stood, dark hair braided back, casual tight-fitting clothes revealing her exposed daggers clearly. Finally it clicked why her fighting had seemed familiar. We’d had the same trainer, just over the span of a few years.

“Nicholas,” she breathed.

Odion noticed the familiarity between us. “You two know each other? Oh, right, the bride competition.”

“It’s not a competition.” I hated the way that sounded. Like I esteemed myself a prize.

The Nora I expected would have scoffed, or rolled her eyes at the mere mention. But she didn’t. She stood, frozen, as jarred to see me as I was her.

“Sorry, Odion, I didn’t know you had company. Your Highness.” She dipped her chin a fraction before turning on her heel, the cold use of that title sending a chill over my sweat-slicked skin.

“Wait.” I took a couple steps forward, reaching my arm toward her, though she was yards away.

She stopped, and my heart raced knowing I didn’t have anything to entice her, a reason to convince her to stay. All I knew was that I didn’t want to watch her go.

“If you’re here to train, I’ll leave,” I said, the sentiment already crushing.

She faced me, crossing her arms in front of her. “Fine.”

If hurt flickered across my face, I didn’t bother to hide it. I glanced down at the borrowed sword, and pivoted to return it to its rack.

“Nora, if you had gotten here sooner, I would have been more than happy to spar with ‘ya today, but phew.” Odion rested against his workbench. “Our generous prince has run me ragged.” The burly man continued to pat himself down.

The last thing I needed was to have ruined her training day. Something else to add to the list of acts by a selfish prince who only contributed to taking from her and his people. I whirled around to address her. “I’ll spar with you. No weapons.” Maybe giving her the opportunity to throw a couple punches would help dissolve her anger. I definitely wasn’t up to dodging her malice filled dagger jabs, but I’d take some of her hits. Even if she broke a rib or cracked my jaw. Any opportunity to have her near me was worth that cost. “Surely you wouldn’t object to smacking me around a little?”

“That’s a kind offer, Nick, but I don’t think Nora would feel comfortable—”