Page 148 of A Court of Thralls and Thorns

“It belonged to my grandmother,” he said quietly. “It’s... old, and most riders use short swords or daggers. But this... this feels more like you.”

I swallowed hard, taking the rapier in my hands. It was perfectly balanced—light, yet strong, like it had been made just for me.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“You’ll need it,” Zander said, stepping back. His expression hardened again, the warmth in his eyes cooling like embers fading to ash. “It’s time to return to the ring.”

Zander left the room without another word. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding, fingers still curled tightly around the rapier’s hilt. My mind was still spinning—from the kiss, from the sword, from the way Zander had looked at me like I was something more than just a commoner struggling to stay alive.

Shaking it off, I left the room and jogged to the dining hall. The scent of fresh biscuits hit me before I even reached the door. The area was emptying fast as cadets filed out, but I managed toslip inside, snatching a biscuit from one of the trays just before the servers packed up.

The buttery warmth melted in my mouth as I jogged back across the grounds, chewing hurriedly as I reached the ring designated for Thrall Squad. The rest of my team was already there, as Riven fell into step beside me.

“I’m glad you made it?” she asked with a grin.

I swallowed the last bite. “Me too.”

“I think you’ll need the energy.”

We reached our places just as Major Ledor barked for us to get in line. Jax and Cade stepped into the center circle, taking their stances.

Cade was sharp, fast on his feet with an easy swagger that made it clear he knew exactly how good he was. Jax, on the other hand, was built like a wall—solid muscle with enough strength to knock anyone flat if he got the right angle. For a few minutes, they circled, trading blows. Jax landed a solid hit to Cade’s ribs that made him stumble back a step.

“Nice shot!” Riven called.

But then Cade grinned—a sharp, wicked smile—and lunged. In one swift motion, he hooked his arm under Jax’s shoulder and twisted, dropping his weight and flipping Jax over his hip. Jax hit the ground with a hardthudthat made me wince.

“Shit,” Jax muttered, lying flat on his back with an annoyed scowl.

“Get up,” Cade teased, offering his hand. “I barely tried.”

Jax grunted and took it, dragging himself upright. He shot Cade a look that promised round two would be far less playful.

As they reset, my attention drifted across the grounds. Dorian had approached Zander, and the two brothers stood off to the side, speaking quietly. Zander’s face was hard, his arms crossed over his chest. Dorian gestured toward the castle, his expression sharp with frustration.

“Any idea what that’s about?” I asked Riven.

“Not a clue,” she whispered back. “But I doubt it’s good.”

Zander’s gaze flicked briefly in my direction, and my stomach twisted. He held it just long enough to make my heart race before turning his attention back to Dorian. Whatever they were discussing, it wasn’t going well. Dorian’s voice rose slightly, his face tense with barely concealed anger.

Chapter

Thirty

Zander stalked toward me, his expression dark and brooding—whatever conversation he’d just had with Dorian clearly hadn’t gone well. He barely slowed as he reached the edge of the mats, his sharp gaze locking onto mine.

“Prospect Rebec, in the ring,” he ordered, his tone clipped.

I swallowed hard and stepped forward. Whatever tension was riding him was likely about to be unleashed in this match. My fingers twitched, still aching slightly from gripping the rapier earlier. Zander squared off in front of me, his stance solid, his eyes narrowed.

“Your form is improving,” he murmured, voice low enough that only I could hear. “But your footing is too heavy. Move like you’re balancing on ice.”

I shifted my weight, trying to mimic the precision he demanded.

“Better,” he muttered, but then leaned in slightly, lowering his voice even more. “Your sister just entered the grounds.”

“Solei?” The surprise slipped out before I could stop it.