Page 81 of A Court of Wings and Shadows

Dorian’s face was stone. He gave a single sharp nod, but I saw the strain in the way his jaw clenched. His lips pressed together like he’d swallowed whatever protest he’d wanted to make.

The entire field had gone silent.

No one moved. No one spoke.

Theron turned, as if the moment had passed and he was already bored. With a flick of his fingers, his guards turned with him, cloaks sweeping behind them in perfect unison.

The prince walked away with military precision, like a conqueror on parade.

And just like that, he left the field.

Theron had just drawn the line in the sand.

And the rest of us were left staring at it, wondering who would survive crossing it.

We stepped back into the ring, Naia and I standing shoulder to shoulder, but neither of us really present. Her eyes kept drifting toward the path Theron had disappeared down, and I, well, my focus was somewhere between the fire burning in Zander’s eyes and the sharp reminder of just how fragile our place in this kingdom truly was.

We moved, blades raised, but our swings were off, our rhythm scattered.

Zander watched for a beat longer, then blew a sharp breath through his nose.

“Cordelle,” he said, without turning. “You had something you wanted to check?”

Cordelle nodded quickly. “Yes, sir. Permission to be excused?”

Zander flicked his hand in dismissal, already turning his gaze back to the rest of the squad.

Naia and I lowered our blades and stepped out of the ring. Jax and Ferrula were already approaching, stretching out their limbs and rolling their shoulders. We made room for them asCordelle disappeared toward the edge of the grounds, his long coat flaring as he moved at a jog.

Jax grinned at Ferrula as they squared off. “Don’t hold back. I won’t.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” she replied, flashing a sharp grin of her own.

The clash of their blades rang out across the training ring. Ferrula moved like a viper, quick, precise, slipping past Jax’s broad strikes with fluid rolls and spins. She used her smaller frame to her advantage, darting in to strike and flipping away before Jax could catch her in a grapple.

Jax grunted as her boot connected with his side, but he caught her ankle on the second pass and spun, sending her skidding across the sand. She landed in a crouch, grinning.

It was brutal. Beautiful. The way real warriors fought, not to show off, but to prove they were still standing.

They continued their exchange, blades locked, breathless and flushed, before Ferrula dropped back and laughed. “You’re getting faster, ox.”

“And you’re still cheating,” Jax muttered, half-smiling as he wiped sweat from his brow. His admiration for his opponent evident.

Just then, Cordelle returned quietly, slipping back into our circle.

But I saw it.

The slight bulge beneath his armor, where something had definitely not been there before. Something hidden, flat and tucked against his chest.

“What is it?” I whispered.

Cordelle stood near the edge of the ring, shifting his weight like he was trying to decide if he should speak at all. His eyes flicked to Zander, who was watching Ferrula and Jax with his arms crossed, then back to me.

“I need to tell you something,” he said, voice low enough only I could hear.

Naia stepped closer, sensing the shift in energy.

“My father lent me a book,” Cordelle continued. “A fae text. Pre-Unification. I have to return it tomorrow.”