Page 24 of A Simple Truth (the Freckled Fate #2)

23

FINNLEAH

W hatever dream I was lost in seconds ago disappeared with a slight pull on my shoulder.

“I'm late, aren’t I?” Shit . I panicked as Gia woke me up; my hands hastily pulling clothes over my sloppy braid. Hair would have to be messy for today. I jumped up putting my boots on as I grabbed my daggers.

“Just remember, left kick, right hook, then ghost trip, and then if you have to, crotch kick, but get that dagger into his heart!” Zora reminded me as she pulled her hair up.

“Got it!” I nodded, running out of the tent, only to collide with the wall-like body of the General. His smoky, pine scent coated my nose as I frantically pushed myself away from his chiseled chest. It must have been my lucky day, since he still wore a shirt. His sleeves were rolled up over his thick forearms. The leather straps from the sheaths, carrying his large swords across his back, pulled on the fabric, stretching it around his pecs.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, straightening.

“You are late. Plus, I figured why not start our training with a nice walk together.” He cleared his throat.

“What is that?” I pointed to the banderole in his hand.

“Oh, that.” He looked down at the neatly wrapped package as if not remembering it was there. “That, is a package, Finnleah,” he cockily replied.

“I can see that. But why are you bringing it to our training?” I crouched down, tying the laces on my boots.

“I wasn’t. I was dropping it off here,” he answered nonchalantly, though my eyes barely caught the little, tight swallow between his breaths.

“Who is it for?” My eyes glimpsed over the little note, neatly tucked on the side, curiosity exploding within me.

“You,” he calmly replied.

“Who is it from?” I was slightly taken aback by his reply. The corner of his mouth turned upwards with satisfaction as he purred,

“Me.”

“Okey-dokey, General.” I paused, mentally wincing at the ‘ okey-dokey’ phrase, but confidently continued, “If you think these weird tactics of yours are going to throw me off my grove today then, one, you are wrong, and two, you are worried that I might actually win.” I stood up, wiping my hands on my pants. “And if you are worried, that means I’ve already won.” I smirked, attempting to hide my piqued curiosity as my eyes assessed the bundle. My mind rapidly sifted through a million ideas of what it could be as he walked past me into the tent, only to return a moment later, empty handed. I considered coming up with some terrible lie to run back to the tent to peek at what was inside of it. But before I could act on it, the General was already strolling through the camp, back to the training field. Stifling my nosiness, I caught up with him in a few large strides.

“You are in so much trouble, General. Now that I know you are worried about losing, you are doomed,” I taunted him, raising my chin high.

“That pretty mouth of yours surely can talk a big game. If only actions were there to back it up.” He softly flicked my nose, and I narrowed my eyes at him as he self-assuredly smiled at me. “Is this glitter?” His face lit up as he ran his thumb across my cheek, looking at the few sparkling bits on his finger. He grabbed my hands next, inspecting my palms. I yanked them right back. “So, this is your strategy? Blind me with glitter? I have to say, if Zora put you up to this, it won’t work. I am not five anymore.” He laughed wholeheartedly and I rolled my eyes at him.

“No, I was helping decorate for Lulu’s birthday,” I defended myself, trying to wipe the glitter off my hands, but somehow there was now more glitter on my pants and on my hands.

We crossed the small path leading to the secluded training ring, I turned my eyes to the tops of the tall pine trees lazily swaying from the fresh spring breeze. The General, as usual, pulled his shirt over his head, exposing his muscled body to nature… and to me. But I no longer minded. A part of me was now accustomed to it and even admittedly enjoyed the view.

He grabbed one of his swords. I took my stance, raising my own sword in one hand, the other extended, heat forming at my fingers. My mind frantically replayed each move I practiced with Zora yesterday. The General seemed unfazed as he promptly moved, his gleaming blade attacking me first, but I dashed fast enough to avoid its painful blow. I sent a heat wave in his direction, but he blocked it.

I moved faster, attacking him with fire and metal. I knew I would never win against him with sheer strength, so I had to win through speed, tactic, and endurance. Though, that was going to be a harder task than I thought, as sweat rolled down my back while we sparred.

“Worried yet?” I taunted him, ignoring my shaking knees as I twisted my dagger, noticing a small cut on his arm, courtesy of me.

“Do I look worried to you, Finnleah?” the General replied, humored by my remark.

“I’d say you are getting there,” I replied cockily. He shook his head, laughing, as he ran his hand through his hair. But I didn’t give him a chance to reply as I moved again, throwing both fire and blades at him, distracting him. There—an opening appeared. I went for it.

Left, right, dodge. Heatshield. Heatwave. Don’t extend your energy on fire until you are ready. Zora’s voice sounded in my head.

“You truly think you can beat me?” The General smirked. “ So stubborn. It would’ve been cute if it weren’t so delusional.” He clicked his tongue and then with a simple hand motion, he sent a heat wave so strong that my body flew across the ring. I winced as I landed on the ground, forcing myself to get up quickly.

Fuck!

I scrambled for the sword, but it was too far, the General promptly sending another heat wave. This time, I managed to shield in time. The rising frustration within me burned behind my eyes like a painful itch. The General doubled down, heat and fire now encompassing me entirely. All I could do was simply shield as I grinded my teeth, fighting his infernos.

In a blink, the fire was gone, his body shoving me against a nearby tree instead. I went for the dagger on my side, but he grabbed my wrists roughly, holding them high above my head with both of his hands.

His dark, playful eyes locked with mine as he uttered a breath away.

“What about now, Finnleah? Do I look worried to you now?” he purred, and I considered biting his nose off. It wouldn’t help me win the fight, but he’d suffer, and that seemed to be the next best thing.

“You know, General,” I said between my jagged breaths. “You have a concerning tendency to pin women against trees,” I snarkily commented, pointlessly trying to wrangle my wrists out of his death grip.

“ A woman, Finnleah,” he murmured, his large chest expanding and contracting with uneven breaths. My eyes widened as I noticed his eyes lingering on my lips. My heart jumped out of my chest at the realization.

Oh, fuck it, I told my deliriously tired mind.

Instead of kicking him straight in the crotch as I should’ve done, I raised my legs, wrapping them around his waist and jerking his sweaty body flush against mine.

And then, I landed my lips on his.

It might have been a second, it might have been an eternity. I wasn’t sure. My thoughts, my feelings, my soul all tangled together as he unexpectedly returned the kiss with vigorous passion. His hands dropped my wrists as he hungrily grabbed my upper thighs, pulling me even closer as his body leaned into mine. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and yet, I felt lightning striking me as his tongue fervently entangled with mine.

Regret already flooded me for unknown reasons as I drew away from him, my face flushed and flustered.

“You forget, General, that that woman has a concerning tendency to want you dead,” I whispered against his lips. He felt the pointy end of my Basalt Glass dagger directed at his heart a second later.

The General opened his eyes, completely unbothered by the dagger, his gaze piercing through me and whatever walls I had built up, down to my core. My throat bobbed; my mouth suddenly turning dry as his heart loudly thudded in unison with mine.

I awkwardly pulled on his arms, sneaking out of his hold as he put me down.

“I’ve won, General,” I said out loud, as if it mattered any more.

“You definitely did, Finnleah,” he muttered, still facing the tree, his voice a low, ragged rasp.

“Um...I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said after uncomfortably kicking dirt for a moment.

I dared a glance at the frozen figure of the General and quickly walked away.

I won.

At least, I was the one holding the dagger to his heart.

But his kiss somehow disarmed me in ways no weapon ever could.

“You are back early,” Zora said, as the Ten sat eating their lunch under the large canopy giving a bit of shade to the long rows of wooden tables.

“Yep. I won,” I mumbled, taking a seat near one of them, still unsure of what to make of the General’s kiss. My mind was no longer able to think as the taste of him, the feel of his soft lips against mine, intoxicated me. The memory sent shivers down my spine even now.

“What?!” Zora didn’t hide her shock, and on a different occasion, I would’ve commented on her lack of faith in me, especially considering she was the one training me, but I just nodded instead.

“How did you manage that?” Ashe asked, surprised as she smothered warm butter on her roll.

“I kissed him,” I replied. The butterflies in my stomach must have been rabid, since the longer I thought about it, the more nauseous I became.

“You kissed Gideon?” Zora sharply turned to me, now even more stunned. The rest of the Ten paused whatever conversation they were having as they all turned to me.

“Yep,” I retorted, my eyes finding a random scratch in the table far more curious than anything else.

“ How ?” Zora's thin eyes were still wide open as she questioned me.

“He pinned me against a tree, my sword was gone. Heart Piercer was hidden under my shirt and so I distracted him with a kiss… pulled my dagger,” I said out loud, jumbling my words, my mind still deep in a haze.

“I wouldn’t try that in battle, but props to you for winning.” Ashe wrinkled her nose, sneezing as she patted me on the shoulder.

“Kissing the General to win a sparring match? That’s commitment right there.” Motra laughed full heartedly.

“All I know is I’m not letting you spar with my husband.” Yanush giggled near me.

“WHAT?! I need immediate details?! Was he a good kisser?” Cori’s eyes lit up with excitement as she joined in the conversation.

“And was it a peck or a tongue kiss? Where were his hands?!” Tori eagerly chimed in.

I opened my mouth, unsure of what to say.

His hands, his tongue…it was literally breathtaking. Thoughts came faster than I could sift through them.

“I’m going to get a drink,” I said, getting up from the table. But instead of walking down to the large water barrels, I rambled down to our tent.

There, on my bed, laid the package from this morning—the one I had long forgotten about—with a small note.

In lieu of my alterations.

Yours truly,

Gideon Bellator

I opened it, pulling out a beautiful, red dress, made with the softest of silks.

Jerk. I couldn’t train in this. He knew that.

I should’ve been upset at his frivolousness, but I bit on my lip instead, fighting the girly smile creeping up. I pulled the dress tight against my body as I plummeted onto my bed.

My eyes stared at the tall ceiling, wondering what in the world I had done.