Page 36 of Eluvonia (Rift of Ages #1)

AERIS

T he air in the training room smells faintly of sweat and old leather, the kind of scent that sticks in your nostrils and refuses to leave.

I sit against the padded wall, a towel clutched in my hands as I dab at the sweat dripping from my forehead.

My muscles ache, my arms feel like jelly, and my legs threaten to give out every time I so much as think about standing.

I’ve been at this for days—trying everything I can think of to unlock my magic—but it’s like I’m banging my head against an invisible wall.

Nothing works. Not frustration, not focus, not imagining Kaida’s smug grin while calling me useless.

I lean back and close my eyes, just for a moment, when I hear the door creak open. My stomach immediately knots, and I peek through one eye. Is it Kaida or Declan?

Standing in the doorway is Shura, Kaida’s half-sister. A pang of disappointment settles in my chest, but I brush it off quickly, trying to push it aside.

She’s tall and lean, her athletic build obvious in the tight, stretchy pants and tunic wrap she’s wearing.

She holds a staff in one hand, and her sharp gaze scans the room with military precision until it lands on me.

Her lips curl into a smile, though there’s no warmth in it. Oh, this can’t be good.

“Get up, Fae,” she orders, her voice sharp enough to cut through steel. “I’m your training partner today.”

I blink at her, momentarily stunned, before her words fully register. Partner? My stomach sinks. Great. This feels more like a punishment than a partnership.

I scramble to my feet, clutching the towel like it might shield me from whatever fresh hell she’s about to unleash. “Uh…”

“I don’t do pleasantries with Fae,” she snaps, holding up a hand to silence me. “I’m ‘ma’am’ to you. And I’m only here because my brother and the prince asked it of me.”

“Let’s go, Fae,” Shura barks, pointing to a weapons cart by the wall. “Grab a staff.”

I huff under my breath but comply, walking over to the cart and selecting a staff that feels reasonably balanced. When I return to her, she’s already in a fighting stance, her eyes locked on me like a hawk watching a particularly unfortunate rabbit.

“Do you know how to use one of these?” she asks, her tone skeptical, like she already knows the answer but wants to hear me admit it anyway.

“Kaida showed me a few moves,” I say, gripping the staff tightly. “I’m better with a bow.”

She nods once, then—without warning—lunges at me.

The staff swings toward my side faster than I can blink.

I yelp and barely manage to block it, the impact reverberating up my arms. She doesn’t give me a second to recover.

Her next strike comes high, then low, then from the side.

I’m on the defensive, my muscles screaming as I block each hit, but it’s like fighting a storm.

She’s fast—so fast I can barely see her movements—and her strikes are precise, calculated, meant to keep me off balance.

“Is this the best you’ve got?” she taunts, her lips curling into a smirk. “Pathetic.”

I grit my teeth and focus, trying to anticipate her next move. Every time I think I see an opening, she’s already two steps ahead, her staff slamming against mine with a force that makes my palms sting.

“Come on, Fae!” she growls. “Fight back! Or are you only good at seducing Dragon males?”

Her words sting more than the blows, but they also light a fire in my chest. I glare at her, narrowing my focus. When she swings again, I see it—a fraction of a second where her guard is down. I pivot and go for a strike, aiming for her side.

But she’s faster.

Her staff blocks mine with a resounding crack , and before I can process what’s happening, she sweeps her staff low, knocking my legs out from under me. I hit the padded floor with an unceremonious thud , the air rushing out of my lungs.

Shura huffs, standing over me like a victorious predator. “Such a waste of time,” she mutters, shaking her head.

I scowl at her from the floor, propped up on my elbows as I try to catch my breath. Shura starts walking toward the door, her staff resting casually on her shoulder. Just as I think she’s leaving, she stops and looks back at me, her expression sharp and condescending.

“By the way,” she says, her voice foreboding, “you’d better back off the Prince and my brother before Kai’s betrothed shows up. Or it won’t just be your pride that gets bruised.”

She strides out of the room without another word, leaving me gaping after her. My brain struggles to process what she just said, but one word keeps ringing in my ears like an alarm.

Betrothed.

Kaida has a betrothed ?

What. The. Hell.

I push myself to my feet, rubbing my sore backside as my thoughts race. Why wouldn’t he mention something like that? And why does the idea of him having a betrothed feel like someone just punched me in the gut?

I shake my head, trying to banish the swirl of emotions threatening to drown me. Instead, I focus on the anger—anger is safer.

“What the hell is her problem?” I mutter to myself, throwing the towel at the weapons cart in frustration.

My gaze drifts to the door where Shura disappeared, and for a brief, foolish moment, I consider chasing after her to demand answers. But what would that accomplish?

I sigh and slump against the wall again, staring up at the ceiling. My body aches, my pride’s in tatters, and my mind won’t stop replaying Shura’s parting words.

Betrothed.

I close my eyes and groan. “What the actual hells, Kaida?”

***

The sun is setting, painting the town below in strokes of gold and orange.

From Kaida’s balcony, the view almost makes me forget the suffocating reality of the castle.

Almost. The cool evening breeze brushes against my skin, but the weight in my chest lingers.

I grip the railing tightly, trying to push away the bitter thought that I’m not a guest here—I’m bound here by the bond.

A bond that keeps me tethered to this place, like a captive with no escape.

I may get sparring matches and share fancy quarters with a gorgeous Dragon male, but I’m still trapped.

I sigh, brushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear. The sparring match with Shura earlier left me sore in places I didn’t even know existed. She fights like she’s trying to make a point, and judging by the smug look on her face when she left me gasping for air, I think she succeeded.

The guards in the hall were the cherry on top. I hadn’t realized the extent of my limitations here until they stopped me from venturing beyond Kaida’s wing. Their blank stares and unwavering stance were enough to remind me—this castle isn’t mine to roam.

I left a note for Kaida before retreating here, hoping he’d at least spare me a moment of his oh-so-important time. The wait has been long enough that I’m starting to wonder if he even read it.

The sound of the door opening pulls me from my thoughts.

I glance over my shoulder and see Kaida and Declan entering the room, laughing and shoving each other like mischievous schoolboys.

It’s disarming, seeing them like this—carefree, human.

Kaida’s laugh is deep and rich, while Declan’s is lighter, almost infectious.

“Well, well,” I say, turning fully toward them and walking inside the room. “Look who finally decided to show up.”

Declan strides toward me with open arms. “Aeris!”

I slap his arm before he can hug me. “That’s for disappearing on me,” I say, glaring at him.

He feigns hurt, clutching his arm dramatically. “Ow!”

I slap him again, harder this time. “That’s for sending Shura as my sparring partner. What was the goal to kill me?”

Declan chuckles, clearly unfazed, but I’m not done. I deliver one final smack, this time on his shoulder. “And that was for not telling me you’re a goddamn prince.”

Declan’s laughter echoes in the room as he rubs his shoulder. “I missed your fire,” he says, pulling me into a hug before I can protest. “It’s been way too quiet without you by my side.”

Kaida is standing off to the side, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at his lips. When I turn my glare toward him, he raises his hands in mock surrender and says, “What? I didn’t do anything.”

“Oh no,” I say, plastering a sweet smile on my face. “You didn’t do anything… except forget to tell me you have a betrothed .”

Kaida tilts his head, his smirk softening into something almost apologetic. “I assume Shura told you that?”

I nod, crossing my arms. “She did.”

He sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Shura is Seravielle’s best friend. I’ve known her since we were kids, and, well… Seravielle has always been a bit obsessed with me,” he says with a shrug. “And, there were a few… flings. She took it to mean something more.”

Declan snorts loudly. “Oh, come on, Kaida. Tell the truth. You strung the poor girl along.You told me she was your backup if you couldn’t find anyone ‘good enough for your Líer.’”