Page 38 of Rising Out of the Darkness (Divine Guardians Duology #1)

Elena

I made my way through the castle and out to the training ring, but only after getting lost a few times along the way. The endless hallways had me twisted around, and I somehow ended up in the kitchen. Twice.

Fortunately, I met the infamous Alana, head cook and the sweetest soul I had ever met.

On my second return to the kitchen, I had to admit I was terribly lost. Her charming laugh bellowed throughout the kitchen and warmed my heart.

A few minutes later, she was shoving berry muffins into my hands and giving me directions to the training ring, which was only a few doors down from the kitchen.

Pushing open the wooden door leading outside to the ring, I became immediately aware of the sweltering heat.

I slung off my gambeson, leaving behind only my thin white tunic.

The gambeson was meant to protect my chest and stomach during practice, but if I was going to be training in this heat, I might as well be comfortable doing it.

I was so distracted by the delicious blueberry muffin in my hand, it took me a moment to notice the striking woman standing at the side of the ring.

She was a few inches taller than me and had legs for days.

Her deep umber skin glistened in the sunlight and her long, onyx-colored hair bounced in the breeze.

She must have noticed me gawking at her with a muffin in my mouth, because the smile she gave me could have touched her ears.

“Lady Elena, I’m guessing?”

Swallowing the chunk of muffin, I finally spoke. “Just Elena, no ‘lady’ here.”

“Liam told me you had a fiery spirit. It’s going to be a pleasure training with you, Elena. My name is Nayla Bahl. I’m a captain of the Royal Guard. Someone has got to keep those three in line.”

Nayla tilted her head in the direction of the practice ring. When I saw the image in front of me, my mouth went dry instantly. I was so shocked by the view, I fumbled the muffin in my hand and it rolled onto the dirt beneath me. “Oops,” I breathed.

“It’s quite a sight to behold, isn’t it?” Nayla smirked.

“Indeed,” I whispered as I gawked at the men.

Three incredibly handsome men sparred in the middle of the ring, flaunting their perfectly sculpted bodies in front of us.

As they sparred, sweat glistened on their beautifully sculpted abs.

Swallowing, I watched as Declan wielded two swords against Liam and Killian.

They were so in sync with each other’s movements, a dangerously choreographed dance.

“You’re drooling, you know.”

I closed my gaping mouth as my cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

“It’s okay.” She let out a breathy laugh. “I had the same reaction when I saw them all training for the first time as well. It’s natural to not be able to peel your eyes away.”

We both observed them for a while before I mustered the courage to ask Nayla the questions burning within me. “How are you able to be captain?”

Her brow shot up, and I quickly recovered.

“Personally, I think it’s amazing. I used to have to train with my father in the early hours of the morning just so the other members in my town wouldn’t treat me like an outcast. It’s ridiculous that society can’t handle women learning how to protect themselves. ”

With a smile, she began to tell me about her path to the castle.

Nayla was a Terran, someone who could use their dynamis to wield the earth.

We had those in our town as well, but mostly all they could do was break up the soil so we could cultivate crops.

Nayla’s dynamis, however, was incredibly strong.

She could move boulders, even stones. She could bring whole buildings down with just a flick of her dynamis.

Declan had observed her dynamis in action during a Rebellion attack and had recruited her.

“My father wasn’t too thrilled about it. When I decided to take the position as captain, he disowned me.”

“What? He disowned you for wanting to be a captain in the Royal Guard?”

“Their loss,” she shrugged. “I’ve never been one to follow along with their expectations.

I was never going to enjoy living the life of a courtier, wasting my life in fancy dresses and being married off in a loveless marriage at the first chance my father got.

I believe I was meant for more in my life.

I was meant to make a difference, you know? ”

“Yes, I understand completely,” I said.

“Want to practice a bit until these boys are ready to have you join in with sparring? I see you brought your dagger.”

A smile spread across my face as I answered, “Absolutely.”

W e made our way over to an area full of targets for archery, as well as training dummies stuffed with hay to practice sword fighting.

I drifted towards the targets, noticing a selection of daggers sitting on a wooden table next to them.

We both grabbed a few and aligned ourselves several feet away from the targets.

Nayla launched her dagger. It flew fiercely, landing in the closest ring next to the bullseye.

She nodded toward me to take my turn. Finding my stance, I inhaled a deep breath and let my dagger fly.

It landed smack dab in the middle of the bullseye as pride thrummed through me.

I would never have been able to do that without the help of my father.

“Bullseye on the first try. Impressive…or just good luck,” she hummed, tossing me another dagger. “Let’s see if you can do it again.”

She motioned for me to go again, so I did. Bullseye. Her eyes widened as she retrieved the dagger and had me repeat it five more times. Each time, the dagger hit its mark.

After my last attempt, clapping arose from behind us. Liam, Killian, and Declan were all perched on top of the training ring fence, mouths open in awe.

“I should have guessed you would be a natural at throwing daggers. Especially after witnessing you throw spoons with the same precision.” Liam pulled out the silver spoon from his pocket, and I couldn’t help but combust with laughter. “Come here, little lady.”

He swept me up into his burly arms, then set me back down on the ground. Killian smiled big, jumping off the fence for an embrace as well.

“I feel like we haven’t seen you in forever, Freckles.”

“You saw me last night,” I scoffed. “Still sticking with Freckles, I see?” He tossed his shoulders up in a shrug.

“It appears you’ve met our beautifully talented counterpart,” Liam said as the biggest grin I’d ever seen him have spread across his face.

For a moment, I swore Nayla’s cheeks flushed, but my line of sight was interrupted by something flying through the air.

The rock that crashed against Liam’s chest sent him barreling backwards off the fence.

A plume of dirt exploded around him, and we all combusted in a roar of laughter.

Liam scrambled back up to his feet, trying to wipe off the dirt now caked onto his sweaty chest and back.

He glared at Nayla as she strolled over, patting him on the chest.

“Always have to be on your guard, Captain ,” she hummed playfully before returning to throwing daggers.

Liam growled under his breath as he stalked towards her. Killian shook his head as he followed them. Once again, I was alone with the prince.

“Are you ready for some more training?” he said, his voice gravelly.

Emboldened by my time throwing daggers, I strolled over to where he still sat on the fence. I gripped the bottom of his chin. “I think the real question is, Declan, are you ?”

His throat bobbed as he rolled his lips between his teeth. Delighted, I sashayed into the training ring.

I could feel the heat rolling off him as he stalked behind me, like he was preparing for the hunt and I was his prey. A shiver ran down my back at the thought, and I turned around to face him, preparing my stance.

“Not bad, Wildfire,” he cooed. “Raise your left arm up a little higher though, closer to your face.”

Pursing my lips together, I adjusted my arm.

“Good girl,” Declan whispered. Inhaling sharply, I tried to hide my visceral reaction to his words.

“There will be times where we might not be able to use our dynamis,” he instructed as we circled each other once more.

“Like when you’ve exhausted your well of dynamis, leaving you without your gift.

There may also be times when we find ourselves without a weapon.

This is when hand-to-hand combat and physical strength become important.

Let’s see what all that training with your father has taught you. ”

In the next moment, he leapt towards me, aiming for a blow to the shoulder. I spun out of his path, in turn leaving his side vulnerable. Right where my fist found purchase. I jumped back before he could launch another attack on me. Smiling, he nodded in approval as we began to circle again.

We each made a few more attempts but continued to evade one another. Sweat dampened our bodies, our chests heaving for air.

At last I saw an opening, so I rushed to take it.

However, I was too slow. Declan grabbed my wrist and whipped me around until my back hit his chest with a thud.

With me caged between his muscled arms, he leaned down and whispered, “It was a good effort, Wildfire, but it will take a few more sessions before you can take down the Lord of Shadows.” The scruff of his beard bristled against my cheek, making me shiver.

As I thrashed against his hold, I searched my mind for a strategy from the multiple times I’d sparred with my father and Will. Frequently as they won, there had been an occasion or two when I had been able to take them both down.

With all my strength, I threw my head back into his, at the same time lifting both legs and kicking them back, right between his legs.

Immediately, I was released from his clutches.

His snarl was gargled as he hunched over in pain.

I scrambled away, but I couldn’t contain the laughter that fled out of me.

That only caused Declan to growl even louder as his eyes blazed with fire when they met mine.

An involuntary shriek left my body as he zephyred towards me so quickly I didn’t even have time to blink. The force of our collision was so abrupt that the thunderous sound radiated over the training ring as we cascaded into the ground.

Declan’s heavy body weighed me down, knocking all the air out of my chest. Gasping for the little bit I had left, I gazed upon the prince’s vicious smirk. He rolled off me with a huff, wincing as he rose to his feet. Sweat glistened down his body, and he extended his hand to help lift me up.

“Almost, Wildfire.”

He towered over me, smirking, thinking that he had bested me once more. Little did he know I had one more trick up my sleeve.

I swung out my leg and swept it underneath his feet. The look of pure shock and terror would forever be embedded in my brain. I watched with glee as Declan fell back into the dirt with a crash so hard you could have probably heard it echo against the walls inside the castle.

Shouts and whistles rang out from behind us. Killian and Liam were shouting praise, and Nayla had a huge smile on her face as she jumped up and down alongside of them.

Pain radiated throughout my entire body, but I managed to pull myself up onto my feet.

I strolled over to where Declan lay in the dirt.

He groaned a little, palming his face. When his eyes met mine, I couldn’t help but smile down at him.

The muscles in my legs cried as I squatted next to him.

Leaning down close to his ear, I whispered wickedly into it.

“Never underestimate your opponent, dear prince.”

The corners of his eyes crinkled, and a smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

“ B y the gods, who knew our little lady had it in her. She knocked the great Shadow Lord straight on his ass!” Liam slapped his knee.

“That deserves a few rounds of drinks.” Nayla tossed her arm over my shoulder. “What do you think, Elena? For once, we all have a day off at the same time. Let’s introduce you to the City of Shadows tonight.”

“That is if the prince can walk that far.” Killian smirked over at Declan.

Everyone burst out in infectious laughter again, as Declan’s scowl only grew deeper as he grumbled behind us.

“A night of drinking sounds fantastic.” I bounced giddily as we walked. “Can I invite Clara? Also, will there be whiskey?”

Liam pat my back. “You can always count on whiskey with us, little lady.”

Nayla pulled me into her side and whispered, “You should definitely invite Clara. I know someone who would be very happy.”

Glancing between the three men with curiosity, I noticed one in particular with rosy cheeks. Killian shot me a shy smile.

Oh, tonight is going to be fun indeed.