Page 8 of Wolfsbane (Deadly Duet #2)

EIGHT

HESPER

“Good! Now, arch your back a little more and keep your head high.” My hand repositioned the soldier’s posture as he let me mold him. “When you strike, you move with confidence.” I stepped back, nodding as the two chosen men sparred, demonstrating the techniques I had recently taught them. Morel’s forces were strong, growing in number almost every day as his kingdom flourished and welcomed the many newcomers. It had nearly tripled in size since my arrival, his armies filled with neglected men and women from other kingdoms, dedicated to him. It was an honor to teach them the ways of Hellbore.

“You have done well, Queen Hesper,” Orion stated, smiling at Morel’s men as he watched them train.

“I wouldn’t have succeeded had you not prepared them yourself.” His smile branched higher as he chuckled.

“Your flattery is sweet but untrue. I am skilled myself, but I am no teacher.” He patted my arm, excusing himself as he headed towards the castle.

“Again!” I shouted as the two returned to their starting positions and sparred once more, this time executing the fighting techniques with near perfection. I couldn’t help but smile, proud of how quickly they all seemed to learn. I watched the two men, signaling to another soldier, a young woman. She moved with grace, slithering between the two, knocking them both on their backsides, pointing a sword in each hand at their throats. I clapped, the rest of the soldiers surrounding them cheering her victory.

“Wonderful!” The three bowed, returning to their lines as I stood in front of the army of the night, Morel’s sword in my hand. “You have honored me,” I shouted at them, walking up and down their lines. “Each and every one of you has proven your worth time and time again over these last few months, training endlessly to ensure perfection. I can say with much confidence that you are, without a doubt, the most skilled army I have ever laid eyes on!”

The men and women cheered, banging their swords to their shields as they rejoiced at how far they’d come.

“You may not have been born in my kingdom, but you all have a piece of Hellbore in your hearts! You are not only the army of the night, but you are my army! The army of Hellbore!” The sea of darkness cheered, the ground rumbling as they stomped their feet. “Until the heavens fall onto the Earth!”

“A symphony of stars!” the soldiers hollered back at me.

I could feel my skin glowing with such excitement and pride. My smile nearly reached my ears as I looked to see him standing among his people, clapping alongside them, grinning, those golden, amber eyes burning through my soul.

Morel.

“You have done well, my queen!” The soldiers around him quieted as the rest followed, dropping to their knees in unison at his presence. The respect they had for him was unmatched.

“King Morel,” I whispered as I began to bow myself.

“I told you,” he stepped through the crowd and approached me, lifting my chin with such ease, “you do not bow to me.” My cheeks burned despite the cold, snowy field. I could feel everyone’s eyes on us.

“Have you come to watch your army train?” I asked, standing as his hand slowly fell to his side. “Or perhaps you’ve come to offer guidance on their training?”

“Something tells me they are in capable hands.” His smile remained. “I will admit, you have done the impossible, creating the largest and most skilled army I have ever seen. But?—”

“But?” I made a face and raised a brow as he glanced out at his troops.

“If you have trained them in the ways of Hellbore, and we attack Hellbore, how will they have the upper hand? Would they not be equal to those of Boletus’ forces?”

I scoffed at his words. “I assure you, King Morel, I know more than just the fighting style of Hellbore. You forget, I am a daughter of the night, and my gift is combat. I have taught your army everything I know. There is no force between the heavens or hell that can match them.”

“Care to test that theory?” Theory? I snapped my head in his direction, insulted at his question.

“You doubt me?” Morel shrugged, retrieving a sword from his side, twirling it as he stepped near me.

“You may be skilled in Hellbore combat and blessed by the goddess,” he cracked his neck, “but I am skilled in my own way.” Morel took a fighting stance, smiling as he awaited my rebuttal.

“I see.” I released a high-pitched whistle as his forces stood in perfect unison. Morel looked around, impressed with their uniform. “Army of the night, it seems your king has challenged me. Should I accept?” The men and women began to pound their shields into the ground, creating a deep, rhythmic beat, telling me their answer. “Your men have spoken.” My fingers curled tightly around the hold of his sword in my hand. “Shall we?”

Morel stepped to the center of the field, swinging the sword as I shadowed him. We slowly paced in a circle, the sound of his army beating with my own heart.

“Ladies first,” he teased.

“And yet, you remain still.” Morel made a face, trying not to laugh as I smiled, baring my teeth.

Within the blink of an eye, he began to charge me, moving swiftly as he lunged the tip of his sword in my direction. I curved my body, spinning away as he stumbled, quickly regaining his footing and chasing after me. He might have been substantially larger than me, but I had the upper hand with my speed, using it to my advantage.

My feet quickened as I jumped from a nearby boulder, flipping backwards as he watched me in awe, the ends of my hair brushing along his face as I landed behind him, twirling and meeting his sword.

“You never cease to amaze me, Hellbore.” Gritting my teeth, I tried to rotate my blade away from him, the metal of the swords sliding along the other as his back slammed into the boulder, our weapons crossed between us. We both groaned as we pushed against the other, oddly matched in the moment.

“You’ve seen nothing yet, my king.”

Morel raised a brow at my words as they also took me back. My guard fell as he took advantage and knocked my blade down and pointed the tip of his towards my neck. The surrounding army halted, the world falling into a wintery silence as my heart raced in my ears with my heavy breathing.

“I rather like hearing you call me your king.” He stepped closer, smug. “Admit your defeat.” My face darkened as I began to grin, Morel’s own expression falling as he looked at me with confusion.

“I wouldn’t get used to it.” My feet stepped closer, his blade piercing my neck as he tried to pull back. My hand gripped his, holding him in place as I stared up at him, the army resuming their rhythmic beat, a single drop of blood trailing down my chest. “And I have not lost.”

As the words left my lips, my arm swung, knocking his sword away from my neck, my other hand swinging as it landed roughly against his cheek. Morel slammed back into the bolder again, watching me with wide eyes as I flipped backward once more, gripping my sword and landing in a perfect fighting stance. He stood there as he felt his reddened face, completely shocked by what I had done.

“Do you yield?” I asked.

Morel dropped his hand and spat onto the snow, blood staining it as he tied his hair up high and removed his tunic. My lips pressed together at the sight of him, knowing I had hit a nerve while enjoying the sight of him shirtless. Again.

“I would suggest you put your clothing back on. Wouldn’t want to add to your collection of scars.” Morel scoffed at my teasing threat, tossing his sword back and forth between his hands as he began to walk in my direction.

“You can scar my skin whenever you like, my queen.” He suddenly sprinted towards me, completely throwing me off as I tried to outrun him. I smiled, breathing through my teeth. Fighting Morel, having him chase me, was exhilarating.

My feet kicked off another rock as my body rotated. I dropped, facing him as I pushed and used the snow to slide beneath his legs, knocking him to the ground. He rolled, catching his footing as we both turned to face one another, half crouched and panting from our used energy. Before he could make a move, I lunged to my feet, running towards him, aiming the sword. He blocked my strike, spinning as we spared, meeting each other’s blows. It felt like a warrior’s dance, the two of us moving to the army’s beating shields as we swayed and matched in both skill and speed. I could see sweat forming around his forehead and body, causing his pale skin to glisten in the light. Despite the strength he used, he was anything but tired.

“Tell me,” I huffed, crossing blades with him. “Now that your army is ready, will you strike Hellbore?” Morel’s face remained firm, his thoughts concealed from me as I watched him closely, waiting for a response. He pushed me back, continuing our dance as we moved together, shadowing the other.

“I gave you my word.” His voice was flat. I could sense another emotion hidden within it, I just wasn’t sure which.

“What if—” I kicked his torso as he stumbled back, quickly regaining his footing, holding his stance strong. My eyes fell to his sword in my hand, eyeing the Gemini etching closely. “What if I asked you to break your word?”

Morel’s stance slacked as he eyed me.

“Do you think they are not ready?” He spun towards me, hitting my blade as we stood face to face, our swords crossed as our eyes locked.

“Your army is more than ready. But I fear?—”

“What do you fear?” He stepped closer, his amber irises filled with such concern. My voice struggled to form words, overtaken by the sight of him. “Hesper,” he whispered. “I promised to protect you, but I cannot do so if there is something ailing you. Please,” his soft begging nearly melted me, “what do you fear?”

“What if we attack Boletus and take back my kingdom?”

“Then you will be crowned Queen of Hellbore and rule as your father intended.”

“What if that’s a future I no longer wish for?” His face pressed with confusion.

“What are you saying?”

“What if—” My eyes studied him closely, anxious and scared to admit the truth. “What if I choose to remain here, ensuring your forces were unstoppable? Would such a future be possible?” His eyes burned into mine, our swords close to our faces.

“You are owned by no one, my queen. If you wish to stay in my kingdom, you need not ask my permission.” My heart sped faster and faster, increasing in speed with each second. The air thickened between us, our breaths fogging around our faces as we froze in that moment.

The army suddenly stopped pounding their shields, breaking the spell between us as I blinked, the sound of footsteps trotting through the snow.

“Am I interrupting?” Orion asked, approaching us in the field. Morel’s face softened as he slowly lifted his sword and stepped away from me, smiling.

“Not at all. Queen Hesper was simply pointing out how rusty I’ve become.” Morel’s eyes finally broke away as I exhaled, relieved at their absence.

“And such a task requires the king to be shirtless?” Orion asked, looking between the two of us. Morel gripped his clothing, grimacing.

“Either tell me the news you bare or grab a sword.” He had such a temper.

“As much as I’d love to join you, I’m afraid your presence is required in the throne room.”

“Very well,” Morel grumbled.

“Forgive me, my king, but both your presences.” Their eyes moved to me as my stomach dropped.