Chapter 50: Chapter 50

Yulia

The sun had disappeared behind the trees by the time Rhys finally told me I could  leave the training grounds.

My muscles ached from all the drills he made me do. At this point however I didn't really notice the pain anymore. My skin was covered in sweat and my loose hair was damp. I was still standing in the middle of the field.

The grounds were quiet now.

The warriors had gone back to their rooms. The torches around the field were flickering softly in the night breeze. They made shadows on the ground.

Tomorrow is the full moon.

Tomorrow is the ritual.

I breathed in slowly through my nose.

Then I breathed out.

Again.

I did it again and again. I closed my eyes. Tried to focus on my breathing.

In.

Out.

Rhys said it multiple times during training. If I panicked during the ritual, my body would too. Fear would make me weaker than any strain.

So I quieted my thoughts.

I focused on my breathing. I felt the cool air go into my lungs and come out again. I focused on the ground under my feet and my heartbeat.

I would not be afraid.

Not tomorrow.

Not when everything depends on it.

I lifted my arms again. I did another set of the strikes and blocks that Rhys taught me earlier. My muscles hurt, but I kept going.

If I stopped now my mind would wander again.

And I refused to let that happen.

I heard a faint sound behind me, making me stop momentarily.

Footsteps.

I turned.

Luci was at the edge of the training grounds.

The torchlight showed his face. His arms were loosely folded. He looked a bit stiff.

My chest tightened the moment I saw him.

"You shouldn't be here " I said.

He raised his brows. "I could say the same about you."

I wiped the sweat from my forehead. "I'm training."

"I can see that."

He came a bit closer. He looked me up and down, as though he were checking if I was hurt.

"You've been here for hours " he said. "Come inside. You can do it tomorrow."

I shook my head.

"No."

He looked a bit harder.

"Yulia—"

"Tomorrow is the full moon " I said quietly. "I don't have time to rest."

He tightened his jaw.

We didn't speak for a moment.

Then I pointed to a bench on the edge of the field.

"If you're worried. Watch."

He looked at the bench. Then at me.

"You're ordering me now?" he asked dryly.

I smiled a bit.

"Consider it a request all mighty alpha."

He looked like he might argue again.

Then he scoffed, sighed and sat down all in one motion.

"Fine." he muttered.

I turned away and without wasting a second, I kept training.

It was different now.

Before I was just going through the motions.

Now I felt his eyes on me.

Every move felt sharper. My strikes cut through the air with focus.

Minutes passed.

Maybe longer.

Then I heard the bench creak.

I looked over my shoulder. Luci stood up.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

He loosened his muscles.

"I've been watching enough " he said.

My eyes narrowed.

"Watching what?"

"You."

He stepped onto the field.

I felt a tension in my chest.

"Luci…"

"I want to spar."

I stared at him.

"You're joking."

He didn't change his expression.

"You're barely recovered " I said firmly. "You shouldn't even be here this long."

"I'm fine." He claimed.

"You're not." I countered.

He tilted his head. He studied me.

"Are you afraid you'll hurt me?" he asked.

"That's not the point."

"Then what is?"

I stepped closer. I lowered my voice.

"You're still weak."

".You're about to face a ritual tomorrow that might kill you."

The words hung in the air.

My chest tightened.

"That's why you shouldn't be doing this" I said quietly.

He didn't move.

"Yulia."

His voice was softer.

"Just once is all I’m asking."

I hesitated.

Everything in me said this was horrible idea.

The look in his eyes made it impossible to refuse.

Finally I sighed.

"Fine."

He smiled a bit.

We moved to the center of the field.

At first the sparring was normal.

We circled each other with caution. We tested movements.

I struck first.

He blocked easily stepping aside as my arm cut through the air. I turned immediately aiming a follow up strike at his shoulder.

He caught my wrist.

I twisted free almost immediately, our movements only getting faster.

Strike.

Block.

Step.

Turn.

Even though he was weakened, Luci was still more skilled than most warriors I had sparred with.

Something about the way he fought tonight felt different.

Slower.

More deliberate.

As if he wasn't trying to win.

Soon we were standing close, much closer than before.

My palm pressed against his chest as I pushed him back.. He barely moved.

His hand closed around my wrist again.

We didn't move for a moment.

Our breathing had gotten heavier as a result of the sparring .

Too close.

I felt the warmth of his body through the fabric.

"Luci " I murmured.

He didn't let go.

His other hand slid to my waist.

My breath caught.

"What are you—"

Before I could finish he shifted his weight.

The next thing I knew, my back hit the ground.

A small gasp escaped me. Luci pinned me beneath him.

His hands held my wrists against the earth. His body hovering above mine.

The torchlight flickered behind him. It cast shadows on his face.

We didn't speak for a few seconds.

Our breathing mingled in the space between us.

My heart was pounding loudly I was almost certain he could hear it.

His gaze searched my face.

Then he spoke.

"Nothing " he said "short of death will take you away from me."

My breath caught.

His grip on my wrists loosened.. He didn't pull away.

"When I took you from that ring months ago " he continued, "you became mine."

The words sent a warmth through my chest.

"Even your soul " he said softly.

His eyes darkened. He held my gaze.

"You won't die tomorrow."

I swallowed.

"Luci—"

"I won't allow it." He interrupted.

The conviction in his voice made my chest tighten.

"Even if it's the thing I do."

The night fell silent, around us.

For the first time since the ritual had been mentioned …

I felt a small piece of my fear fade.