Frost (Frost and Nectar #1)(40)

As I faltered, he stabbed, and my parry missed. The tip of his rapier nicked my shoulder.

He cocked his head. “There.”

Irritated, I raised my sword. “You’re still down two points.”

Torin stepped back into the circle, assuming the starting position. I lunged forward in a surprise attack, but he was somehow ready. With ease, he caught my blade between his offhand dagger and his rapier, and ripped my sword from my hand. In an instant, he’d nicked my other shoulder.

I gritted my teeth, feeling my irritation simmer. But I kept my mouth shut because I knew better than to be a sore loser.

“Three-two.” Amusement gleamed in the king’s eyes. “Next touch ties it.”

Torin’s sword was up, and his little smile suggested he had full confidence. I sensed that he knew he’d figured me out, that this final point would go in his favor. I’d do my best to make sure it didn’t.

I raised my blade, and Torin immediately advanced. His rapier weaved around in a serpentine motion, but I wasn’t used to looking out for a dagger, too. I backed away, unable to watch the two blades simultaneously.

His rapier slashed, and I parried it. He counter-parried, and I leapt to the side to avoid being caught by his blade. He lunged at me with his dagger, but I ducked under his blow and slashed up with my own. Sadly, Torin was ready, deflecting my blade away with the hilt of his rapier.

“That’s not going to work,” he said with a cockiness that ignored the near miss.

As I steadied myself, he whipped forward and stabbed with his dagger. Somehow, I managed to defend, catching the tip of his rapier in the guard of my own. The blades of our daggers sparked against one another.

Torin pushed, driving my dagger arm down and his own dagger toward my throat.

“Yield,” he commanded in a low, velvety tone that brought to mind the feel of his magic inside me.

“No.” My arm shook, and his dagger inched closer and closer. He was going to use his size and strength to score the final point. He knew it, and I knew it.

What he didn’t know was that I always fought to win, and that included with more than just a blade.

I lifted my leg and brought my foot down hard into his kneecap. A disturbing crack sounded, and the king dropped his blades.

Slowly, Torin stooped to one knee, the muscles in his jaw working. The wind whipped over his hair, and I had the sense that he was mastering control over himself.

I leveled my blade at Torin’s throat. “Sorry, darling. No rules. You yield.”

I knew it had hurt, but as a fae, he’d heal exceedingly quickly. After all, he wasn’t like the fragile humans buried here.

Torin looked up at me, his jaw working. Slowly, his lips slid into a charming smile. “Looks like I absolutely picked the right person.”

High-pitched laughter floated on the cold wind, and I turned to see that a newcomer had joined our group.

Orla stood in the shadows by an oak, her blonde hair whipped by the wind. “Dearest brother, it sounds like you have picked a vicious one. Take care to keep her safe, though.”

Torin rose, flashing her an indulgent grin. But when I looked back to see her, she was gone, already blending into the night around us.

I COLLAPSED INTO MY BED, MY TOES AND FINGERS NUMB WITH THE COLD. A FIRE CRACKLED IN THE

fireplace, the only light in the room. Under the warmth of my blankets, my muscles were starting to melt.

The fencing tournament would be the final event, several weeks from now. But as the only fae here without magic, Torin was determined to make sure I had every advantage possible when it came to skill. I’d be training with him every night.

The day had exhausted me. This was, quite literally, more exercise than I’d gotten in a week back in the human world.

“Shalini!” I called out. “My whole body hurts.”

“Fifty million,” she called back.

Right. Fair point.

And whatever else Andrew and Ashley were doing, I couldn’t imagine it had been half as interesting as my day.

Tonight, I hadn’t the energy to look for dragons in the sky. I gave the stars a cursory glance through the mullioned windows, then closed my eyes and fell into a deep, deep sleep.





18

A VA

B y my sixth day of sparring with the king, my muscles ached and bruises covered both our bodies. As soon as I’d slammed my heel into his knee, Torin had stopped holding back.

Alone, I trudged into the shadowy cemetery, where the moonlight silvered the snow. I was learning to ignore the cold and fight without the cloak so I could move more easily. As long as we were sparring, the exertion kept me warm enough.

I found Torin standing by himself in the cemetery clearing, the wind whipping at his cloak. As always, he’d brought two rapiers with him. Once I stepped into the snowy ring, he tossed one through the air at me. Caught off guard, I only just managed to grab it by the hilt.

“Give me a minute, Torin.” Annoyed, I yanked at the button on my cloak. I knew he’d pull some kind of sneak attack, so I ripped it off quickly and tossed it into the snow behind me.

Torin stiffened, his gaze sliding down my body as he took in the form-fitting black clothes I wore underneath.

Was he checking me out? How many of us contestants had he checked out over the past week? The king, surely, was a bit of a player—and that was why he could never get married for real. As long as it was merely a business arrangement, he could cheat all he wanted, guilt free.