Forbidden Honor (Dragon Royals #1)(18)

He vaulted the wall again, offered me a hand up. This time I took it, planted my foot against the stone wall, and used his weight to help me leverage myself up on top of the wall.

He was still holding my hand, his palm warm against mine, when he demanded, “Why are you such a smartass? Aren’t you afraid?”

“Should I be?”

He released my hand and stood on the wall abruptly. “Probably.”

Then he jumped backwards into a flip. One of the dragons whirled around, smoke steaming from his nostrils; his flickering tail barely cleared the field before Jaik landed on the dust, sending a cloud of it up from his boots.

“Show-off,” I accused.

“Branok, Lynx, enough,” Jaik called to the two dragons.

A moment later, the two dragons had shimmered and changed. The tall, broad-shouldered, golden-haired twins stood there instead.

“I’m rooting for the girl,” Lynx called as he swung himself onto the top of the wall to watch.

Branok gave me a look I couldn’t read—right, he was Team Murder Me if I’d heard correctly in the library—and joined his twin.

“Are they going to watch?” I asked, my mouth dry at the thought of sparring with Jaik, let alone with an audience.

“Always,” he said, which made me think of the library, of how I’d imagined Jaik as a voyeur himself, working his hand up and down his cock.

Apparently I could think inappropriately sexy thoughts about these guys even when one was about to kick my ass. I took off my jacket and slung it over the stone wall.

Jaik didn’t smile, but his gaze softened in approval. “What a brave girl.”

“We’ve already established what you all think of me, and I didn’t think bravery was one of the adjectives.”

“It might make the list.” He gripped his sword in one hand and held another out to me. “But it is a very long list.”

“Entirely complimentary, I’m sure.” As I reached for the sword, he tossed it lightly toward me. I almost managed to catch the hilt, but the wooden training sword was heavier than I remembered, and the tip hit the ground as I gripped it awkwardly.

Talisyn winced, then gave me a thumbs-up.

“I’ll take it easy on you,” Jaik promised. He tapped the blade of his sword against mine.

“Don’t bother,” I answered. “I don’t like to be bored.”

I blocked his next feint, then spun toward him, knocking his blade away as I tried to get inside his long reach. His fingers wrapped my throat, his smoldering gaze meeting mine, and the two of us shared the briefest glance before he shoved me away. I barely managed to catch my footing as I turned to meet his blade, our wooden swords clashing.

I caught glimpses from the corner of my eye of the other dragon royals arriving, along with a sixth man who leaned against the wall as well. They called out encouragement to me as Jaik and I continued to spar. I let out a ferocious volley of blows, and Jaik blocked each one, giving way a step.

“Go for his left knee!” Talisyn called. “He broke it a few years ago. Still a soft point.”

Jaik pinned my sword and halted, giving Talisyn a withering look. “You are supposed to be my friend.”

“I’d die for you, brother. But I do think you could use a little humbling.”

Jaik grunted and slammed his forearm against my chest, knocking me backward. The blow stung, but he’d obviously pulled his power. It was still enough as he trapped my blade that my fingers released the hilt as I stumbled back.

He kicked my sword to one side, then dropped his own on the ground and advanced toward me. So we were going to spar hand-to-hand.

“You can hit me,” I said. “You don’t need to pull your punches.”

“I think I do,” he disagreed.

The two of us fought on, but soon I found myself on the ground, pinned there with his boot lightly resting on my shoulder.

“You’re better than I’d anticipated,” he said.

“Thanks.”

“Not very good. But better than expected.” He offered me his hand up.

I caught his wrist and let him pull me to my feet.

“You should know your place,” he said quietly into my ear. “You aren’t good enough for Talisyn. At least have the dignity to see that.”

I yanked my arm out of his, hard enough to make myself stumble. He caught my elbow, gave me a mocking glance.

“I’m not the one chasing him,” I said. “I didn’t ask for his attention.”

He gave me a long, cold look, and I stared right back at him.

“You can go now,” he said. “Run away.”

He was echoing the same words Arren had said.

“I don’t think I will.” I smiled at him broadly, then turned and stalked out of the arena.

He didn’t have to know that I was still panting or how I felt trembling, undone.





Caldren

Honor stormed away from Jaik, her bright red hair flying in the breeze.

“He always pisses everyone off,” Talisyn said, shaking his head mockingly, as if Talisyn didn’t piss everyone off too. My friends weren’t known for their warmth and likeability, even if they were the kingdom’s heroes.

Branok sighed, rubbing his hand over his face. “Why is he antagonizing her? I want to get close, not push her away, until we know her game.”