There were a couple of things I quickly learned during this training exercise in the forest. The first was that my casual bike riding was not enough to build the stamina I needed to survive these trials.
The second? Luke was a punitive sadist, and Ciaran was a gleeful sadist. I'd dubbed them the Brothers de Sade.
We had set up a small camp in the forest, far from the temple and prying eyes. The trees closed in around us, a canopy of green casting dappled light over the clearing. It was peaceful here, a quiet far from Valenia's oppressive judgment.
Luke had me pulling back the string of a ten-pound bowâone of the easier ones he'd selected for meâbut even with that, my arm felt like it was going to fall off. My shoulder screamed in protest as he forced my elbow out. When I forgot to do it on my own, I earned nice welts on my arm for my trouble. I'd hit the target a couple of timesânot in the center, but at least I wasn't missing entirely. Luke, for all his grimness, seemed somewhat pleased.
But in truth, I doubted I could do this in a real-life situation. Throwing a soda or a ball with distance and accuracy was nothing like archery.
"Okay, stop for now," Luke finally said, pride gleaming in his eyes like I'd conquered a mountain. "We'll do this every day, no matter where we go."
The idea of training on the road made me want to lie down in the dirt and quit right there, but I nodded, willing my legs to stay steady. My shoulders ached, and all I wanted was for Dominic to wrap his arm around me again, like he had at the party.
Speaking of Dominic, a grunt from behind me made me turn. Ciaran had smacked him across the back with his wooden sword, sending him sprawling forward. Dominic's mystical sword had disappeared before he could impale himself on it.
"You lack stamina, my friend!" Ciaran crowed, circling Dom like a predator.
Dom struggled to his feet, his auburn hair plastered to his skull, his tunic drenched in sweat. The shield sputtered into existence on his arm, but Ciaran was relentless. He swung at Dom's stomach, and the shield vanished as soon as it had appeared.
"You cannot keep your guard or weapon," Ciaran scolded, smacking Dom's shoulders and back. "If you think you'll protect your lady," Smack! "and have her back in these trials," Swing! Smack! "you are wrong. Trial One will be the easiest, and it will break you if you do not get tougher."
I dropped my bow, starting toward them with anger swelling in my chest. Ciaran had no right to treat Dom like that, even if he was trying to push him to improve. But Luke grabbed my arm, whispering, "Stop. You'll destroy Dominic's dignity if you interfere."
I clenched my fists, but I listened. Dom was gulping air like it was the first time he'd breathed all day. He glanced at me, seeing Luke holding me back, and nodded.
"Okay," Dom gritted out, standing straighter.
Ciaran gave a sharp nod. "Good. En garde!"
I winced as Ciaran swung again, but Dom raised his sword just in time to parry. He was tired, and it showed, but his determination was enough to keep him upright.
I turned away, hating how helpless I felt, and caught sight of Adrian and Erick working together at the foot of a mountain near the edge of the clearing. Adrian was suspended by a cord, swinging from hold to hold and stabbing or throwing knives at makeshift targets as he passed them. Sweat glistened on his brown skin as his muscles tensed with each leap.
Luis, meanwhile, was off on his own, lifting heavy stones and practicing katas. He'd proven himself proficient in climbing, vaulting, and swordplay, so he was left to his own devices. Not that he seemed to want company, anyway.
Eowyn stepped into the clearing, his lavender eyes sweeping over our small group, already searching for weaknesses to correct. Despite the large scar slashing across his face, there was an undeniable, savage beauty to himâeach movement fluid, deliberate, and impossible to ignore. He had removed his breastplate, leaving his perfectly sculpted chest exposed as he worked, muscles honed from centuries of battle.
"Your stamina must improve," Eowyn remarked, his gaze locked on Dominic's sluggish movements. "The trials will not wait for you to catch your breath."
"We're doing our best," I shot back defensively, wiping the sweat from my brow. "It's not like we've had centuries of practice like you."
His lips curled into a smile, a gleam shining in his lavender eyes. "Perhaps not. But I can help." He turned to Dominic. "Let me show you the proper form for your strikes."
Dominic hesitated, glancing at me for permission. I gave a slight nod, and he reluctantly stepped forward.
Eowyn positioned himself behind Dominic, adjusting his posture with firm hands. "Watch closely, Madeline," he said, his voice a smooth rumble, and then he slanted me a wicked smile. "You'll need to learn to rely on your court's strength... and perhaps mine."
His words were laden with a double meaning that hung in the air. The strength he spoke of wasn't just for battleâor perhaps, it was for a different kind of battle altogether. His gaze held mine a little too long, and the suggestion behind his smile was impossible to miss.
My breath caught in my throat as I watched him. The satyr, faun, centaur, and giantâthey all had something desperate about them, something in need of saving. But Eowyn? He was power, confidence, and temptation rolled into one. His presence was overwhelming, almost suffocating.
That he endured the subjugation men received in Aleria was hard to believe.
I had already been struggling with the idea of taking the others as concubines. It was one thing to consider men who seemed so broken, so grateful for a place in my court. But Eowyn? He didn't belong in that category.
He didn't need saving, and he certainly didn't seem like the kind of man who would settle for being anything less than my equalâif not more.
I questioned why he would want to offer himself as my concubine.
Eowyn stepped back from Dominic, his attention turning fully toward me. As if he knew exactly the effect he was having, he reached into a pouch at his side and pulled out something small and delicate. When he held it out, my breath hitched.
A single feather. Pale and glowing faintly in the dappled light of the forest.
It looked like something he treasured. Luke gasped, and stayed my hand from taking it.
"Do not, Madeline. The Alfar would have you married and wisked away to his dimension the minute you accept it. That feather is grown only once as a symbol of all they lost, and they give it to the one they wish to marry."
Eowyn bowed his head, a rare show of humility from someone so composed. "It is indeed so. I am quite taken by you and, in my heart, I have lost myself to the idea of what could be. Forgive me if this seems... forward."
"I..." I hesitated, the enormity of what was happening pressing down on me. "I don't know if I can accept something like this. Not now."
Eowyn nodded, his expression softening with understanding. "Then hold it in your heart, Madeline. It is not a decision you must make today. I will serve you, regardless of your answer, for as long as you wish me to."
He took a step back, returning the feather to his pouch, but the weight of his offer lingered in the air. His devotion was undeniable, and despite Luke's warnings, I felt a strange pull toward himâperhaps it was just curiosity about what accepting his offer would mean.
In the face of such a proposal, I decided it was time to go home.
Luke looked relieved. "We'll continue tomorrow, but we're not ready yet."
Eowyn looked hopeful. "Might I continue to help you train?"
I knew that he probably wanted to take that time to change my mind. I smiled, but shook my head. "I need to think about... us... Eowyn. But thank you."
We left a dejected Eowyn in the forest and headed back to the temple. There we met Marisol and Regina on the temple steps.
We left the forest and headed back to the temple. We met Marisol and Regina on the temple steps.
"Well, well, well!" Marisol crowed, interrupting Luke. She stood in front of us with disdainful glee as she took in our dusty appearances. "I see the whore's child has found her home with the dust on the ground. Just as it should be!"
Luke sprung to his feet and took a menacing step towards her. "You dare besmirch the name of The Brigid? I will see you quartered and fed to the birds, Elect or not, if you say another word, I will have your entire court pressed in vises as a cloud of vampires feast on them. You will apologize right now to me and mine. As regent, I command you to retract your words, or I will enact my promises."
She sneered at him, then stepped back. "You can't do that; my father is of the Consul."
He stepped closer, which made her guard draw their swords. "You forget your father supports the Elect Madeline."
She narrowed her eyes. "My father despised the Brigid, and he'll soon prove that his interest in your little bastard child is nothing more than charity. He only allowed it because she's so pathetic!"
"Hey, the pathetic bastard child is right here. Why don't you go away." I leaned against Dominic as I tried to rub out a cramp in my hip.
"No fighting between the Elects on the training grounds!" Valenia's voice was a thunderclap across the fields. I put my hand over my ears.
She stalked over to us, and Marisol dropped into a deep curtsey. I uncovered my ears and wished I hadn't because the slap she gave Marisol was as loud as her shout.
"You will maintain the dignity of your calling! I cannot believe I have witnessed so much pettiness from you and Regina. You're making bargains? You're trying to goad Elect Madeline into fighting? What is it you think you lack against her? If you think she's less," Valenia grabbed Marisol by the hair and bent her head back so she could look her into the eyes, "then win! But don't sully my grounds with your impure jealousy."
"I'm sorry, High Priestess Valenia..." Marisol's tears flowed. She directed no apologies at me and mine, which didn't surprise me. It surprised me that Valenia had stepped in, even if it was to keep the purity of the temple training grounds.
Valenia gave me a long stare and said, "You certainly do your best to be disagreeable, don't you? Have a care your outrageous behavior does not get you killed."
My tone was ironic. "Yeah, just standing here minding my business is a big crime."
Valenia scoffed and walked off the steps.
"Guess she doesn't need to be here since the favorites are gone," I muttered.
Before we could head home, Luis pulled me aside. I knew there was much that we needed to talk about, but I'd hoped it could wait until we got home. Nevertheless, I followed him to a higher step.
We sat on the step, and Luis took my hand. He kept his voice low so it wouldn't carry to my court below. "Madeline, tell me what happened at the party."
"That's what you want to talk about? Just that?" I sprung from my seat, but he pulled me back down.
"No, but it's driving me crazy. You and Dominic were acting differently. Then this thing with Eowyn was sprung on us. I saw how you looked at him." He stared down at his feet.
"All of this is crazy, I know." I didn't know what else to say, and I had a feeling any excuse I made would just make my mouth burn.
"Did you kiss Dominic?" he said as he looked at me.
I swallowed, then nodded. "So what if I kissed him, Luis? You never stepped up."
"That's what I wanted to talk about."
I huffed. "Okay, so talk."
"First, why were you going to leave me behind before this happened?"
"I didn't want a babysitter anymore, Luis. I didn't want you hovering and controlling everything when all I wanted was to kiss you."
Luis leaned back on his hands, looking shocked. The wispy smoke of desire replaced his scratchy rage. "Even after...?"
"Yes. Before and after, Joseph."
"Why didn't â"
"Didn't I tell you? I did. Don't you remember?"
"Last year?" He shifted his body to face me. "I thought you were joking."
"No. No, you didn't."
"I can't lie, Matt. You know that."
I blinked at him. "You honestly thought I was joking?"
"Matt, you were singing 'Baby' to me." He shuddered. "Plus, you were drunk as a sailor on leave."
"He is a misunderstood artist! I was singing my frustration to you! And, in the movies, people always swallow a stiff drink before doing something hard."
Luis rolled his eyes. "Really, Matt? You and your habit of using Hollywood as your social guide! You know I hate his music. So do you see why I assumed you were joking? Plus, you were drinking! I thought you were thinking about..."
"Well, I wasn't." I rose and was halfway down the steps before he stopped me.
"Wait."
"I want to go back to the mansion, Luis" I wouldn't look at him as I relived the humiliation of his rejection.
Sure, I used movies and books for guidance because I had no other means to learn about current social skills.
Most of the ghosts I met were only interested in the past, so they weren't much help. Aisa wouldn't enroll me in school, so I stayed in the library when I wasn't at work. And Luis left me alone at night, more often than not, while I struggled with questions and worries.
"I have a plan to get us out of this. Don't do anything else with anyone. Please." He took my hand. Jealousy dumped over me as I shook his hand off of me.
"We're all married now, Luis. Why didn't you spring this plan on me sooner?"
He shrugged. "I'm jealous."
"Jealous? Why?"
"Because I feel the same way."
I stepped towards him until we were close to touching. "You've kept too much from me for me to believe that right now. I just think that you're trying to save me, not love me.
"You know I can't lie."
I bit my bottom lip as I struggled with his confession. It felt forced. And I wondered if he somehow did have a way to lie.
"Madeline!" Luke called up at me. "Let's go home!"
Luis's lip curled. "Of course, the meddler that caused this gets in the way again."
I stepped back. Luis's confession had jarred me and made me angry. He could have taken that day a year ago to make an awkward kid happy if he had felt the same, and I no longer could trust him.
I walked back to the the others as Luis snarled at me in frustration.