Evaline:
The next evening arrived sooner than I expected.
I had just finished feeding Lioren and was putting him down for a nap when a light knock sounded at my door. One of the household servants stood there, her hands clasped politely in front of her.
"My Lady," she said softly, "Alpha River asked to inform you that it’s ti for your second lesson."
My second lesson.
The words sent a small ripple through - a mixture of nerves and excitent. Yesterday’s "first class" with Kieran had been more emotional than physical. But physical training... with River? That was a whole different story.
"I’ll be there shortly. Let Madam Elira stay with Young master." I told her, and she bowed before quietly leaving.
I glanced back at Lioren. He was fast asleep, his little hand curled near his cheek, his breathing steady. I brushed a kiss over his forehead before slipping out of the room.
As I made my way downstairs, I spotted River waiting near the back door that led to the open courtyard. The sun had dipped low in the sky, leaving streaks of deep gold and soft violet scattered across the horizon.
River stood in the middle of it, dressed in dark training clothes that clung to the lines of his body. His hair was styled perfectly, yet a few strands were falling across his face. There was no softness in his expression this evening... only calm determination.
When his eyes t mine, I forgot to breathe for a second.
"You are not dressed for the oaccsion," he said, not unkindly, but with the cool authority that reminded why everyone in our world feared and respected him.
"I didn’t realize I had to change. I’ll be right back."
I literally ran back inside the house without waiting for his response. When I returned to my room, Madam Elira was already there, working on a dream catcher she seed to be making for Lioren.
I quickly headed inside my walk-in closet and grabbed a pair of gym outfit. Once I had changed and put on my shoes, I headed downstairs with my heart beating wildly in my chest.
When I walked out of the door, I found him standing there just like I left him not long ago. "How about now?" I asked.
He turned to face and his gaze softened just slightly. "That’s good enough. But next ti, don’t get us late like today. You’ll need every minute of this session."
I frowned lightly. "How bad can it be?"
He smiled. It was a faint, dangerous curve of lips that made my stomach twist. "You’ll find out."
He gestured for to follow and I did. We took the trail into the woods behind the house, stepping deeper into the mountains that looked extra creepy at this hour.
All of a sudden, he picked up his speed... though just a little. He was now jogging. "Keep up. You need to warm up first."
I did as told, picking my speed as I jogged by his side. The air was cool against my skin, but anticipation burned low in my chest.
We continued like that for about ten minutes before we reached what seed like a small clearing. Once there, he asked to stretch my muscles and I did. Rolling my shoulders, stretching my arms, and inhaling deeply.
Then, I watched as River started circling around slowly, assessing. His every step was asured, deliberate. "You have good reflexes, Evaline. That much I know. But your body-" He stopped behind . "-still moves like you are afraid of breaking sothing."
"I just gave birth a month ago," I muttered.
"I know," he said softly, "and that’s why we’ll go only as far as you can handle. But don’t expect to go easy on you because of that."
Before I could reply, he stepped forward, so close that I felt the warmth of his breath near my ear. "You asked for this training, Evaline. Now prove you are ready for it."
The words sent a shiver through - not of fear, but challenge. Still, what I wanted most was to ask exactly when did I made such a ridiculous demand. But I knew his words ant sothing else.
"Fine," I said, turning to face him. "Show ."
He nodded once, stepping back. "First lesson - balance and control."
He struck without warning.
I barely dodged his arm as he reached for , his movent fast and precise. My heart leaped in my chest as I stumbled back, but he didn’t pause. He lunged again, this ti sweeping his leg to knock off my feet.
I twisted just in ti, my hands brushing the ground before I regained my footing.
"Good," he said, his eyes gleaming. "But your stance is weak. Keep your center lower."
He ca at again - faster. I barely had ti to block his arm, the impact vibrating up my forearm. He grabbed my wrist, twisted, and suddenly my back was against his chest, his arm locked around .
"Too slow," he whispered near my ear.
I growled low in my throat and kicked back, hitting his shin. He loosened his hold for half a second... enough for to slip free.
I turned sharply, facing him again, chest heaving.
He smiled faintly. "Better."
We circled each other, the world narrowing to just the sound of our breathing and the faint crunch of gravel under our feet. He feinted left, I moved right... but he was faster. His hand shot out, gripping my forearm, and before I could react, he pulled forward, using my own montum to bring down.
I gasped as I hit the ground, but before I could recover, he crouched beside , his eyes dark with focus.
"This is what happens when you lose focus for even a second," he said. "Your opponent doesn’t give you ti to think."
I glared up at him. "You are enjoying this, aren’t you?"
He gave a small smirk. "Maybe a little."
With a groan, I pushed myself up, brushing the dust from my clothes. "Then don’t hold back. I can handle more."
Sothing shifted in his expression - pride, and maybe sothing else. "Alright, little star," he murmured. "Let’s see what you have got."
The next round was harder. He didn’t give a mont to breathe - his strikes ca faster, his movents sharper. Every ti I thought I could predict him, he changed rhythm, forcing to adapt. I started to understand what he was trying to teach - to trust my instincts, not just my eyes.
At one point, I managed to catch his wrist mid-swing, using his force to pivot behind him. My hand ca up to his neck... not hard, but enough to show I could have hit him.
"Impressive," he said, his voice low.
"You are not the only one who learns fast," I replied.
For a second, we both froze - our eyes locking, our breaths mingling in the cool evening air. The mont stretched taut, sothing unspoken flickering between us.
Then he moved.
With one swift motion, he spun, grabbed my waist, and in a blink, I was flat on my back again... this ti with him above , one hand pinning my wrist to the ground.
I stared up at him, my pulse hamring, every nerve in my body alive.
"Lesson two," he said, his voice rougher now. "Never assu the fight is over just because you think you have won."
I tried to glare, but the intensity in his eyes made it impossible. There was no mockery in his expression... only heat, focus, and sothing that made my breath catch.
Then, as if realizing how close we were, he exhaled and stood, offering a hand. "Enough for today."
But before I could take it, the faint sound of sothing... or soone... echoed from the far end of the clearing.
Both of us froze.
River’s eyes narrowed as his head turned toward the sound. And becase of my newly enhanced senses, I heard it too. It was a faint tallic click, sharp and distinct, followed by the whisper of footsteps.
The air shifted.
"Stay behind ," he murmured, his voice suddenly low and dangerous.
"What is it?" I whispered, my heart starting to race again - this ti not from the training.
He didn’t answer. He took a slow step forward, his stance imdiately changing... the predator replacing the teacher.
The wind picked up, carrying with it the faint scent of sothing foreign. My instincts scread that we weren’t alone.
Then, out of the shadows from behind the trees, sothing moved.
A blur... fast, deliberate, wrong.
River was already in front of before I could blink, his hand raised, his voice low and commanding. "Get back, Evaline."
The last thing I saw before he blocked my view was a pair of glowing red eyes watching us from the dark.
And then... everything happened at once.
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