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Chapter 49
~Valerie’s POV~
I don’t know why I expected a chill day.
Maybe a part of believed after yesterday’s seven-mile hell marathon and the ongoing power flex between six mates and a smug fae princess, the universe would grant rcy.
Spoiler alert: it didn’t.
Combat class was held on one of the upper terraces—stone floor, massive pillars, enough space to run a mini war if you wanted. The arena overlooked the cliffs on the east wing. Gorgeous, dangerous, and ridiculously exposed to every damn Guild currently watching.
I stood with Isla, Erald, and Astraea, all of us in our training gear, arms crossed, weapons secured.
"Why do I feel like sothing’s brewing?" Isla muttered, eyeing the line-up of Guild mbers forming around the field.
"Because it is," I answered automatically.
"Sothing’s off," Astraea added, her fae eyes narrowing as her gaze swept the field. "Look over there."
I followed her line of sight.
And there they were, the Lycan twins.
Ash and Ace Kaid, looking like they’d just stepped out of a royal portrait and straight into trouble, smirking and whispering to each other like they already owned the damn field.
One look at them, and I knew they were up to sothing.
Ms. Laria, our combat instructor—a no-nonsense war-veteran turned teacher—stepped into the center of the ring.
"Today’s drill is simple," she began, her voice cutting through the chatter. "Combat partners. You’ll spar with a match of equal rank. This is not about winning—it’s about reading your opponent and applying control."
Oh, how convenient, control.
Then she added, "You are allowed to call challenges if you wish to spar with soone from another guild. However, challenges must be approved by your instructors."
I should’ve known.
The mont she said challenge, the twins both stepped forward.
Of course they did.
"I, Ashton Kaid of Guild One," Ash said, grinning like a wolf in a pen full of lambs, "formally challenge Valerie Nightshade to a sparring session. Strategic reasons, of course."
A ripple of gasps echoed through the field.
Ms. Laria raised an eyebrow. "Strategic reasons?"
"I’ve never fought soone who outran a dragon," Ash said, flashing that annoying smile. "It would be an honor."
Ace took a step forward beside his brother. "And I, Ace Kaid of Guild Three, also wish to challenge Valerie—if she’s not too tired. We could rotate, give her a breather between rounds."
A loud "what the hell?" slipped from soone in the crowd. Erald slapped her own forehead.
Isla muttered, "They’re going to die."
Ms. Laria looked entirely unimpressed. "Miss Nightshade," she called out, eyes flicking to , "are you open to challenge?"
I stepped forward slowly, arms still crossed. "Only if they agree not to cry when they lose."
Ash gave a lazy wink.
"Consent given," Ms. Laria said. "Match approved. Both challengers are to face Miss Nightshade, one after the other. No powers. No shifting. No interference. You’ll bow before you begin. End on surrender, tap out, or the instructor’s call."
The twins took their places on opposite ends of the arena. Ash first.
I walked to the center.
As we bowed, he leaned closer and whispered, "You win, I’ll let you choose what you want to do with . You lose... I’ll choose."
I stood upright, smiling coolly. "Either way, I’m picking the hospital for you."
"Feisty." He cracked his knuckles. "I love that."
The whistle blew, and he charged.
Ash was fast. I’ll give him that. He moved like soone who was used to winning without breaking a sweat—cocky, overconfident, all charm and speed.
But I wasn’t here to flirt. I was here to win.
He swung first. A quick jab aid toward my left shoulder. I sidestepped it easily, grabbing his wrist and twisting it just enough to make him flinch.
"Are you sure this is what you wanted?" I asked, pushing him back.
Ash smirked, eyes glinting. "I haven’t even started."
He launched again, this ti lower — trying to sweep my legs. I flipped back just before his foot connected and landed in a crouch, my hands bracing against the ground.
"That flip..." I heard soone whisper from the crowd. Probably Erald.
Ash ca at again, trying to fake a right punch and slip past my guard, but I’d already studied his rhythm. He moved with flair, not intent. Always aiming to impress.
That would be his downfall.
I caught his arm mid-swing, flipped him over my shoulder, and slamd him down hard enough to shake the arena floor.
A collective "Ooooohh!" erupted from the crowd.
Ash groaned, coughing. "Okay... okay... I walked into that one."
"You flew into it," I corrected and cracked my neck.
He rolled to his feet, eyes brighter now. Less teasing. "Alright, Nightshade. No more gas."
He actually fought better after that. Less mouth, more muscle. I had to admit, Ash cornered a couple of tis and forced to block three quick combos. I ducked one, spun around him, and elbowed him hard in the side.
When he stumbled, I kicked the back of his knee, sending him crashing to the ground again.
"Yield," I warned, holding my stance.
He looked up at , breathing heavily and smiled.
Then tapped the ground surprisingly. His always wanting to impress-self yielded? "I yield."
I relaxed. Just barely. As Ash sat up, still grinning like I’d given him a birthday present.
"She’s deadly," he told the crowd, raising a hand.
Ms. Laria motioned for him to clear the ring.
"Next challenger," she called.
Ace stepped in.
He was already rolling his shoulders and cracking his neck like a pro boxer about to open a championship round. "I’m not my brother. Ill go easy on you," he said.
I rolled my eyes. "Don’t flatter yourself."
What none of them knew was that I was used to having mor ethan one sparring partners and each ti they ca in pairs, after I defeat a set.
Where they always got was when my uncle would ask ten n to fight at once. His reasons were, in battle or in war, you may find yourself in a pinch where you have to fight a lot of people.
"If you cannot hold your own, how do you expect to see the next day?" Uncle Zade would always say.
I had to deal with that kind of life and fights till I won every last one of them.
Ace bowed slightly. "I’ll make sure it hurts less than what you gave my brother."
"You’re welco to try."
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