11. Aldric

11

ALDRIC

T he clang of steel fills the air as Elowen and I clash in the training ring. Her fiery hair whips around, wild like her spirit. She's relentless, each strike more calculated than the last.

"You're getting better," I grunt, parrying her blow with a quick flick of my wrist. The impact reverberates up my arm.

She smirks, eyes glinting with fierce determination. "Maybe you're just getting slower."

"Careful, Elowen," I warn, a hint of a smile tugging at my lips despite myself. "Overconfidence will get you killed."

Her response is a swift kick aimed at my ribs. I barely dodge it, my wings unfurling slightly for balance. She presses on, unyielding, her movements precise and fluid.

Each session with her becomes something I look forward to more than I care to admit. Initially, I intended to train each recruit one-on-one. But after that first session with her... something changed. Her tenacity draws me back time and again.

She spins, her blade aiming for my shoulder. I block it easily, using my height and strength to force her back a step. But she doesn't falter; she meets my gaze head-on, challenging me with those forest green eyes.

"Is that all you've got?" she taunts.

"Not even close," I growl, lunging forward. Our swords clash again in a shower of sparks. Despite the intensity of our sparring, there's an unspoken respect growing between us.

Her determination is admirable. It reminds me of what vrakken are supposed to be, driven by honor and duty. She embodies those qualities more than some vrakken here.

I push harder, testing her limits. She counters each move with an agility that catches me off guard more often than I'd like to admit. She's resourceful, using every trick and tactic to keep me on edge.

As the session ends, we're both breathing heavily, sweat dripping down our faces.

"You did well today," I concede reluctantly, sheathing my sword.

Elowen nods, wiping her brow with the back of her hand. "Thanks," she replies simply.

As we catch our breath, the realization hits me harder than any blow she could land. I'm attracted to her. Not just in the simple manner that she is beautiful — which she is — but I can't stop looking at her, thinking about her.

Craving her.

Her tenacity, her spirit, her unyielding drive — they draw me in like a suru to a trap. It's more than just her fiery hair or the way her eyes flash with determination. It's everything about her.

It's not unusual for vrakken to indulge in their desires. Our kind has always taken what we want, when we want it. But this... this is different. Elowen is human, and I've never been tempted by one before. Yet here I am, considering it.

She stretches, muscles taut beneath her skin, and I can't help but admire the way she moves — like a predator ready to pounce. The thought of indulging with her stirs something primal within me.

"It was a good session," she says, breaking the silence. Her voice is steady, but there's a flicker of something in her eyes—curiosity, perhaps. I have just been standing here staring at her.

I nod, unable to tear my gaze away from her. "You've come a long way since we started."

"Thanks to you," she replies with a hint of sarcasm that makes me smirk.

My mind races with possibilities. I love her sass, and I would love to see how far I could push her — outside the ring. I've never had to hold myself back before. Vrakken are taught our entire lives to indulge, to take what Akeldama has given us.

And I'm starting to think I should do just that with a human…which I've never tried before. But the idea of being with Elowen in such a way is both thrilling and dangerous, and it is starting to consume.

She notices my lingering gaze and raises an eyebrow. "Something on your mind?"

For a moment, neither of us moves. The world around us fades as we stand there, locked in this charged moment.

"I should go," I say finally, though my body is warring with my mind.

"Oh." She nods, unwrapping her hands. "See you tomorrow then."

I turn on my heel without another word, stopping myself from doing anything else stupid. My feet seem to move of their own violation, because the next thing I know, I'm shouldering open the library door and spotting Raziel sprawled out behind his favorite table.

Raziel looks up from his maps as I enter, his dark eyes appraising me. "Aldric," he greets, setting aside his quill. "How goes the training?"

I drop into a chair across from him, still feeling the adrenaline from sparring with Elowen. "Better than expected," I admit. "The humans are... surprising."

"Surprising how?" Raziel asks, leaning back in his chair. His wings shift slightly, a sign of his curiosity.

"They're adaptable. Determined." I hesitate, recalling Elowen's fierce gaze and unyielding spirit. "They're not as weak as I initially thought."

Raziel chuckles, a deep sound that echoes in the library's quiet. "You sound almost impressed."

"Maybe I am," I confess, running a hand through my short-cropped hair. I've had it tied up, now cut close to my skull so that another dark elf can't disrespect me like that on the battlefield. The memory of it being sheared off still stings, a constant reminder of our vulnerability.

Raziel studies me for a moment, then nods slowly. "Humans have their strengths. They're resourceful, resilient."

I can't help but wonder how he ever came to take a human mate. Selene is fierce and capable, yes, but... human. The thought of such an intimate bond with one feels foreign to me.

"Selene taught me that," Raziel continues, as if reading my thoughts. His gaze sharpens, and I sense he's testing me.

I shift in my seat, choosing my words carefully. "Having humans and vrakken so intertwined... it's different. But maybe it's not entirely a bad thing."

Raziel raises an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by my line of thinking. "Go on."

"Well," I begin, trying to articulate what I've been grappling with internally, "their adaptability could be an asset. They bring a fresh perspective to our strategies."

"And?" Raziel prompts.

"And they challenge us," I say finally. "They push us to reconsider our own limitations."

A small smile tugs at Raziel's lips. "You've been sparring with humans."

I nod, unable to hide the respect I've developed for Elowen. "She's — they're — relentless. It's... refreshing."

Raziel's smile widens slightly. "Yes, humans have spirit." But the way he says it seems like he knows I'm talking about one in particular. There's more to his expression than he is letting on.

I glance away, the image of her fierce determination still vivid in my mind. "I suppose you're right." With that, I push back from the table and stand, nodding at Raziel. "I'll see you around."

He gives me a knowing look but says nothing as I leave the library. The sun is up now, the air thick and hot as it hits me when I step outside, and I take a deep breath, trying to clear my head.

That's when I spot her.

Elowen is in the training yard still, guiding another human through a series of drills. Her movements are fluid, precise. Every muscle in her body seems to move with purpose. She's wearing a fitted tunic and pants that cling to her form, and I can't help but admire the way her body shifts with each motion.

Her voice carries over the yard, calm and steady as she instructs the other human. There's a fire in her eyes, a fierce determination that draws me in. She demonstrates a move, then steps back, watching intently as her trainee mimics her actions.

I lean against the wall, arms crossed, watching her work. Each time she moves, my gaze follows the line of her muscles, the way her hair catches the light even in the dimness of our underground home.

Her focus is unwavering. There's no hesitation in her actions, no doubt. It's a quality I can't help but respect.

As she finishes a sequence and steps back to observe, I catch sight of her face—determined, fierce, and utterly captivating. For a moment, I'm lost in the sight of her.

It's not just her physical prowess that impresses me. It's her spirit. Her courage. Despite everything she's been through, she stands tall and strong, unyielding in the face of adversity.

And damn if that isn't alluring.

I watch as she corrects the trainee's stance with a gentle touch, her fingers brushing lightly against their arm. There's something almost tender in the way she teaches, an unexpected softness beneath her fierce exterior.

Elowen catches my eye across the yard and gives me a small nod before returning to her trainee. My chest tightens with an unfamiliar sensation — pride? Admiration? Whatever it is, it feels like it's lodged deep inside me now.

It's become clear that I severely underestimated her. She's courageous, determined — a warrior in her own right.

And every day it's getting harder and harder to resist her.