Chapter 16

A fter two weeks of relentless training, Kaxim stood before Liana on the palace roof, the sun casting lengthy shadows as it dipped toward the horizon.

Sweat glistened on her brow, her chest heaving from their final sparring session.

He sliced his eyes from her allure, his expression unreadable, heart jolting.

He hissed under his breath to stop the reaction, clenching fists, yet a flicker of pride warmed him inside.

‘You’ve come a long way,’ he said, his utterance gruff. ‘Your skills are up to par with many a skilled warrior.’

His hands fidgeted, his fingers tapping on the hilt of his sword.

His restlessness signaled the internal struggle as he resisted reaching for her touch and her soft skin against his own.

She met his gaze, her eyes filled with satisfaction and an undecipherable gleam that tugged at him.

‘ Sante ,’ she replied, her voice muted. ‘I couldn’t have done it without you.’

He nodded, though a nagging suspicion lingered in his mind. Her progress had been nothing short of extraordinary.

She’d soaked up lessons, moves, and parries with an uncanny speed, almost as if a shadow spirit guided her, sharpening her abilities every day.

He suspected the essence of Khiron in her had reactivated, but he kept his thoughts to himself; whatever had aided her was welcome, and the results were undeniable.

She was fokkin’ alluring with a blade, and when they’d practiced, their gazes had clashed, driving him wild, a distraction he didn’t need while training her.

Worse, her lithe body moved with fluidity, casting a hypnotizing spell on him.

The heat of their drill session caused a light sheen of sweat on her skin, mingling with the sweet scent of vanilla from her hair.

The combination was intoxicating, adding to the already enticing aura around her.

And the sound of her ragged breaths, mixed with his own, had only fueled the fire burning between them.

When their bodies had brushed against each other, igniting sparks of desire, he’d struggled to maintain his focus, knowing that this forbidden attraction could only lead to danger.

Now, he was forced to make a decision because he couldn’t freakin’ continue like this.

Clearing his throat, he searched for the correct phrasing, glaring at the sword he was cleaning in a trough on the palace roof.

Light from the sinking sun glinted off her magenta and scarlet tresses and onto his weapon as she washed her hands beside him.

‘I have to return to my camp, to my kujāa cadets,’ he murmured with a reluctance he hadn’t expected.

Her body froze under the stream of falling water, her face clouded with shock. ‘You’re leaving?’

‘ Naam ,’ he growled. ‘My warriors need me.’

‘But I need you. I’m not ready.’

A panicked tone had laced its way into her voice.

Kaxim straightened and faced Liana, crossing his arms over his chest.

His piercing gaze softened as he parsed the weight of her doubts.

She was pacing before him, running her fingers through her scarlet hair.

Her steps faltered, and for a moment, her uncertainty leaked. He couldn’t let that stand.

‘Liana,’ the Commander grunted, his deep timbre cutting through the silence. ‘You think this is just about battles? Just about bloodshed and combat tactics?’

She paused, her eyes meeting his, unsure of where he was going.

He stepped forward, closer to her, and continued.

‘It’s not just the fighting. You’ve already proven yourself a thousand times over. From what I’ve witnessed, you’ve got the foresight to lead, to guide this broken kingdom through the wreckage. Do you think any of those Councilors or war generals have the vision you do? Nada . They only recognize victory or defeat on the battlefield. But you—you perceive the bigger picture. Because Khiron lives in you, the majestic Eagle has been resurrected in you.’

He was leaning in now, his intensity radiating, yet a gentleness hovered beneath his words, something reassuring. ‘You know this isn’t about just winning wars. It’s about restoring the land, about healing the people. It’s about recognizing the scars left behind after the blood dries and understanding that that’s where the real work begins. You have a beautiful, kind heart, Liana, and because of it, you’ll not just be the queen who fights—you’ll be the monarch who rebuilds.’

He noted how Liana’s breath caught, her doubts wavering and continued. ‘With your kríffin insight, you have the gift of discerning beyond the sword. Knowing when to use it and when to lay it down. You know how to forge alliances, even with people you’ve never trusted. Hell, you did it with me,’ he smirked. ‘You’re going to unite this kingdom like no one ever has. Bringing enemies to the same table—that’s not just a skill. That’s diplomacy. That’s leadership.’

Her eyes softened, but he wasn’t finished. ‘But your greatest ability? It’s not your rapier. It’s your compassion. To stir it up even more, you’ll need to interact with your people, understand their pain, and hear their stories. You can listen. You know how to heal, Liana. Don’t rule from a throne, far away from the reality of what they’ve suffered. It would be best if you got to the coalface with them. Walk among them and get a sense of their heartbeat. You, in turn, will draw strength and confidence from it.’

Kaxim’s voice lowered, still laced with urgency. ‘In times like these, they need hope. They require a steady leader who can bridge the past and the future. That’s you, Liana. You carry the history of this land in your bones, but you also know what has to be done to secure its destiny.’

Liana’s lips parted as if to speak, but Kaxim shook his head. ‘Fokk, you’ve earned the respect of everyone around you—your generals, your council. Even me,’ he rasped. ‘Do you think I’d dedicate weeks to someone I didn’t believe in? Do you think I’d have agreed to train you if I didn’t know you were the right leader for this kingdom? You’re the queen this land needs.’

She slow-blinked, and he continued. ‘See yourself like I do, for you are stronger, wiser, and more capable than you realize. The people? They’re not just looking to you for orders. They’re seeking hope and guidance. And they have faith in you; otherwise, they won’t have hunted you down in the first place.’

He paused, his gaze piercing. ‘I believe in you.’

A breathless silence fell between them, and the weight of his words settled in his heart.

He’d surprised himself.

His personality was reticent, and he was often reluctant to speak what was on his mind unless he had to. Yet he’d laid it out in front of her with a sincerity that shook even him.

‘ Sante ,’ she whispered, her voice raw with emotion.

Kaxim gave a half-shrug, uncomfortable with the gratitude, but grumbled, ‘Don’t forget it. This kingdom can’t afford for you to neglect who you are.’

Silence fell.

‘I have to leave now,’ he repeated. ‘Will you be OK?’

She lifted her shoulders and canted her face to him, jerking her chin. ‘I’ll be fokkin’ fantastic,’ she murmured, though the sadness in her eyes was impossible to miss.

He smirked at her choice of words but hesitated, torn between duty and something he couldn’t quite name.

The thought of leaving her—of ending the day-long sessions they’d shared on this very rooftop—made his chest tighten.

But he couldn’t let that show. He couldn’t allow her to perceive how much he had come to look forward to those hours together.

The mere sight of her each morning caused a flood of emotions to surge through him, electrifying and almost unbearable.

He fought against the physical reaction, trying to maintain control and downplay his desires.

But his body betrayed him, responding to her like a wild animal, primal and uncontrollable. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, willing his traitorous cock to resist her pull.

‘If you ever need me, reach out,’ he told her, his voice hardening as he tried to separate himself from the feelings that threatened to surface.

The words had slipped out before he stopped them, and he cursed. He could ill afford to fall for anyone, least of all her.

But even as his mind fought to keep his distance, his heart whispered that she was one in a million.

He’d never been one for relationships or women; he found them all frivolous, distracting from his chosen path. But her courage and grit shifted something deep within him, cracking the walls he’d built around his spirit.

They shared one last silent meal.

Liana spent most of it with her eyes on her plate.

When she did look up, it was to exchange tiny, uncertain smiles with him.

So much was left unsaid, unspoken, and unmet.

She had the grit to navigate the coming days without him by her side.

So why didn’t he want to leave?

The reality hit hard, and his heart sank.

She lingered as he packed his few meager belongings into the same leather suitcase he’d brought.

‘Fare the well, soldier,’ she saluted him when he strode to stand before her, the wind whipping the rooftop they stood on and fluttering their cloaks.

He chose silence and a short, sharp bow.

With a curse under his breath, fighting the urge to fold her in his arms, he leaped and lifted off into the skies.

He raced off with a driving beat of his rachís , driven to put distance between them. As he soared higher, the Ilkanisa shrinking below him, he tried to focus on his duties, on the soldiers awaiting his return.

But no matter how hard he attempted, the vision of her lingered.

He took one last glance and found her, crimson wings outstretched, hovering above the palace, one wing raised in a final homage.

Fokk!

Why did his heart throb as he banked and disappeared into the heavens?

The question gnawed at him, the answer slipping through his grasp like the wind rushing past him.

He pushed onward, ready to forget her, yet the longing in his chest refused to be silenced.

With the horizon stretching before him, he couldn’t help but wonder if leaving her behind was the biggest mistake he’d ever made.

Liana’s eyes followed his departure, an empty ache in her soul.

The time spent with him had been so intense.

They’d trained together to the extent they’d flowed into one another with such ease it’d blown her mind.

Her thoughts lingered on Kaxim as Liana roamed alone in the Ilkanisa’s halls, her thoughts racing, thinking about what Kaxim had shared with her, the challenge he’d put to her.

She wandered the grand palace, a testament to Ilkan’s prosperity and rich history.

The marble floors gleamed beneath her feet, and the walls were adorned with intricate art depicting the exploits of past rulers. As she made her way through the opulent halls, Liana was overwhelmed by awe and reverence for those who had come before her.

Needing real, tangible context and mulling Kaxim’s advice, she marched to her quarters and found Ja’Kan seated at his desk in her private den.

‘I want to walk the city,’ she told him. ‘Tomorrow at dawn.’

‘My Kwen? ?’ he asked, half-rising to his feet, puzzled.

‘I need to understand what I’m fighting for,’ she grunted.

‘Are you certain this is wise, my queen?’ Ja’Kan asked, his tone respectful but edged with concern. ‘The city’s people may not be as welcoming as the palace thinks.’

‘I have to know, Ja’Kan,’ Liana replied, her voice firm. ‘I can’t stay in residence, blind to what’s happening outside. How can I be their monarch if I don’t grasp their struggles?’

Ja’Kan nodded and bowed. ‘I’ll arrange an escort for you.’