Scars and Burns (No Light Without the Dark #1)

37. Dinalia

37

Dinalia

I wake early. Same as I always do. The sun shining into my room from my balcony. Blinding my eyes. I rub them, wishing it hadn’t risen.

Wishing I hadn’t risen for the day.

Did last night really happen?

Did King Elio really announce I was seeking a husband. Transferring every eye in my direction, in more ways than one. As if they weren’t already on me enough.

Did I really dance with Prince Aeron? Leaning into his arms. Letting him guide me around the dance floor. Giving into his touch. His voice.

Remembering what he said to me before he left. Disappearing for the evening.

“It wasn’t easy for me to stay away. I wanted to come to you every single day.Wanted to get lost in your eyes, those black dahlia eyes of yours. While I wrap you in my arms. Never to let you go. But there is more afoot here than you realize. I cannot allow myself to be distracted or swayed by my own desires.”

What is afoot? Do the Shadowlands have something else planned? Did they not come in peace?

Pushing those questions from my mind. If I don’t I’ll never move forward.

I lay there. Staring at my ceiling. Trying to find the motivation to start the day.

I have no idea what the day entails for the celebrations. Not sure what I am expected to attend.

Not wanting to go out of my way to be involved in the celebrations, I think I’ll go train.

Stretching my arms over my head. Leaning to one side and then the other. Getting a few good cracks out of my spine. Tossing my covers to the side. I leave my bed. Heading for the bathroom to relieve myself and ready for the day.

Putting on my normal trousers and tunic for training. I stare at myself in the mirror. My face is the same as it was but I’m seeing my eyes a little differently after last night.

Perhaps it was the makeup Saphrina put on my face. But I know what it really is.

Aeron.

His comment, my black dahlia eyes.

What is a black dahlia? Why did he compare those to my eyes? It has to have something to do with the color.

My eyes widen in realization. Dahlia, it’s a plant. The flower. The only plant I’ve ever been able to grow. They’re the exact same color. The same deep purple.

I don’t know how he knows of them but I intend to find out.

My body is antsy. I need to train.

Grabbing my blades I make my way to the training hall.

No one is there but me. That’s quite alright. I prefer to train alone anyway.

Starting with my normal stretching and warm up movements. I sharpen my blades. Since I’m not currently facing an opponent there’s no need to worry about harming anyone.

“Why am I not surprised to find you here?”

I whip my head to the voice. It’s my old fighting master, Christopher. I smile, huffing at his sarcasm of my presence in the training hall.

“I heard of King Elio’s announcement. Shouldn’t you be out with some nobleman trying to secure a proposal?”

“Huh, a proposal I’m not even sure I want.”

He grabs his sword and begins to sharpen it himself. I watch his movements. He intends to spar. Knowing I’ve already sharpened my own. Also knowing fighting is one of the few ways I distract myself.

“You sure you don’t want to talk about it?”

Over the years he and I have become quite acquainted with one another. He was the same Fae that I flew here with from the Celestial Realm. True, first he was cold and callous towards me. Beating me down with gruesome training. But after witnessing my work ethic and determination. We slowly began to respect the other. For fighting abilities and in personal regards. Having spent nearly everyday together. He’s a worthy opponent and an occasional confidant.

“Please, you know me better than that.”

“True, I do but I don’t believe this is something you can fight your way out of or push away.”

We both stand. Walking over to one another, taking our fighting stances. “Plus,” he continues, “This is the first court matter that actually involves you and requires a decision… from you.”

Our blades clash. The ringing of steel meeting steel filling the air.

“If you are so well informed. You should know I have the choice to leave the Middle Kingdom. Meaning I may not have to marry at all. Marrying a noble is a requirement of King Elio for me to be allowed to stay in his kingdom.” I say through gritted teeth as our blades meet again .

“Why give you the option? If he wants you gone.” Sweat begins to line his brow.

“Your guess is as good as mine.”

His technique is still impeccable. Never wavering in his movements.

“I must say I am surprised you are even considering it. I would have thought you wanted to leave the Middle Kingdom. Following Princess Saphrina to the Celestial Realm would have been my first guess.”

We are in a stand still. Our blades locked.

“I’m not sure if I want to continue to live in a palace at the mercy of another. Though Saphrina would never cast me aside, this I know. She will still only be second to Prince Proteus. Fourth really, with his parents are still in good health.”

We push off of one another. Both taking a few steps back. He’s distracting me. Drawing out the sparring match in order to get me to talk. “I know what you’re doing.”

Smiling, he says, “Oh and what is that?”

I swing my blades. Still preferring my dual blades over a single. “You’re holding back. Making conversation. Getting me to talk.”

“You always talk when you fight.”

“Not about things like this I don’t”

We are striking back and forth at this point. Neither of us actually wanting, or willing, to harm the other.

“Fair point, but it has gotten you talking. Based on what you already said you don’t want either. You don’t want to marry and stay in the Middle Kingdom nor do you wish to return to the Celestial Realm.”

“You are right.” I admit.

“So, I ask, what do you intend to do?”

Our blades clanking against one another. Echoing throughout the hall.

“Well, the obvious choice is to leave the three realms all together. Start a new life away from all of this. No whispers or rumors following me.”

Our blades meet in the middle. His teeth are bared. My jaw is clenched. Sweat on both of our brows at this point.

Locked, neither of us backing down.

“What have we here?” A voice questions from across the room.

We both turn our gaze to find Saphrina and Prince Aeron standing in the entryway. Dropping our weapons and bowing our heads.

I am dumbfounded. Not sure what to make of Prince Aeron being here, and Saphrina being with him and not with Prince Proteus.

My eyes meet Aeron’s. A solemn conversation happening between the two of us. Neither of us knowing what it means.

Saphrina’s eyes dart between us, before beginning, “Prince Aeron, I believe you met my sister, Lady Dinalia, yesterday at the Greeting and then at the Welcome Masquerade Ball.”

He smiles over to her, “Yes, I believe I did.” Then turning his gaze to Christopher, “And her companion?”

“This is Christopher. Our fighting master.”

“Fighting master?” Aeron says, raising a brow. “He’s trained you both?”

Christopher and I look at each other. Not sure where Prince Aeron is going with this inquisition.

“Well, yes but Dinalia mastered fighting years ago. I never got the hang of it.”

Aeron returns his gaze to me. Looking me up and down. Studying my blades.

“Mastered dual swords? Interesting, few women tend to want to wield one let alone two.”

I lift my chin a little higher, “I found myself out of step with a single sword. With my dual blades I am at harmony with my fighting. Dismantling any opponent I come across. ”

He walks over to me. Standing much too close for comfort and much too close for what is considered to be appropriate. I glare up at him. Tension building in the room. Though his expression is soft.

The same burning in my chest forms. The need to feel him touch me fills my mind. For him to fill me with his warmth. The warmth I constantly think about. The warmth only he has ever provided.

“I should like to spar.”

I stutter, “with me?”

“Yes. Right now.”

“Now? Don’t you have some royal celebration or activity to attend for my sister’s wedding?”

He glances back to Saphrina. He would have hit me with his shoulder if I had not stepped away.

I step around him. Looking over to Saphrina.

“N-nothing is pressing. We have time.” she says with a shaky voice.

“Excellent!” Aeron exclaims, removing his jacket.

I watch the action diligently, though I know I shouldn’t. Opening the panels of his jacket even further, his broad muscular chest exposing itself as his tunic shifts underneath. The jacket getting caught on his large biceps. Forcing him to reach around behind himself to remove the sleeve by the cuff. Gracefully, pulling the rest off and walking over to the rack of weapons against the wall .

I glare over at Saphrina. Giving her a look.

She mouths the word sorry to me. Shrugging her shoulders, glancing over to Prince Aeron.

I glance over at Christopher. Him and I share a look. Both exhaling in unison.

Aeron is already standing on the other side of the mat. Sword in hand. Saphrina walks over to the viewing bench. I start walking over to the opposite side of the mat when I’m stopped by Christopher.

He grabs my bicep, whispering in my ear, “I’ve never seen him fight but his reputation is not something to take lightly. This may just be sparring but do not allow him to win. I know you have plenty of tricks and your own developed skills. Not wanting to expose them, I understand. But now would be the time to use them.”

Our eyes meet. Seriousness on both of our faces. I nod at him. Understanding what he is saying. He releases my arm and heads to the viewing bench with Saphrina.

I stand opposite Aeron on the training mat. Both are blades drawn. “Ready?” He asks.

Smiling, I huff, “Are you?”

He matches my grin, “More than you know.”

We circle each other at first. Each of our steps matched the other’s. Keeping our distance.

Then he lunges, making the first move.

I dodge. I am smaller and faster than he is. I will not evade the entire time but I can still tire him out before giving anything away.

He moves quickly. Faster than I was expecting. Hitting my lip with his elbow. Breaking skin, I taste crimson in my mouth.

“Do not think you will tire me out. My… endurance is quite good.” He smirks.

Our blades crash together. Constant ringing fills the air. I hear Saphrina gasp. For who, I’m not really sure.

Blades locked together. This is going on too long. It’s time for a change. He could easily overpower me. His strength alone would send me into the ground. He’s holding back.

Why?

I push off of him, swirling around him so our backs meet and I am behind him. Quickly, while his eyes are off of my blades I bring the heels of them together. Clicking them into place to form my double edged sword.

By the time he is facing me again, I am already maneuvering my weapon in a completely different manner. He falters. Putting me in the offensive position. He’s walking backwards now. Nearly at the edge of the mat.

“That’s a neat trick.”

Just as I think I am about to have the upper hand the tides change just as fast. He begins swinging his sword even harder than before. I knew he was holding back. Only using a fraction of his true strength against me.

We lock our blades again. Staring directly into each other’s eyes. Though our height difference makes that a little difficult.

He pushes against me hard. Forcing me to stammer backwards. Feet away, neither of us relenting. Determination in both of our eyes.

It’s time to finish this.

I charge towards him and he does the same. I smirk at him, knowing this is about to end. Using my size to his disadvantage, I slide across the floor onto my back. Right in between his legs. Untwisting the handle of my double edged sword in the act. Not even giving him the opportunity to process what just happened. Leaping to my feet in a matter of seconds. I stand behind him. Pointing my blades directly at his back before he can turn around. He can feel the tip of them grazing his tunic.

Freezing. Arm and sword still in the air.

“Do you concede?” I ask, lifting my chin.

He laughs, “Impressive. Yes, I concede.”

I drop my blades. Taking in some much needed deep breaths. He turns to me. Though I am not able to read his face.

Smiling, flashing his perfectly straight and white teeth, “Mastered indeed.”

Saphrina and Christopher join us. Christopher stands next to me. Giving me a well earned smile. Pride on his face for giving me my start .

“Shall we make our way to breakfast, Prince Aeron?” Saphrina says.

“Yes, of course Princess.” He hands Christopher his sword. Assuming he will put it away.

They begin to exit the training hall. Saphrina stops, turning back to me, “Dinalia, will you be joining us for breakfast?”

I smile at her, “Yes, I will be there momentarily.”

She nods at me. Turning back towards Aeron. As they take their leave.

I don’t know why but my heart seems to sink at the sight of them together.

“Well, done. For a moment I thought he might get the better of you.” Christopher says from across the room. Putting the sword Aeron used away.

“You doubted me?”

“Not your abilities but your focus. Something changed in your eyes when you faced him.” He’s not looking at me but I can just see his brow rising as if he was standing right in front of me. “Care to share?”

I look at the entryway where Aeron and Saphrina just departed. Feeling the wound on the inside of my lip that Aeron just gave me. “There’s nothing to share.”