It was too late to take back what I said, but now there were more pressing things to worry about than snooping through one of Dain’s old journals. With how long he’s been alive, there had to be hundreds. I knew what made this one special, even though it failed to answer the question I desperately wanted to know.I’d made a huge mistake, I realized as Dain’s shoulders tensed and he turned my way.“You saw those memories during Iridian because of your progression in the game and how close you were to unraveling the curse…but I made sure no one would ever uncover that particular memory. How do you know of it?”The stars in his eyes blinked out, taking with them his sanity. I could hear his voice in my head. The voice of the man who had scribbled relentlessly in that leather-bound journal until the tip of the pen broke through the page. Ranting about the slippery voice in his head, like the sharp edge of a razor. S

I was still amped up from last night when I went to train with Helios the next day. Being knocked onto my ass was a taste of payback I could have lived without, and it hurt a lot more than I thought.Helios mistook my ferocity for enthusiasm and continued to spar with me, stopping every couple of seconds to show me a new offensive move. Even though I doubted I’d develop hardcore warrior skills, it was becoming easier to keep up with him.He swung his beefy arm out much faster than he had the last four times. My curls blurred into ringlets of flame as I ducked and jabbed a fist into his ribcage. I didn’t use all the strength coursing through me, both from Rayna and my magic. Helios hadn’t hurt me yet, though he’d come close a time or two swinging his fists like a madman.Twenty minutes into sparring, when my lungs began to ache and my muscles burned, I felt a pair of eyes latch onto me. They turned the sweat coating my body ice cold until

“Well, I’m stuck here. No need to keep me waiting in suspense.” I said, making no moves to touch the food in front of me.I wasn’t all that hungry, haven eaten a couple of hours ago since physical and magical training always left starving. The roasted chicken and savory sides paled in comparison to the tiered cake and pastries, which I reminded me of my moms cooking even though the fruits and flavors were entirely different.“I did some hunting. Went through my network of spies and found someone who knew someone who knows one of the Russo sibling’s guards. It was very tedious, and very time consuming.” He explained, “I popped in to give them a message, that I can’t help but accept their convincing invitation. That’s why I couldn’t speak with you, spying requires my full attention.”“And that’s why you threw me on my ass?” I narrowed my eyes.His eyes twinkled, &ldquo

Everything happened in the span of seconds. He lifted both his hands, and every projectile I’d sent rushing through the air was violently flung backwards with much more strength than I could ever manage. Shampoo bottles exploded against the wall, one of the wicker benches shattered on impact, and the vase went soaring out the window, taking the flowers with it.I could feel fatigue begin to weigh my arms and legs down, so with the last bit of magic I had, I sent it right towards Dain’s chest. The best I could manage was a rough shove, but that was all I needed to make him stumble over the edge of the pool.Turns out I wasn’t the only one with tricks up my sleeve. I got a taste of my own medicine when something shoved me forward, and Dain’s outstretched hand latched onto the towel wrapped around my torso. There was no time to brace myself as I was ripped forwards, slamming into his chest the same moment I felt the cooled bathwater hit my skin.

I slept better that night than I had in weeks and woke the next morning ready for training. There was a nervous flutter in my stomach that hadn’t been there before but left me feeling lightheaded whenever I thought of Dain or what happened last night.The word ‘virgin’ circled around my head, still refusing to sink in even though I had slept on it all night.Adley and I had just finished breakfast when Leslie knocked on the door and peeked her head inside.I had spent the last half hour shoveling fruits and tartlets into my mouth to avoid Adley’s interrogation, so I was more than ready to get out of the suite. The last thing I wanted to hear about was the other outcomes she had seen.Still, letting her make her own assumptions was turning out to be another mistake entirely. If I heard the words, “passionate angry sex” one more time I swore I’d go running from the room.“The king needs both of you for