Chapter 16–Training
MARCIA’S PERSPECTIVE
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The enbin creaked every time someone shifted. It was small, barely big enough for all of us, and smelled like wet earth, herbs, and whatever potion Marcus had spilled onto his blanket. But it
WAS OUTS DOW,
“We’re in the bottom rank?” Hailey huffed, tossing her boots under the bunk. “They stuck you—you, with new recruits?”
“Didn’t think they’d roll out a red carpet,” I said, folding my cloak and stuffing it into the corner. “This isn’t about titles.”
Tony sal cross–legged near the door, scowling, “It should be, You could stop the prince’s heart in a heartbeat. That calls for respect,”
“Or fear,” Abigail added, twirling a dagger around her fingers.
“We’re all on the same side,” I said,
“So, tell us the truth,” Quin said, leaning in. “What happened with Kael?”
“He marked another woman,” I shrugged.
“Piece of shit,” Marcus mullered,
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“We should break his legs,” Hailey suggested.
“And his woman’s,” Quin added.
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“You will do no such thing. Semaria would’ve done that by now if I wanted her to,” I stated.
“Of course,” Abigail said. “Your best friend.”
I smiled.
Xayden smirked from his bunk. “More importantly, Marcia, what’s going on between you and Prince Brooding?”
“Dravic?” I blinked, my face flushing. “Absolutely nothing. He’s Arthur and Ryke’s friend. That’s all.”
“Sure,” Laura drawled. “You just share long, meaningful glances and get assigned with his troops. No big deal.”
“He doesn’t even look at me that way.”
“Then you’re blind,” Abigail said flatly.
I sighed and sat on the edge of my bunk. “It’s not like that. He’s helping me because he respects my family, not because of anything else. Let it go.”
There was a pause.
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Then all of them started making kissing sounds, making me bury my face in my hands. I laughed, shaking my head. “It’s not like that,” I sighed, glancing at them.
“Why are you here, then? I think you just want an excuse to be around him,” Laura teased.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m here because this land, this place, it’s where my father died. Where Arthur Ryke fell. I will not allow their sacrifice to go to waste.”
They fell quiet now. Then slowly, Xayden grinned. “Nice way to hide your crush on the prince.”
I sighed, giving up.
The next morning, Dravic called us to the training grounds. Recruits gathered in messy rows, half–asleep and unarmed. I stood at the side with my companions, arms folded, watching Dravic pace in front of the group like a hunting wolf.
“This is not a game,” he barked. “You’re not soldiers just because you wear a badge. You’re soldiers when you can hold your own on the field. When you know how to fight beside the person next to you, not just for yourself.”
A few recruits shuffled their feet. One yawned.
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Dravic turned to me. “Marica. Join me.”
I blinked. “What?”
“We’ll demonstrate. Sparring.”
I stepped forward without hesitation. I’d been practising for some time now.
The crowd cleared a wide circle. Dravie tossed me a wooden training blade. I caught it easily.
“No magic,” he said.
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I replied.
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He lunged first. I dodged, the wooden blade slicing past the air near my shoulder. He was fast. Fluid. Almost elegant in the way he moved. But I wasn’t a little girl training with him in our backyard anymore.
I met his strike with one of my own, our blades colliding with a sharp snap. I let mine linger against his just a little too long, enough for the sound to echo, enough for his eyes to flicker to
mine.
I stepped in, close enough that our chests brushed. My hand slid down his arm as I moved past him, my fingers grazing his wrist. His breath caught, a hint of heat flashing behind his gaze.
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He came at me again, faster this time, more focused. I let him push me back—just a step—then shifted my weight, tilting my chin so his eyes would follow the curve of my neck instead of my
stance.
And they did.
Using the moment, I pivoted. His hand brushed my waist, and I let my fingers graze the back of his neck as I ducked beneath his arm. My breath fanned against his jaw before I turned, and Dravic stilled for a second too long.
I knocked his leg out from under him.
He hit the ground with a heavy thud, and the crowd erupted behind us. Cheers. Laughter. Surprise.
Dravic stared up at me, blinking once, then raised a brow—green eyes flashing with something I couldn’t quite name.
I stood over him, catching my breath.
Dravic got to his feet, a dry smirk on his face. “Not bad.”
“Been practising,” I said lightly.
He stepped closer to me, gaze locking with mine. “Your belt,” he said, hooking a finger into it, pulling me close.
I sucked in a breath, staring up at him, my heart skipping a beat.
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His eyes turned black for a split second. Dravic leaned in, pretending to fix my belt. “Next time,” he murmured near my ear, “be careful what you start. Two can play this game, Marcia Xendale.”
Then he turned to the recruits, casual, like he hadn’t just sent waves of heat through me.
“Marica Xendale is your new squad leader. She’ll be in charge of training you for the next few weeks. Learn from her. And pray you never end up on the wrong side of her blade.”
That evening, I found him near the strategy tent, reviewing a map with two scouts.
“You didn’t need to do that,” I said quietly when they left.
Dravic glanced at me. “Do what?”
“Put me in the spotlight. Assign me a rank. Lose to me.”
“You earned it. And I didn’t lose to you on purpose. You beat me. Fair and square.”
I raised my brows. “Fair and square?”
Dravic smirked, shrugging. “You used your strength against my
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weakness. That’s what fighting is all about.”
“If you used your actual physical strength–”
“Then you could’ve used magic.”
“Still. You didn’t have to let me show it like that.”
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He studied me for a long beat. “You need to be seen, Marcia. They respect you because of who your father was. Now they’ll respect you because of who you are.”
I hesitated. “You didn’t need to train them yourself either. You’re above that.”
“Some things aren’t about rank.”
He wasn’t saying it, but I knew. He’d done this for me. So I could stand in front of those recruits and lead them. So I could start becoming what I needed to be.
“Thank you,” I said quietly.
Dravic opened his mouth—but then froze. His head tilted, and he closed his eyes.
He was receiving a mind–link from one of his pack members. Werewolves could contact their alpha telepathically. And Dravic was the Alpha of Darknight.
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“What is it?”
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He blinked. “It’s confirmed. Rum and the West Kingdom have allied. I have evidence. We need to inform the King now.”
He moved to turn, but then paused and reached into his coat.
“This is for you,” he said, handing me a sealed letter. “Read it somewhere private. It’s intelligence from my spies in the north. About the village massacre. Eunice blamed it on rebels.”
I held the letter like it was fire.
“Why give this to me?” I asked. “I thought you wanted me to stay out of all this.”
“You deserve to know the truth about what really happened. And why your family paid the price.”
He didn’t wait for my answer. Just turned and walked into the night.
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