ALL OF YOU

TWO

•

"ALYRA, what is the purpose of this?" Xadien inquires, the sound of metal slashing against each other makes it difficult to hear him properly.

As our swords clash once more— I reply, "It's important to me. Why can you not see that?" My anger unintentionally seeped through with every stroke of my sword, holding it firmly in my hand, its weight familiar and comforting.

The sun's rays bathe the training yard, with each step, I feel the ground beneath me, adjusting my balance and posture to maintain precision and agility.

The dispute of steel fills the air, an exhilarating melody that only those who have experienced it can truly appreciate.

I defend and attack with swift and calculated movements, anticipating his every action.

"I do see it. I see it clearly, but—" I attack him again, relentlessly, cutting him off. I'm being entirely too intense for a mere training session.

But I can't help the rage that flows through me almost naturally.

Xaiden continues, defending valiantly against me, "But I do not want you to risk your life all because of some foolish vendetta against Kaius—"

"It is not foolish! I thought you of all people would understand that."

Sweat trickles down my brow, the physical exertion matched by mental concentration. My muscles ache, but I push through, channeling the energy into every strike, every parry. The rhythm becomes second nature, the sword an extension of my very being. Xaiden's lacking, his exhaustion taking its toll.

We have been at it for 3 hours.

"Why not go back to Sitia? I'm sure your parents would love to see you for more than once every month."

His words almost break my concentration as well as my heart.

I hesitate on my next strike. "You don't mean that."

A fatal flaw. In a blink of an eye, Xaiden's outmaneuvered me as he slides his leg under mine, knocking me off my balance in inhumane speed.

I quickly realize as I hit the ground he was merely toying with me. I sigh out of frustration, beaten again.

I was foolish to believe I was actually winning against him. A werewolf. And not just any werewolf, the werewolf prince of Esra.

He steps in front of my line of vision, the sky disappears as only the line of his clean body is visible. His deep copper eyes, staring at me with such gentleness, I almost feel bad for the attitude I had just previously given him.

His long dark brown hair, a mess.

Xaiden Chong has a soft, kind beauty to him, in looks and in personality. He isn't dark and alluring but he is kind and beautiful and gentle. He is everything that the world lacks.

And I love him insanely for it.

"Of course I don't mean it like that, my love." He says, helping me up. "I just worry for you. Especially now. Actively scheming against the prince is a act of treason." He whispers the last part of his words, and I feel a sense of doubt and uncertainty ripe through me but I hastily put it aside.

"I will be fine." I attempt to reassure him.

"I just think that the human realm would be safer for you. Better, even." I shake my head in disagreement.

"And be without you?" I see a flash of sadness flicker in his dark eyes and my body almost wants to collapse. "It will be better." Xaiden repeats.

"Nothing is better than being with you. I thought.. I thought that's what you wanted. What we've both wanted since we were children? To be together."