Hiraeth

Chapter Twenty Three

Sage made her way down to the courtyard, her thoughts swirling with possibilities. She spotted Kade practicing with his sword, the sunlight gleaming off his toned muscles as he struck at the air with precision. He paused when he saw her, a grin spreading across his face.

"Morning, Lady Sage! Ready for another day of glory?" he called, wiping the sweat from his brow.

"Only if you're ready to keep up, Knight," she replied playfully, crossing her arms.

He chuckled, sheathing his sword.
"You've got your work cut out for you. Beckett's been training like he's preparing for war."

"Good. I'd hate for him to get too comfortable," she shot back, her pulse quickening at the mention of the prince.

As Kade led her to the practice area, she noticed other competitors warming up, stretching, and getting ready for the day ahead. But her focus was on the prince. Where was he?
Just as that thought crossed her mind, she turned to see Beckett striding towards them, his dark hair tousled and his expression a mixture of determination and amusement.

"There you are," he said, his eyes locking onto hers. "I was wondering if you were going to show up today."

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Sage replied, her voice steady despite the fluttering in her stomach.

"Good. You'll need all your strength today," Beckett said, stepping closer.

The proximity sent a rush of warmth through her, and she could smell the faint hint of woodsy cologne that made her pulse race.

Kade smirked, sensing the tension. "I'll leave you two to strategize. Don't take too long. We've got competitions to win."

"Of course," Beckett said, his voice low and teasing as Kade walked away. "So, what's the plan, Sage? Do you want to train together, or do you have something else in mind?"

She raised an eyebrow, her heart racing. "Maybe a bit of both? But I'm definitely interested in seeing what you've been working on."

"Then let's start with a warm-up." Beckett moved closer, his body brushing against hers as they began to spar lightly, their swords clashing with a mix of playful jabs and genuine attempts to outmaneuver one another.

As they danced arnund the training ground, Sage felt exhilarated. The air was charged between them, each swipe and parry tinged with the unspoken promise of something more.

Beckett was an impressive fighter-his movements fluid and confident-but it was the way he looked at her, a mixture of challenge and admiration, that drove her wild.

After a few minutes, they took a break, both panting lightly from exertion. Sage leaned against a nearby stone wall, her heart racing as she watched Beckett wipe the sweat from his brow. The sunlight caught the faint freckles scattered across his skin, highlighting the sharp angles of his face.

"You're really getting good at this," he said, a playful glint in his eyes.

"I might have to up my game to keep up with you."

"Is that a compliment I hear?" Sage replied, a grin spreading across her face.

"More like a warning," he shot back, stepping closer. The teasing banter faded, replaced by an electric tension that made Sage's breath hitch.

"Beckett..." she whispered, and in that moment, everything around them faded away. There was no tournament, no competition-just the two of them and the heat that simmered between them.

He reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering against her skin.

"I can't stop thinking about you," he confessed, his voice low and sincere.