As soon as we stepped out of the infirmary, the tension that had been boiling inside me broke loose, and I couldn't help but laugh. Aeliana joined in, her laughter ringing out in the empty hallway, a sound that was both sweet and intoxicating.
There was something about the absurdity of the situation, about the fact that we'd nearly gotten caught in such a compromising position, that made it impossible not to laugh.
The way her eyes sparkled when she laughed, the way her lips curled into that smile, it was enough to make me forget every ounce of my usual bravado.
"Did you see her face?" Aeliana managed between fits of laughter, clutching her sides as she tried to catch her breath.
"Yeah," I grinned, wiping a tear from my eye. "I thought she was going to kick us both out on our asses."
Aeliana's laughter slowed, her gaze meeting mine, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop. Her cheeks were still flushed from the laughter or maybe from the kiss we'd shared just minutes before and her hair was a bit disheveled, a few loose strands falling into her face.
I had the sudden urge to reach out, to brush that hair away, to touch her again, to kiss her again.
But it wasn't just the laughter that was making my heart race. As my gaze traveled lower, I caught sight of the hickey on her neck, a dark bruise that was unmistakably my doing.
The sight of it stirred something primal inside me, a possessive thrill that made my blood run hot. The thought of my fangs grazing her skin, of biting down and leaving a mark that would be much more permanent than a simple bruise, made my breath catch.
Aeliana noticed my gaze and reached up to touch the spot on her neck, her fingers brushing lightly over the bruise. "You left a mark," she said softly, her voice tinged with something that sounded like both surprise and… pleasure?
"Yeah," I replied, my voice low, almost a growl. "I did."
Before I could say anything else before I could act on the wild thoughts running through my head Leora appeared, striding down the hallway like she owned the place, which, to be fair, she practically did.
Her eyes were sharp, taking in the scene in front of her with a look that was far too knowing for my liking.
"Ciara," she said, her tone all business, but there was an undercurrent of something else, something that set me on edge. "I've been looking for you. You're supposed to be finishing up the training with the soldiers, not hiding out in the infirmary."
I opened my mouth to protest, to say something about the injury Nathaniel had caused, but she cut me off with a wave of her hand. "Don't even try it. I know you, and I know when you're faking it."
I clutched at my side, pretending to wince as if the pain was too much to bear. "Come on, Leora, I'm hurt. You can't expect me to—"
"Shut up," Leora snapped, rolling her eyes. "You're a demon, Ciara. A little scratch like that isn't going to keep you down. Stop acting like a child and get back to work."
I glared at her, but there was no real heat behind it. She was right, of course. The wound wasn't that bad, and it was already healing thanks to my demon blood.
But that didn't mean I was eager to jump back into the training session, especially with the way my head was still spinning from everything that had just happened.
Leora's gaze shifted to Aeliana, and for a moment, her expression softened just a little. But then her eyes zeroed in on the hickey on Aeliana's neck, and a wicked smirk spread across her face.
"Well, well," Leora drawled, her voice dripping with amusement. "What do we have here? Looks like someone's been having a bit of fun."
Aeliana's cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of red, and she looked away, clearly embarrassed. I could feel the heat rising in my own cheeks, but I forced myself to maintain eye contact with Leora, refusing to back down.
"Oh, don't worry," Leora continued, her smirk widening. "I'm not judging. In fact, I think it's rather adorable. But just remember, Ciara, that you have a job to do. You can't spend all your time making out with your little friend here."
My jaw clenched, but I forced myself to stay calm, to keep my temper in check. Leora was pushing my buttons, and she knew it. She always did. But I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of seeing me lose my cool.
"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, waving her off. "I'll get back to it. Just give me a minute."
Leora chuckled, clearly amused by my frustration. "Don't take too long," she said, her tone teasing. "We wouldn't want the soldiers to think you've gone soft, now would we?"
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving me and Aeliana standing there in the hallway, the tension between us thick enough to cut with a knife.
For a moment, we just stood there in silence, neither of us knowing what to say. The playful mood from earlier had vanished, replaced by an awkwardness that made my skin crawl.
I could still feel the ghost of her lips on mine, the heat of her body pressed against me, and it was taking all of my willpower not to reach out and pull her back into my arms.
But I couldn't. Not here. Not now.
"I should go," I said finally, my voice rougher than I intended. "Leora's right. I've got work to do."
Aeliana nodded, her expression unreadable. "Yeah," she said softly. "I should probably… go too."
There was something in her voice, something that made my chest tighten, but I pushed it aside, refusing to let myself dwell on it. I couldn't afford to get caught up in feelings not now, not ever.
"Later then," I said, turning on my heel and heading back towards the training grounds. I didn't look back, didn't let myself think about the look on her face, the way she had seemed so… vulnerable. I couldn't think about it, couldn't let myself care.
Not if I wanted to keep things simple. Not if I wanted to avoid getting hurt or hurting her.
The walk back to the training grounds felt longer than usual, the tension from the encounter with Leora still lingering in the air. I could feel the weight of what had just happened pressing down on me, but I shoved it aside, focusing on the task at hand.
I needed to get my head back in the game, to push all those confusing emotions out of my mind.
When I finally arrived at the training grounds, the soldiers were still there, waiting for me. They looked up as I approached, their expressions a mix of curiosity and confusion.
I could tell they were wondering why I'd disappeared, why I hadn't finished the session earlier. Normally, I would've snapped at them, told them to mind their own business, but today… today I didn't have it in me.
"Alright, listen up," I called out, my voice carrying across the field. "We're going to pick up where we left off. No more messing around. Let's see what you're made of."
The soldiers snapped to attention, their eyes fixed on me as I made my way to the center of the field. I could feel the familiar rush of adrenaline start to build, the thrill of the fight coursing through my veins. This was what I needed something to focus on, something to drown out the chaos in my head.
The first soldier stepped forward, his sword raised, and I met his gaze with a fierce grin. "Come on," I taunted, my voice low and dangerous. "Show me what you've got."
The soldier lunged at me, his movements quick and precise, but I was faster. I sidestepped his attack, my own sword flashing in the sunlight as I struck back. The clash of metal against metal rang out, the sound sharp and clear in the still air.
I could feel the familiar rhythm of the fight taking over, my body moving on instinct, every move calculated and deliberate.
We traded blows, each strike coming faster and harder than the last, but I was always one step ahead. The soldier was good better than most but he was no match for me. I could see the determination in his eyes, the way he was pushing himself to the limit, but it wasn't enough. It would never be enough.
With a final, powerful strike, I knocked the sword from his hand, sending it clattering to the ground. He stumbled back, his chest heaving with exertion, but I didn't let up. I moved in, my sword at his throat, forcing him to yield.
"Good," I said, my voice cold and detached. "But not good enough. Remember hesitation will get you killed. You need to be faster, stronger, more decisive. Got it?"
The soldier nodded, his expression grim as he retrieved his sword and stepped back. I could see the frustration in his eyes, the disappointment at having failed, but I didn't care. This was about survival, not feelings.
They needed to be ready for anything, and I wasn't going to coddle them.
One by one, the soldiers stepped forward to face me, each one determined to prove themselves, but none of them could match me. I could feel the tension easing
with every fight, the weight of my earlier encounter with Aeliana slowly lifting as I lost myself in the familiar rhythm of the battle.
By the time the last soldier had fallen, I was drenched in sweat, my muscles burning with exertion, but I felt… better. Clearer. The confusion and doubt that had been gnawing at me were gone, replaced by the familiar satisfaction of a job well done.
As I dismissed the soldiers and watched them file out of the training grounds, I couldn't help but think about Aeliana, about the kiss we'd shared, about the way she'd looked at me when we'd parted ways.
There was something there, something I couldn't quite put my finger on, but I wasn't sure I wanted to.
For now, I had a job to do, and that was all that mattered. The rest… well, I'd deal with that later.