The infirmary smelled of antiseptic, a sharp, clean scent that contrasted with the rough edges of the world outside. I sat on the edge of the bed, wincing as the nurse dabbed at the bruises on my face. Her eyes widened with each new mark she discovered, her mouth set in a thin, disapproving line.
"These are serious bruises, Ciara," she said, her voice laced with concern. "What on earth happened to you?"
"Training accident," I muttered, not meeting her gaze. My pride was already wounded enough without having to explain that I got my ass handed to me by Zephara.
The nurse scowled, her hands gentle but firm as she applied ointment to a particularly nasty bruise on my cheek. "This is more than just a training accident. Zephara should know better than to be this rough."
The door to the infirmary swung open, and Leora strode in, her expression unreadable. She looked me over, taking in the bruises and cuts with a critical eye before turning her attention to Zephara, who was leaning casually against the wall.
"Zephara," Leora said, her voice dangerously calm. "What happened here?"
I couldn't resist. With an innocent look, I smirked and said, "Zephara beat me up."
Zephara's eyes narrowed, and she shot me a look that could kill. Leora, however, was already turning on her, anger sparking in her eyes.
"You did what?" Leora's voice rose, and I bit back a grin. "You know better than this, Zephara. She's supposed to be training, not getting pummeled!"
"It wasn't like that," Zephara protested, but Leora cut her off.
"Two weeks on the couch," Leora snapped. "Maybe that will remind you to show some restraint."
Zephara looked genuinely shocked, her mouth opening and closing as she tried to process the punishment. She shot me another glare, but I just chuckled, the sound low and rough in my throat.
"Enjoy the couch," I said, smirking at her as she stormed out of the infirmary.
Leora turned back to me, her eyes softening slightly. "How are you feeling?" she asked, her tone more gentle now.
"I've been better," I admitted, shrugging. "But I'll live."
Leora sighed, sitting down next to me on the bed. "How did it go last night with Aeliana?"
I felt a rush of conflicting emotions at the mention of Aeliana. Images of her flashed through my mind—her body, the way she moved, the fire in her eyes. I quickly shoved those thoughts aside, focusing on the frustration and anger instead.
"It was bad," I said bluntly. "She's impossible."
Leora frowned, clearly not satisfied with my answer. "What happened?"
I hesitated, not wanting to delve into the details. "We argued. A lot. She thinks she can just... tell me what to do."
Leora shook her head. "Ciara, this isn't about control. It's about finding common ground. You need to at least try."
"Try?" I snorted. "She's the last person I want to be stuck with. This whole perfect match thing is a joke."
Leora's eyes hardened. "You can't avoid this forever. One week, that's all I ask. Try to make it work."
"I want my magic back," I demanded. "I need to get back to my missions."
"No," Leora said firmly. "You need to focus on this. Just one week with Aeliana. That's all I'm asking."
I clenched my fists, anger and frustration boiling over. "I don't care about this perfect match crap. I just want my life back."
Leora stood up, her hand coming to rest on my shoulder, right where the bruise throbbed the most. Pain shot through me, and I gasped, glaring up at her.
"Agree with me," Leora said, her voice low and menacing. "Or you won't leave this room."
I stared at her, my mind racing. She meant it. I could see it in her eyes. She wasn't going to let me go until I agreed.
"Fine," I spat out, the word tasting bitter on my tongue. "One week."
Leora nodded, satisfied. "Good. Now rest up. You'll need your strength."
As she walked out of the infirmary, I lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. One week. Seven days with Aeliana. It felt like a prison sentence. But I didn't have a choice. Not if I wanted my magic back. Not if I wanted to get back to my missions and my life.
I closed my eyes, trying to push the frustration and anger aside. But it was no use. The thought of Aeliana, of being forced into this situation with her, gnawed at me. It was going to be a long week. And I wasn't sure if I'd come out of it with my sanity intact.
A few hours later, I got up from the infirmary bed, feeling somewhat better but still sore. Every step reminded me of the beating I had taken, but I gritted my teeth and kept moving. I needed to get back to my car and head home, away from all this nonsense.
As I walked through the winding halls of Leora's castle, the familiar decor and opulence did nothing to improve my mood. All I could think about was getting out of there. But when I finally reached the courtyard, my car was nowhere to be seen.
"Son of a bitch," I muttered under my breath, feeling my frustration boil over. What the hell was going on now? I turned on my heel and marched back into the castle, my pace quickening with every step.
By the time I reached Leora's office, my anger was at a fever pitch. I flung the door open with more force than necessary, and as I barged in, I accidentally shoved Aeliana, who was standing right in the way. She lost her balance and started to fall, but my reflexes kicked in. I caught her before she hit the ground, pulling her against me.
For a moment, everything froze. Aeliana was in my arms, her body pressed close to mine. The heat of the contact was electric, sending a jolt through me. Her eyes widened in surprise, and I could feel her breath against my skin. She smelled like lavender and something sweet, and the way her body fit against mine was maddening. I could feel every curve, every inch of her softness, and it made my pulse race.
Fuck, she felt good. Too good. The kind of good that made me want to forget every reason why this was a bad idea. The kind of good that made me want to push her up against the wall and take her right there. My thoughts were a mess of anger, lust, and confusion. Why did she have to be my perfect match? Why did she have to feel so damn good in my arms?
Aeliana's eyes locked onto mine, and for a split second, I saw something there—something that mirrored my own turmoil. Her lips parted slightly, and it took every ounce of self-control not to lean in and kiss her. My grip on her tightened, my mind racing with a mix of desire and resentment.
Leora's voice cut through the haze. "Ahem."
The sound snapped me back to reality. With a rough shove, I let go of Aeliana, practically throwing her to the floor. She stumbled but caught herself, glaring at me with a mix of anger and something else I couldn't quite place.
"What the hell, Ciara?" she spat, brushing herself off.
I ignored her, turning my attention to Leora. "Where the fuck is my car?" I demanded, my tone sharp and uncompromising.
Leora raised an eyebrow, looking entirely unimpressed with my outburst. "Your car has been moved."
I clenched my fists, trying to rein in my temper. " Why?"
"Well since you have agree with what I asked before maybe you should go home together, you and Aeliana."
I shot a glance at Aeliana, who was still glaring at me, and then back at Leora. "I don't care about . I just want my magic back and my car."
Leora's expression hardened. "You're not getting either until you both put in an effort. One week, Ciara. That's the deal."
I groaned inwardly, knowing there was no way out of this. One week of trying to make things work with Aeliana. One week of resisting the urge to both throttle and fuck her. It was going to be hell.