Victoria
It had been three brutal weeks of training with Alexander. I’ll admit it: it was hard, but it was fun in a way I didn’t expect.
Alexander was an excellent instructor or “master,” as he liked to be called, and I surprised both of us with how quickly I’d improved. I could now manage a single blade with confidence and had even learned to wield two at once, something I’d always thought about me.
“Good.” Alexander watched from the side as I spun and struck the training dummy.
I gasped for breath, grinned, and let my arms drop.
“That was good.” He took the swords from me. “Take a break.”
“I will,” I panted, dabbing sweat from my brow with the back of my hand.
My eyes flicked to his bare back. He had a perfect physique, scarred in places that told of battles.
Heat rose to my ch
