Standing outside, Gregory watched me as I exited the house. In his hand was a pair of simple wooden swords. Tossing one to me, he said, “Since you don’t have your own sword you can use this. Now, come at me.”

  Taking the sword without saying anything, I prepared to attack him. Lifting the sword as I spread apart my feet. Then I waited for him to do the same. His eyebrows went up after a minute of neither of us doing anything.

  “Well, what are you waiting for?” He finally asked, the tip of the wooden sword still sitting in the dirt. “I am pretty sure I will outlive you so it can't be for me to die of old age.”

  “Do you not want to prepare for my attack?” I asked, a bit confused.

  “Ahh,” Eyes rolling, Gregory shook his head. “You seem to be under the impression that you have any chance against me. Maybe one day, but not for quite a while. Now attack.”

  Figuring he was asking for it, I moved forward. As my sword moved to hit his left side his sword seemed to flicker from where it sat. At the same moment, some force deflected my blow. The sudden change in direction causing me to stumble past him.

  “Is that really it?” he scoffed. “I would have thought you could react to at least that speed.”

  Managing to keep my feet, I turned around. Gregory had not moved from where he stood. In fact, he was still facing the house, meaning his back was toward me. Taking advantage of this, I charged at him. This time swinging my sword up from below. Some force again hit it. This time adding power on top of changing the direction. The force pulling my feet just off the ground as I flew past him.

  For the next long time, I attacked him while he just stood there. His sword flickered as he did something to redirect my attacks, but never retaliating. As I stood there, panting in front of him, my hands on my knees as sweat poured down my back, he spoke for the first time since we had started. “You seem a bit tired.”

  “You think?” I said between panting breaths as I gred at him.

  “Do you think that your opponents will let you take a break if you get tired during a fight?” He said, his eyebrows lifted at my lip. “It seems you need a bit of motivation to push yourself some more.”

  “And what kind of motivation do you think will work?”

  “I think I could go tell the young dragons at the castle about your lovely mate and the fact that she and her mate are both weak. I would give you the rest of the day before this pce is swarming with horny…” That was all I heard. Rage filling me with energy as I imagined them coming for her. I forgot everything I had ever learned about staying calm and calcuted as I fought. Instead relying on pure speed and strength.

  My attacks came in a flurry. Each swing and deflection transitioning smoothly into the next strike. The power of each building on the next as I attacked again and again. Still, the damn guy didn’t move back a single step.

  “That’s better, but still not good enough,” Gregory said, though the words meant little to me. He continued to fend me off as he taunted me more. “If this is truly it, then I think Victoria would be better off with someone else after all. Of course, I will be sure to keep you in a cell nearby so that she doesn’t die. I am sure she would forget you while under the ministrations of a young dragon. I hear that some of them are quite skilled at giving women pleasure.”

  A growl filled my chest as I continued to attack him. My motions becoming even more chaotic as I started to use not just my sword, but my legs and arms as well. My shoulders, arms, and every other muscle burned as I pushed them all beyond their limits. Pushing them to move ever faster. To hit ever harder.

  Finally, my sword managed to get around his as he moved to block it. It struck his thigh and did absolutely nothing. He didn’t flinch, he didn’t cry out. He didn’t react to my hit in any way. The fucking dragon probably didn’t even feel it. Suddenly I was on the ground. It felt like I had been hit by a train. Standing over me, Gregory looked down with a single eyebrow raised. “Not bad. Now go take a shower. Dinner will be in half an hour.”

  With that, he grabbed the wooden sword from my limp hand before starting to walk toward the house. “What about lunch?” I croaked.

  “You have been fighting for over eight hours. Lunch and breakfast have long since come and gone.” With that, he disappeared. I stayed where I was for a few more minutes. Reflecting on just how overpowered the guy was. I didn’t even know if either of my parents would have been able to fight them. Maybe if they worked together, but even then it would be a hard fight.

  Groaning, I twisted and pushed until I was on my hands and knees. My muscles protesting as they cooled down and tried to heal from the abuse. Finally, though, I managed to get to my feet. Slowly making my way to the bathroom. Each step took me time as I focused on lifting each foot slowly.

  Reaching the bathroom, I noticed a set of clothes already id out for me along with a towel. Stripping, I stepped into the shower and turned it on. Barely audible over the sound of the water I heard the door to the bathroom open and close.

  Gently, the door to the shower opened as someone entered. Something inside told me that it was Victoria. A pair of soft hands rubbed the back of my neck as she came close. Neither of us said anything. Eventually, she pulled me towards her. Stepping out from under the water, she started to ther my back. She took time to trace every muscle with the soap as she worked to get the sweat, dust, and grime off my skin.

  All too soon, she pushed me forward and back under the water. Turning as the soap washed away, I lifted her chin and kissed her.