The Hunting Lesson

Ivander swung onto his stallion, the morning sun glinting off his hunting dagger."You’re not coming."

Ana stood in his path, her princess leather boots sinking into the dew soaked grass."I didn’t ask."

The stable hands froze. Even the hounds stopped panting.

Ivander’s grip tightened on the reins. "The Blackwood eats spoiled princesses for breakfast."

"Good thing I’m not spoiled."Ana grabbed the bridle of a nearby gelding."Or yours."

Ivander dismounted in one fluid motion, crowding her against the stable wall. "Is this a game?"His voice was velvet over steel. "You’ve been shadowing me for weeks. First council meetings, now hunts?"

Ana held his gaze. "I need to learn."

"Why?"

"Because!"She shoved against his chest. "One day you’ll ride out and not come back, and I won’t be the helpless girl left weeping at the gates!"

The words hung between them too raw, too true.

Ivander’s expression darkened. "Saddle the gray mare," he barked at a stable boy. "And fetch my spare bow."

Beneath the ancient oaks, Ana struggled to nock her arrow.

"Elbow higher."Ivander’s breath warmed her neck as he adjusted her stance. "You’re not decorating a tapestry. You’re killing something."

She shivered. "Has anyone ever told you you’re a terrible teacher?"

His hands lingered on her waist. "Has anyone ever told you you’re a terrible listener?"

The arrow flew wide.

Ivander chuckled. "Again."

The boar charged without warning.

Ana’s mare reared as Ivander’s arrow found its mark too late. Tusks grazed her thigh before the beast collapsed.

"Let me see."Ivander dropped to his knees, ripping her torn breeches wider.

Ana batted his hands away. "It’s a scratch."

"It’s blood."His thumb smeared crimson across her skin. "This is why I said no."

She grabbed his collar. "And if it were you bleeding?"

"I’ve earned my scars."

"So will I."

Their breaths tangled. Somewhere, a branch snapped.

Ivander wrenched back. "Enough lessons for today,let’s go."

The moment the stall door clicked shut behind them, Ana knew this lesson wasn't over.

Ivander crowded her against the hay bales, his bloodstained hunting leathers brushing her torn breeches. The scent of sweat and wildness clung to him, more intoxicating than any courtly perfume.

"Show me," he demanded, his voice rough as the whiskey he'd brought.

Ana lifted her chin. "It's just a scratch."

His fingers closed around her knee, spreading her legs wider on the rough wooden bench. "Then you won't mind if I take a closer look."

The stable air grew thick as honey as he peeled back the bloodied fabric. His breath hitched when he saw the wound four inches of angry red flesh marring her perfect thigh.

The whiskey burned like fire when he poured it over the wound. Ana arched against him with a gasp, her nails scoring his shoulders through his shirt.

"Breathe through it," Ivander murmured, his lips grazing her temple. His other hand slid up her inner thigh, callouses catching on soft skin. "Pain is just pleasure's shadow."

Ana's laugh came out strangled. "That's the worst poetry I've ever heard."

His teeth grazed her earlobe. "Then why are you trembling?"

She couldn't answer. Not when his thumb was circling the unharmed skin just above the wound, not when his chest pressed against hers with every ragged breath. The stable spun around her, hay dust dancing in the lantern light like golden snow.

Ivander's mouth hovered a breath from hers, whiskey and want swirling between them. Ana could count every midnight lash framing his darkened eyes, see the pulse hammering in his throat.

Somewhere outside, a horse stamped. A stable boy laughed.

Reality crashed back.

Ivander wrenched away, leaving Ana cold where his body had been. "Tomorrow at dawn," he growled, adjusting his gloves with too much precision. "Don't be late."

Ana's fingers dug into the hay. "Afraid I'll beat you at your own game?"

He paused at the door, the lantern light carving his profile into something mythic. "Terrified."

When the door slammed, Ana realized three things:

Her wound still throbbed

Her lips burned from his nearness

She'd never wanted anything more than to chase after him.

That night, Ana dreamed of hands and hay and honeyed whiskey. She woke gasping, her sheets tangled around her legs, her skin feverish despite the cool night air.

Outside her window, the first hints of dawn painted the training yard silver.

A familiar figure stood there, waiting.

Ana arrived at the training yard while the stars still clung to the sky.

Ivander stood motionless in the center, his breath fogging in the crisp air, two swords laid crosswise at his feet. He didn't turn as she approached, but his shoulders tensed she knew he'd marked her footsteps from three courtyards away.

"You're late," he said.

Ana kicked one sword up into her hand. "The sun isn't even up."

"Exactly." He finally turned, and the raw hunger in his eyes stole her breath. "First lesson enemies strike when you're soft with sleep."

Their blades met with a kiss of steel.

Ivander fought like a storm given form all controlled fury and devastating precision. Ana matched him step for step, her body still thrumming with last night's unsaid words.

"You hold your sword like it's a needle," he taunted, deflecting her thrust with a flick of his wrist.

Ana spun away from his counterstrike, her braid whipping like a banner. "And you hold yours like you're compensating for something."

His laugh was dark as the wine they'd shared last winter. Then he moved too fast disarming her with a twist that sent her blade skittering across the stones.

Ana found herself pinned against the weapon rack, Ivander's sword at her throat, his body caging hers. Dawn painted his cheekbones in molten gold.

"Yield," he demanded.

She tilted her chin up, baring more of her neck to the blade. "Make me."

The sword clattered to the ground.

Ivander's mouth crashed onto hers with the force of a breaking wave. Ana bit his lip in retaliation, tasting copper and winter air, her fingers twisting in his hair to drag him closer.

A bell tolled in the distance.

Ivander tore away, his chest heaving. "Enough lessons for today."

Ana licked her lips. "Bloody hell."

As they walked back to the castle, the rising sun set the frost ablaze between them.

"Tomorrow," Ivander said suddenly, "We will learned more."

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