Dragon's Desire_The Dragon Shifter’s Mates Read online

  “So why do people get into this as a hobby anyway?” he asked when we paused after the first set of exercises.

  “You mean if they’re not just using it to make them better at some other sport?” I said. “Fencing is a sport too, FYI.”

  He’d pulled his mask up, so I saw the disbelieving face he made. “You can’t say it’s the same. And it’s not as if you’re likely to end up in a sword fight outside this room.”

  I restrained myself from asking how often he got into tackling fights with people off the football field and motioned for him to turn so we could start a two-person drill. “Some of us find the practice enjoyable regardless of how ‘useful’ it is. If you commit, you’ll find it’s intensive training for the body and the mind. You’re not going to feel the full effect if you come at it like a tourist.”

  To give the guy credit, he took that critique in stride. He followed my instructions through several parrying sequences in silent concentration.

  “Maybe I will get more into the training for its own sake,” he remarked. “Now that we’re on to the actual fighting, I can see the fun factor.”

  He chuckled and picked up his pace. Did he really think ten minutes of practice was enough to justify pushing a senior student’s limits? My king might have always been talented, but he’d also had some humility.

  I matched Darton beat for beat. Back and forth, back and forth—

  He broke the pattern. His saber swiped at my padded shoulder.

  My pulse stuttered, but I kept my footing as I sidestepped. I whipped my blade around his and flicked it up. His saber slipped from his grasp. It clanged to the floor at his feet much as mine had half an hour ago.

  “Hey,” he protested. I lowered my blade, leaving my mask on. Coach was already sending some of the other members off to the change room. We were done here.

  “You never start sparring without getting your training partner’s okay first,” I said. “And if you don’t want to make a fool of yourself, get the basics down before you start escalating.”

  I stalked away before Darton could say anything in response. My legs had gone shaky.

  How was I going to keep enough distance with him hanging around fencing practice three days a week? I’d found my king all right, and he was already proving more trouble than glooms and visions combined.

  * * *

  Want to read more of Emma and Darton’s story? It’s free with Kindle Unlimited! Grab Magic Waking here.

  About the Author

  Eva Chase lives in Canada with her family. She loves stories both swoony and supernatural, and strong women and the men who appreciate them. Along with the Dragon Shifter’s Mates series, she is the author of the Demons of Fame Romance series, the Legends Reborn trilogy, and the Alpha Project Psychic Romance series.

  Connect with Eva online:

  www.evachase.com

  [email protected]

  Facebook

  Twitter