"You're not paying attention."

Back flat on the floor, eyes staring through the domed glass ceiling, I sucked air through my teeth and blew it out before easing upright. Calix re-wrapped the cloth protecting his knuckles so nonchalantly it might be easy for someone who didn't know him or wasn't watching carefully to miss the tension in his shoulders and jaw. Every single time he delivered a hit, the tension ratcheted up a notch.

"I can assure you, I was most definitely paying attention."

To the sweat rolling down toned, tan abs and to his Adonis belt, which grew more and more visible as his trousers shifted down his hips. Good grief. I understood how serious training was because it was the only way I would ever have freedom in this place, but Faerie did something to me. Made my sexual appetite stronger. More Fae-like.

Calix shook his head. Dark, damp pieces of hair stuck to his forehead as he crouched in front of me, his forearms resting on his muscular thighs. A vein in his jaw pulsed. "That ugly bruise growing on your cheek says otherwise. I swung wide. You had all the time in the world to duck or block the hit, but your gaze was low."

He held out his hand, and I took it, biting back a wince as muscles screamed in protest. We started training three days ago, and every session began the same—a grueling warm up run around the palace perimeter followed by strength training. If we had more time before the ball, I doubted Calix would have moved to sparring so quickly, but with only three days left, he wanted to make sure I knew basic maneuvers.

"Again?" I asked, returning to my spot on the mat and settling into the stance he'd taught me.

"No, not again," he said with a humorless laugh. "We're done for the day."

The sun had barely dropped to the west side of the dome. Yesterday we'd trained until the atrium turned purple in the twilight. I kept my hands raised and jutted out my chin. "Let's keep going. I can do this all night."

The prince rolled his shirt down his abs, hiding the delicious sight from view, and smirked. "That's what she said."

"Oh... Wow. There are she said jokes in Faerie."

"It's a byproduct of the Fae being obsessed with humans, I suppose. But really, Luna. Let's call it early today."

"Why?" I touched my tender cheek. Calix flinched when I did. "Is it because I got hurt? That's bound to happen while I'm learning."

White teeth flashed as his upper lip curled back. "It's bound to happen because you're human."

"Calix, this isn't fair. I—"

He was in front of me before I could blink. Black particles shimmered and dissipated around us as his form settled together. His palm was warm over my mouth.

"I swear to the Ancient Ones that you argue for the sake of arguing. It's infuriating." I nipped at his hand, hoping he would remove it so I could refute that claim, but the pressure only increased. "I am not stopping to get out of our deal or because I think you're a lost cause. You've actually surprised me with your quickness and stamina."

I gripped his arm and pulled it down, freeing my mouth. "Was that so hard to say?"

Rolling his eyes, he didn't move to cover my mouth again, but he also didn't step back, leaving little space between our bodies. My nose filled with the crisp, clean scent of him—not a single hint of Druil flowers on him—and somehow my hormones still went into overdrive.

"We've pushed hard for two days. You need to rest, or you'll be too tired and get sloppy. That can be more dangerous than being untrained. Tomorrow, we'll start again."

Irritation dwindled. "Okay."

"Okay?"

I rubbed a towel over my face. "Yeah. Okay."

"Miracles do happen."

"Shut up," I snapped the towel at him, catching him off guard and landing a solid thump against his stomach.

His brows inched together, and his canines grew over his bottom lip. A wicked gleam brightened his starlight eyes as he stalked toward me. "You're going to pay for that."

"N-n-no," I spluttered, backing away with my hands raised in the universal sign of surrender. "That was an accident. I swear."

He lunged, catching me around the waist and swiping my legs from underneath me, bringing us both to the floor. It wasn't the first time he'd brought me down today, but this was different. This time, his arms cradled my body as he hovered over me, and one of his knees wedged between my thighs.

"Accidents still have consequences, little moon."

"You can get me back tomorrow," I bargained while screaming at my hormones to stand down. It was official. Faerie was making me feral.

"Am I interrupting something?" Lorcan drawled from the atrium's entrance.

I went cold all over and shoved at Calix. For his part, the prince was unfazed, releasing me with painful slowness and rising with a smirk. This time, I refused his help and scrambled to up on unsteady feet. Lorcan's expression gave away nothing.

"Sparring lessons," Calix explained.

Lorcan hummed, eyes flickering between his brother and me. Finally, they settled on Calix, and he said, "You're needed in the village. I have a council meeting or else I would go. There are reports of a fierig torching a barn. If the report is true, you'll have to put together a hunting party."

Calix grimaced. "Aye. Let us hope it was just an unfortunate accident. That is a problem we don't need right now."

The king nodded and stepped back, his gaze once more swinging toward me. "Indeed. It seems whenever we think we have a handle on one, the Ancient Ones get creative."

I swallowed hard, wishing I could touch him and give him assurance that whatever assumptions he was coming to were wrong, but I could do neither. Because this was not the time or place... and because I wasn't sure the second part would be a lie.

"Let's get you settled in your room," Calix said after Lorcan left. The lack of barbed insults about the awkwardness between Lorcan and me was shocking, but the news of the fierig must have been worrisome enough to distract him.

"No, I want to go with you." The idea of being closed up in that room again made it hard to breathe, and I was genuinely curious about the Fae village. I wanted to see the world away from this palace. Especially if it was to become my home.

He swung around. "Absolutely not. Do you even know what a fierig is?"

"Of course not."

"It's literally a beast of fire and claws. An adult male is larger than a horse. They travel in packs and only come this close to villages and towns when they are starving. Death by one is particularly cruel because they like to eat while their victims' heart still beat. You would feel every flame and piercing."

He practically dragged me up the stairs. I yanked my arm back, nearly toppling down the stairs. "Calix. Stop. It's just a rumor of one, right?"

"And if it's not? You'll be in danger."

"So, who is going to watch me? Are you going to leave me unattended in the council meeting? Or ask Niamh to baby-sit knowing full well she'll fly away the moment she gets bored? What's stopping me from wandering off then?"

"I told you precisely what would happen if I caught you putting yourself in harm's way again." His fingers twitched in anticipation.

"Some consequences are worth the risk," I told him. Especially the one I'd been dreaming about ever since he threatened me with a spanking.

Calix cursed, grabbed my arm, and started down the steps. "I swear to the Ancient Ones, Luna. You stay at my side and do exactly what I tell you. If I tell you to run, you run. Understand?"

"Yes, sir." I saluted.

"Fuck." His grip tightened. "I'm going to regret this."