Chapter 817 Getting Better

“Harder! Faster! Control! Deflect!” Asher’s voice echoed through the clearing as Violet executed the series of moves he had taught her that morning. Well, them.

Annequin was here. Except this time, she was the test subject.

Unlike her mates, Violet could not attack them, but she could attack the former queen of Astaria, and she very much enjoyed it. The silver lining was that even if Violet lost control, Annequin could contain her power. That made the exiled queen the perfect punching bag.

They moved through the drill again. And again.

Violet struck first, channeling just enough of her power, keeping it tight, contained. Control. She increased her speed, adjusted her pace, met Annequin’s counters, then reset.

Again. They repeated it. This time faster and

stronger.

Asher didn’t let up. “Don’t hesitate! Move!, move!”

Magic flared between them, volatile, but Violet held it. She shaped and directed it. Each strike more precise than the last.

Annequin met her head-on, deflecting, redirecting, occasionally pushing back just enough to keep Violet on edge.

They went on and on, layering movement with power, instinct with control, until Violet didn’t even realize it anymore, but she was wielding the darkness.

Not fighting, or fearing it. She was using it

like a weapon.

A brush of that power grazed Annequin during a parry but nothing happened. Because even now, even in the heat of it, Violet held the line. No matter how insufferable the Fae was, she still didn’t want her dead.

Roman and Griffin stood at the edge of the clearing, watching. As much as she tried to focus, Violet stole occasional glances at them whenever she could.

They were impressed. She could see it. And it stirred something in her chest. Pride.

Violet was like a peacock flaunting its wings, except this time, she was doing it for her mates. Her movements grew more fluid, more confident and a little arrogant.

She knew the rhythm now. The regimen. It was starting to feel like second nature.

Which was exactly why—

“Abandon drill. Fight.”

Asher’s voice cut through everything.

Fuck her life.

Violet barely had time to brace herself before Annequin’s strike came for her side, a blade of condensed darkness slicing through the air.

Violet snapped her hand up, darkness forming instantly into a shield. The impact rang through her bones.

That evil Fae.

To think she even had her well-being in mind.

All bets were off now.

“Don’t block. Redirect!” Asher barked.

Violet grit her teeth and shifted. The darkness bent, curved, slipping the attack past her instead of stopping it. The strike hit the ground behind her and exploded in a burst of shadows.

She didn’t get time to breathe. Annequin came at her immediately, faster this time. No warning. No mercy.

Good.

Violet met her head-on.

Darkness flared around her hand, tightly controlled. She struck forward, aiming for Annequin’s shoulder. The Fae twisted, catching her wrist mid-motion.

“You’re slow, princess,” Annequin said flatly.

Violet snarled and pivoted, her leg sweeping low but Annequin jumped back, barely avoiding it.

“Better,” Asher said. “Now faster.”

Violet launched forward again, pushing more power into the strike. Not too much, just enough. Control.

The darkness wrapped around her arm like a living thing, responding to her intent. She drove it toward Annequin with precision. Annequin met it with her own magic, shadows colliding with Violet’s darkness.

The air cracked and they broke apart.

They were evenly matched. Except Annequin knew the truth—Violet was only just stepping into her power. Give her the same level of training, and she would be unstoppable.

“Again,” Asher ordered.

Violet attacked. Again and again.

Each time faster and stronger.

“Damn,” Roman whistled from the sidelines. “Asher’s not holding back this morning, and our mate’s on fire.”

“It’s two days to the trial,” Griffin pointed out. “Violet’s going to train like her life depends on it—because it does. And the Asher we know? He’ll push her to the limit.”

He sighed.

“We can only hope he doesn’t break her in the process.”

Roman didn’t argue with that, his attention drifting back to the fight.

Faint traces of magic lingered in the air now like smoke. Violet’s breathing grew heavier, but she couldn’t stop, not with her mates watching, and Annequin pushing.

“Don’t hesitate!” Asher noticed from his observation. “You pause, you die!”

“I’m not pausing!” Violet shot back, deflecting another strike.

“You are thinking,” he corrected coldly. “Stop it.”

Annequin smirked. “He’s right, little princess. You’re predictable when you think.”

“Oh shut up,” Violet snapped, lunging forward.

This time she didn’t lead with power, but instinct. Her body moved before her mind could catch up. Violet made a feint to the left and Annequin shifted to counter it.

Wrong move.

Violet redirected instantly, her darkness snapping out from the other side, catching Annequin off guard. It wrapped around Annequin’s ankle like a rope and flung her hard to the ground.

Annequin groaned, the breath knocked out of her lungs.

For a split second, Violet froze. Shit. What had she done?

But aside from the groan, Annequin seemed fine. “Sentient bastard,” she cursed, still sprawled on the ground.

“Nice work,” Asher commented, eyes on Violet.

Violet shook her head. “I didn’t know I could do that. I could have hurt her.”

Asher explained calmly. “You’ll discover a lot more you’re capable of with training.. But on the bright side, you didn’t.”

“Yeah,” Annequin rolled her shoulders. “Not bad, princess. You didn’t kill me.”

“Give me time,” Violet scowled.

Annequin smirked. “Looking forward to it.”

Violet shook her head in disbelief. The Fae was crazy. She turned to Asher, only for him to clasp her face with both hands.

“You were amazing today, my love.”

“Oh.” Violet blushed.

She cleared her throat. “And you’re an amazing teacher.” She kicked at the soil beneath her feet, suddenly acting like a shy teenager—which she technically was—being wooed.

“Ugh. Blah.” Annequin made a face as she got to her feet. She was getting out of here.

Neither Asher nor Violet noticed her. The two of them were already locked together, the kiss deepening— and unfortunately for Annequin, the sound would haunt her for the rest of the day.