Before she had a chance to reset her swords, he was pointing his blade at her heart.

They stared at each other, panting, with sweat streaming down their skin. His dark hair glistened, and his eyes appeared even bluer next to his flushed cheeks.

Damien slowly lowered his sword, his eyes still on her. “You’re very good with your blades. For a moment, I thought you were going to best me.”

Selene dropped her hands, letting her new swords hang at her sides. “Apparently I haven’t lost all of my skills. But I was still defeated. You’re the strongest opponent I’ve ever fought.”

“So it wasn’t because of the blades?”

Selene held the right one up and looked across the edge. “No, they are well made. Thank you.”

Damien wiped his brow with the side of his sleeve. “Feel free to practice anytime you want.”

She glanced up. “Are you sure about that? I’m not like other ladies, Damien. My time at Rook Castle was spent training to fight, dreamwalk, and infiltrate a room at night. I have no idea how to embroider or paint or serve tea—”

Damien closed the gap between them and cupped her chin, lifting her face to meet his own. “Those kinds of things don’t matter to me.”

Selene couldn’t move or breathe. It was like her body had forgotten how.

He raised an eyebrow. “If you want to learn any of those pastimes, feel free. But they are not what make a lady.” His thumb stroked her cheek. “All right?”

“Yes.” The room was beginning to spin, and there was a rushing sound inside her ears.

He opened his lips as if he was going to say something more, but then he froze. Selene stared back, her heart beating inside her head, her chest, her entire body. His eyes grew more intense. The pull between them was like lodestone and iron. His head moved slightly forward, his lips parted—

Then he dropped his hand and took a step back.

Selene stepped back as well, confused by the sudden rush of emotions inside of her. She’d wanted to kiss him, and not, at the same time.

“I’m going to wash up in the baths and head back to my study. Join me if you like.” His face turned bright red. “In the study, that is.”

She blinked, confused, then her own face heated like a thousand suns.

There were muffled sounds behind her, and the door to the training room opened.

“. . . and then this raven appeared in my dream—Lord Damien!”

Damien looked over her shoulder. “Sten, Cedric. It is good to see you both.”

“My lord, we didn’t realize you were in here. Would you like us to come back later?” Sten asked.

Damien walked past Selene, his eyes firmly ahead and not on her. “No, Lady Selene and I just finished our routine. The room is all yours.”

Selene turned toward the table with the weapons to place her own down. She could feel the heat of her own face still blazing.