The castle courtyard was bathed in late afternoon sunlight, yet the heat did little to temper the fire simmering between Ruria and Kaelis. Even though Kaelis had asked for permission the previous day, and Ruria had begrudgingly given it, the tension lingered like a wound that had yet to scab over.
Ruria's hands twitched at her sides, jaw tight. "I didn't want this," she muttered, voice low, though her eyes never left Kaelis. "I let you have him, but don't think this fixes anything. Not between us."
Kaelis' grip on her daggers tightened. Her heart pounded—not from fear, but from the electric anticipation that always followed when she faced Ruria. "I know," she said softly, voice steady despite the storm in her chest. "I… I just wanted to do this right. To show you I respect you. That's all."
Ruria's eyes narrowed, fire blazing, yet Kaelis could see the faint tremor of conflict beneath her anger. They had been friends once, inseparable. Now that bond felt like smoke, fading yet not fully gone. It was replaced with tension, jealousy, and raw pride.
Valeor appeared above the courtyard, seated atop the balcony railing, crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. "Ah, the two of you," he murmured, voice silk and steel, "so eager to prove yourselves. How quaint."
Neither woman spoke. Valeor's presence alone made the air feel charged, suffocating, intoxicating. He did not move closer, yet the pull of him was undeniable.
"Today," he continued, his voice low, teasing, "I am bored of watching from above. Come to me. One versus two. Let's see who tires first."
Kaelis swallowed, chest tightening. Her daggers were ready, her muscles coiled like springs. Ruria's fists clenched, jaw set. Neither wanted to appear weak—not before Valeor, not before the other.
As they approached him, Valeor shifted slightly, a faint curve of a smile teasing the corner of his lips. He allowed them to close the distance, yet every move was just out of reach—intimate touches that barely grazed, teasing sensations that left both women flushed and tense.
"Closer," he murmured, almost laughing, crimson eyes flicking between them. "Not fast enough. You can't reach me. But I can touch you, can't I?"
Kaelis' breath hitched as his hand brushed her shoulder, a whisper of warmth, a flicker of power. Ruria's hands itched to strike, yet every time she tried, Valeor shifted, untouchable, omnipotent. His fingers grazed her jaw, tracing a path down her neck, and the heat that pooled in her chest was unbearable.
"You're pathetic," he murmured softly, voice low, dangerous. "Both of you, fighting each other, yet neither capable of even touching me. What a delightful display of pride and futility."
Kaelis' body tensed. Her mind screamed strategy, instinct, skill—but her heart betrayed her, pounding, warming, confused. Ruria's chest heaved as she struggled to maintain composure, face flushed, frustration battling desire, anger clashing with the inexplicable thrill that Valeor's teasing brought.
"You will need more than strength," he continued, voice silk and steel, "to ever hope to claim me. More than skill. More than pride. You will need everything… and perhaps even then, it will not be enough."
Kaelis' chest tightened as he traced his fingers lightly along her arm, just enough to send a shiver through her. Ruria's hands shook as she tried to strike, to grab, to assert dominance, yet Valeor remained untouchable, orchestrating their emotions like a symphony.
"You are both so… deliciously predictable," he whispered, moving closer. "Anger, jealousy, pride… all for me. And yet, so far from understanding your place. So far from understanding me."
Kaelis' legs trembled slightly as his gaze met hers. The words were soft, almost gentle, but the weight behind them was absolute, undeniable. She wanted to reach him, to strike, to assert herself—but the thrill of restraint, of impossibility, made her pulse pound harder.
Ruria's lips parted slightly, eyes narrowing, jaw tight. "I… I will—" she began, voice low and fierce, but Valeor's smile deepened, cutting her words off before they could finish.
The duel had not even begun in earnest, and yet both women were already on edge, caught between desire, frustration, pride, and an invisible chain that Valeor held with terrifying perfection.
Kaelis felt a shiver run down her spine as his hand brushed her neck, a teasing, intimate touch that left her heart hammering. Ruria's chest rose and fell rapidly, frustration and heat colliding in a mess she did not know how to control.
Valeor's crimson eyes gleamed, predatory, amused. "This is only the beginning," he murmured softly. "Show me your pride. Show me your skill. Show me… everything you've been holding back."
And then, without warning, he shifted, moving slightly out of reach, forcing both women to adjust, to chase, to exert every ounce of strength, skill, and focus they possessed. Kaelis lunged, Ruria mirrored her, and the clash of motion filled the courtyard.
Valeor's laughter, low and dangerous, echoed over the stone. "Pathetic. Deliciously pathetic," he whispered. "And yet… fascinating. How far will you go? How much will you endure?"
The battle raged—not with weapons, but with restraint, emotion, pride, and the absolute dominance of the man who orchestrated it all. Neither Kaelis nor Ruria could land a hit, yet every move, every dodge, every glance carried the weight of desire, rivalry, and unspoken emotion.
And in the center, untouched, untouchable, Valeor smiled, enjoying every second of the tension he had created.
The chapter ended mid-motion, hearts pounding, breaths ragged, and the duel still unresolved. Both women knew only one thing with terrifying clarity: they were caught entirely in his world, his rules, his absolute command—and the game had only just begun.
The courtyard was alive with tension, though neither Kaelis nor Ruria could strike a single true blow. Valeor's crimson eyes glittered with amusement as he moved lightly, almost lazily, sidestepping their attacks. Each motion he made seemed effortless, yet every step carried weight—power, control, and an intangible authority that made them both tremble.
Kaelis lunged, dagger flashing, but he twisted with such precision that her blade barely grazed the air. Ruria followed, striking in tandem, yet his sword moved with supernatural swiftness, parrying each attack before it could land. The women exchanged frustrated glances; no matter their skill, he was untouchable.
Valeor's lips curved as he leaned just slightly toward Kaelis, a whisper of movement that sent shivers down her spine. His warm breath brushed her cheek, faint and tantalizing. "Patience," he murmured softly. "You're trying too hard."
Kaelis' pulse raced. She wanted to retreat, to reset—but the warmth of his breath, the faint contact, made her freeze. Her body betrayed her instincts, betraying her mind.
Valeor's gaze shifted to Ruria, and just as she lunged, he caught her wrist lightly, not stopping her entirely but guiding her momentum. His fingers brushed the inside of her arm, soft, intimate, teasing in a way that left her chest heaving. "You… have spirit," he murmured, voice low and dangerous. "But you forget your place."
Ruria's jaw tightened. Every instinct screamed at her to push him, strike him, assert herself—but Valeor's calm, untouchable presence made her pause. And every brush, every trace of contact, left her flustered, frustrated, and strangely… wanting more.
Kaelis moved again, circling, dagger ready, yet Valeor shifted closer to Ruria. His hand grazed the curve of her side softly, just a whisper of touch, and she staggered slightly, breath catching. Valeor's eyes flicked toward Kaelis, a teasing glint lighting them.
"You see?" he murmured, almost softly, but the words carried a weight that made both women tense. "You are so focused on hitting me that you forget the consequences of proximity."
Kaelis' breath hitched as his fingers brushed hers accidentally while blocking her attack. The contact was electric, teasing, intimate. She clenched her jaw, forcing her mind back to strategy, skill, survival—but her body burned, betraying her.
Valeor's smirk widened. He shifted, letting Kaelis lunge again, only to step aside lightly. His chest brushed against hers ever so slightly, soft, deliberate, and intimate. Kaelis' hands froze for a heartbeat, heat surging through her like wildfire.
Ruria growled low in her throat as Valeor turned toward her, leaning just slightly, brushing the curve of her chest softly, fingers tracing a teasing path over the fabric of her tunic. Her blood ran hot, chest tightening, and she staggered instinctively—but not from fear.
Valeor's voice, low, silky, and teasing, drifted into the space between them. "You cannot touch me. Yet I can touch you… at will."
Kaelis felt her body tighten as he brushed her waist lightly, teasing, intimate. She wanted to pull back, to strike, to assert herself—but every instinct, every movement was blocked by his absolute control. She was aware of Ruria, equally frustrated, equally flushed, but Valeor's focus made them feel both exposed and powerless.
The duel became a dance of tension, frustration, and desire. Every movement Valeor made was a lesson: pride, skill, and raw emotion were nothing against him. His lips brushed hers lightly once, just a whisper of a contact that sent her heart hammering and her legs trembling. Ruria's hand twitched to strike, but a light touch against her back sent a wave of heat through her body.
Kaelis' mind spun. Every instinct screamed survival, yet every nerve was alight with desire and frustration. Valeor was untouchable, untouching, teasing, and utterly, devastatingly in control.
Ruria growled again, teeth clenched, hair damp from exertion, chest rising and falling rapidly. She wanted to strike him, to land a blow—but every time she moved, he shifted, brushing, teasing, uncatchable.
Valeor's eyes flicked between them, crimson and glinting with amusement. "So much fire, so much pride… and yet, so useless against me," he murmured softly. "Delicious, isn't it? How far you'll go, how you burn…"
Kaelis' daggers moved almost on instinct, but he leaned just slightly, brushing the curve of her hip as she struck. Her chest tightened, heart pounding, mind spinning. Ruria's blade nearly grazed him, and yet a single finger traced lightly along her jaw as he shifted aside.
Neither woman could land a strike, yet every movement, every touch, every brush left them breathless, flushed, and aching with an intensity they could not name. Valeor smiled, untouchable, absolute, teasing them both mercilessly.
And at that moment, Kaelis realized: no matter how skilled, no matter how strong, no matter how determined, they were entirely caught in his world—his game, his desires, and his absolute, cruel dominance.
The duel continued, relentless, intimate, and teasing. Every heart raced, every breath was shallow, and neither could strike. Valeor was untouchable. He was the absolute. And yet… they could not look away, could not retreat, and would not stop.