CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

Caitlin stood in the sparring ring, surrounded by all of her coven members, Aiden watching intently off to the side. After their training in the woods, he had brought her back to ring. She had been sparring—and winning—for hours now, and the crowd had grown considerably. She had fought nearly everyone in his coven, and had defeated them all. She was now down to some of their very best warriors.

Word had spread, and now all the royals had gathered, too. The marble steps were completely filled with them, along with tons of onlookers.

Caitlin felt as if she had come into her own. She fought with a skill unlike any she had ever experienced. She felt more fluid, more in control. She felt as if she knew what her opponent would do before he even did it. Whatever Aiden had taught her—and she still wasn’t even exactly sure what that was—had sunk in deep, and as she fought, she heard his words in her head. Your own worst enemy is yourself. The only one who can defeat you is you. This is about