Prologue

Prologue

Breathe in through the nose, out through the mouth. Strike harder, faster, no hesitations. A simple slip-up is the only difference between life and death.

I grunted as I stepped forward, thrusting all my weight into my next blow. The sound of metal on metal filled the air. Sweat dripped down my brow; I ground my teeth as I pushed forward. You have to be better than your opponent. Anticipate every movement, and keep your mind focused and clear. Even on the brim of exhaustion, you must give it your all, and never show your weakness. Never show your opponent what cards you hold in your hand.

Fighting is both a game of strategy and preservation. You fight to protect your people, who count on you. Whoever comes out on top is stronger; they’re the ones to be feared. You hold that title until you fall. To be the best and remain at the top, you must always believe you can improve. You must believe that you don’t deserve the title constantly proving yourself to others daily, that you earned it. Practice until you bleed, until your body aches, and keep pushing until your limbs are too heavy to move and breathing burns your lungs.

I have been training my whole life for what is to come. My parents believe that I need to be well protected, both physically and mentally. So when I am not training with my brothers and sister, I’m training with my grandfather, the royal guards, and professors—working in both human and wolf form. I attend classes, learning how to use spells; to protect my mind and body and work on perfecting my magic. My mother has told me I am destined for a life of ruling. She has told me many times that I am to be well-versed in royal practices. My father agrees with everything she says, never adding his own opinions. I love my mother, but she can be overbearing at times.

My brothers, Damon and Balor, are lucky they are spared from her constant planning and nitpicking. My sister Nesrin gets some classes in smaller doses since she is still young. With all the training and classes, I hardly have time for friends or social life. I wish to travel and explore all the different things each realm has to offer. I want to join the royal guard and prove to everyone that I am not just the daughter of the royal family, destined to marry a king. I want to prove to them that I worked hard and earned my place in the capital. I am the daughter of the King and Queen, but I am tired of being under their shadows. I want to live and experience my life before I no longer have the choice.

“Strike and move faster, Imelda. Get out of your head.” My grandfather shouts at me. I brace for the impact of the sword being swung at me. As I block the blow, I spin out from underneath the blade, striking my opponent in the chest. They lose their balance and fall. Then, without giving them a second to react, I jump over them, placing the blade tip against their neck.

“I do believe this is what you call a checkmate.” I fought the urge to smirk as I looked at Cedric. He gave me a death glare as he cursed under his breath.

Even with all the practice, I was still seen as the weakest link. Being a princess made me an easy target. It made the others dislike me coming around. They viewed me as a trap, capture me, and the enemy wins the battle. So I had to prove my worth, prove my strength, time and time again. I am a warrior, and I will protect my people; I am Imelda Bloodstone, and I am more than the daughter destined to marry a king.

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