Ivy's POV
The evening air was crisp as I watched Kade spar with his soldiers in the training courtyard. The sound of swords clashing against each other echoed through the stone walls, and I found myself mesmerized by the way he moved. He was graceful yet powerful, each strike calculated and precise.
"Come on, Joel!" Kade called out to one of his men who was struggling to keep up. "Remember what I taught you about footwork!"
He nodded, sweat dripping from his forehead as he adjusted his stance. "Yes, Your Highness!"
I sat on a wooden bench at the edge of the courtyard, trying to follow the techniques Kade had been showing his men. After everything that had happened with the poisoning incident, he'd insisted that I learn some basic combat skills.
"You need to be able to protect yourself," he'd said earlier.
The thought both warmed and worried me. I appreciated his concern, but the idea of fighting anyone made my stomach turn.
"Ivy!" Kade's voice pulled me from my thoughts. He was walking toward me, his sword still in hand, a smile on his face. "Come here. It's your turn."
"My turn for what?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.
"To train with me. You've been watching long enough."
I shook my head quickly. "Oh no, I don't think that's a good idea. I've never held a sword in my life."
"That's exactly why you need to learn," he said, extending his hand to help me up. "Come on, I'll go easy on you."
The soldiers had stopped their own sparring to watch us. I could see them trying to hide their smiles, probably amused by the idea of their prince teaching a former slave how to fight.
"Don't laugh at me when I fall on my face," I warned as I took his hand and stood up.
"I would never," Kade said with mock seriousness, though his eyes were twinkling with amusement.
He handed me a practice sword, much lighter than his real one. Even so, it felt heavy and awkward in my hands.
"First lesson," he said, moving behind me to adjust my grip. "Hold it like this. Your dominant hand goes here, support hand here."
His hands covered mine as he showed me the proper way to hold the weapon. I tried to ignore how warm his touch was and focus on his instructions.
"Now, your stance. Feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Good."
"This feels so strange," I admitted.
"You'll get used to it. Now, let's start with some basic movements. Watch me first."
He demonstrated a simple attack sequence, his movements fluid and controlled. "See how I'm not just using my arm? The power comes from your whole body. Try it."
I attempted to copy his movements, feeling clumsy and uncoordinated. The sword felt like it had a mind of its own, and I nearly dropped it twice.
"Better," he said encouragingly. "Try again, but slower this time."
We continued practicing basic techniques for what felt like hours. Gradually, I began to feel more comfortable with the sword in my hands, though I was still far from graceful.
"That's enough for today," Kade finally said. "You did well for your first lesson."
"I felt like I was going to hurt someone," I said, handing the sword back to him.
"That's the point," he replied with a grin.
Just then, we heard a loud crash from across the courtyard. Two of the soldiers had been sparring when one of them lost his footing and fell hard against the stone wall. He was clutching his shoulder, his face twisted in pain.
"Gary!" Kade rushed over to the injured soldier. "What happened?"
"I think I dislocated my shoulder, Your Highness," Gary gasped.
The other soldiers gathered around, looking concerned. Someone suggested sending for the palace physician, but he was known to be slow and not particularly skilled.
"Ivy," Kade said, turning to me. "Can you help him?"
I hesitated. Using my healing powers in front of all these people would reveal what I was capable of, and I wasn't sure if that was wise. But looking at the soldier's pain-filled face, I couldn't refuse.
"Of course," I said, kneeling beside him.
I placed my hands gently on his shoulder, closing my eyes and focusing on the healing energy within me. I could feel the displaced bone and torn muscles, and slowly, carefully, I began to mend them.
A warm golden light emanated from my hands, and I heard several gasps from the watching soldiers. Gary’s breathing began to ease as the pain faded.
"How do you feel now?" I asked, opening my eyes.
Gary moved his shoulder experimentally, his eyes wide with amazement. "It's perfect. The pain is completely gone. How did you—?"
"She's a healer," Kade explained simply. "A very talented one."
The soldiers looked at me with new respect, some even bowing their heads in gratitude. I felt a flush of embarrassment at the attention.
"Thank you, my lady," Gary said earnestly. "I'm in your debt."
"You don't owe me anything," I replied. "I'm just glad I could help."
As the soldiers began to disperse, discussing what they'd witnessed in hushed tones, I noticed Kade had grown quiet. He was standing a few feet away, staring up at the sky.
"Kade? Is everything alright?"
He didn't answer immediately. His gaze was fixed on something above us, and when I followed his line of sight, I saw it. The full moon, bright and luminous, hanging like a silver coin in the darkening sky.
"Oh no," I whispered, understanding flooding through me.
Kade's expression changed completely. The warmth and humor that had been in his eyes moments before vanished, replaced by something wild and desperate. His hands began to shake, and I could see the muscles in his jaw tightening.
"Kade, we need to get you inside," I said urgently.
He didn't seem to hear me. His breathing was becoming rapid and shallow, and sweat was beading on his forehead despite the cool evening air.
Without warning, he dropped his sword. The metal clanged against the stone ground as he turned and ran toward the castle.
"Kade, wait!" I called after him, but he was already gone.
I ran after him, my heart pounding. I could hear his footsteps echoing through the corridors as he raced toward his chambers. By the time I reached his door, I could already hear the sounds from within – growls, the crash of furniture being overturned, something that sounded distinctly inhuman.
I didn't hesitate. I burst through the door just as Kade completed his transformation. Where moments before had stood the prince I cared about, now there was a massive, snarling beast. His clothes lay in tatters around him, and his eyes glowed with an amber light that held no recognition.
The beast that had been Kade was thrashing violently, destroying everything within reach. His claws raked across the walls, leaving deep gouges in the stone. He was going to hurt himself badly if I didn't act quickly.
I raised my hands, drawing on every ounce of power I possessed. Golden light flowed from my fingertips, forming invisible bonds around the creature. It wasn't meant to hurt him – just to hold him still until the worst of the transformation rage passed.
"Easy," I whispered, pouring all my strength into containing the beast. "I've got you."