Two Weeks After Becoming Duke - Academy Training Grounds
Astrid stood in the center of the sparring arena. Sword drawn. Lightning crackling around her body. Hair whipping in the wind she'd conjured herself.
Beautiful. Powerful. Pissed off.
"You've been avoiding me," she said.
Draven leaned against the fence. Watching. "I've been busy. Becoming Duke. Executing conspirators. Running a duchy."
"Two weeks, Draven. Two weeks without so much as a message."
"You knew I was occupied."
"I don't care." She pointed her sword at him. "You have six other women. I get that. But you don't ignore me for two weeks straight. That's not how this works."
Fair point. He had been neglecting her. Focused on Elise and the succession. Seraphina and political alliances. The others when time allowed.
But Astrid? The fierce Valkyrie who'd joined his harem early? He'd barely seen her since the tribunal.
"You're right," he admitted. "I'm sorry."
She lowered her sword. "What?"
