The Princess's Revenge Chapter 106

Valencia’s POV

Dawn light crept through the narrow window, casting pale shadows across the room. I woke with my heart already racing, my mind immediately jumping to tonight's challenge. Logan was still sleeping beside me, his breathing steady and peaceful. For just a moment, I watched him—his golden hair catching the early light, his face relaxed without the usual tension he carried.

I couldn't stay still any longer. The nervous energy coursing through my veins demanded movement, action, something to occupy my mind. Carefully, I slipped from the bed and dressed quietly in my training clothes. Logan didn't stir as I pulled on my boots and wrapped my cloak around my shoulders.

The castle corridors were empty at this early hour, my footsteps echoing softly on the stone floors.

The castle corridors were empty at this early hour, my footsteps echoing softly on the stone floors. I made my way through the familiar passages toward the second floor. The snow had finally stopped falling outside.

The kitchen was already busy with morning preparations. When I pushed open the heavy wooden door, the heat and wonderful smells of breakfast hit me immediately.

"Valencia!" Nestor looked up from the large pot he was stirring, his weathered face breaking into a smile. "Good morning."

"Good morning, Nestor," I said, grateful for his warm greeting. Kael appeared from behind the flour sacks, wiping his hands on his apron.

"Luna Valencia," Kael said with a respectful nod, then caught himself. "I mean—"

"Just Valencia is fine with both of you," I interrupted quickly. "Please, don't treat me any differently than before."

Nestor and Kael exchanged glances, then Nestor's expression grew concerned. "Where are you headed so early? The sun's barely up."

"I'm going to the training grounds," I said. "I need to practice before tonight."

"Training grounds?" Kael frowned. "In this cold? On an empty stomach?"

"I'm not really hungry," I began, but Nestor was already moving toward the bread ovens.

"Nonsense," he said firmly. "You can't train properly without fuel. Sit down."

Before I could protest further, Nestor had placed a warm bowl of porridge in front of me, along with fresh bread and honey. The kindness in their eyes made my chest tight with emotion.

"Thank you," I said softly. "Both of you have always been so good to me."

"You don't need to thank us for caring about you," Kael said, settling into the chair across from me with his own breakfast. "We've watched you grow stronger every day since you came here. Tonight, you're going to show everyone just how strong you really are."

Nestor nodded enthusiastically. "That's right. Amara might have experience, but you have something she doesn't."

"What's that?"

"Love," Nestor said simply. "Equal love and respect for everyone."

The warmth of their encouragement filled some of the fear in my chest. "I hope you're right."

"We are," Kael said with certainty. "Now eat up. You'll need your strength."

I finished my breakfast quickly, hugging both men goodbye before stepping back out into the crisp morning air. The training grounds were already busy despite the early hour—the warriors were disciplined about their dawn exercises.

Ryan was waiting for me near the practice weapons, his breath visible in small white puffs. When he saw me approaching, he straightened with a professional smile.

"Morning, Luna," he called. "Ready for another round?"

"Valencia," I replied, though my stomach churned with nervousness. "I’m ready."

Elias was supervising a group of younger warriors nearby, but he raised his hand in greeting when he spotted me. "Good to see you up and moving early. How are you feeling about tonight?"

"Nervous," I admitted honestly.

"Good," Ryan said, handing me a practice dagger. "Nerves keep you sharp. Now, let's work on that footwork again."

We began our training routine, but something was wrong. Every technique Ryan tried to teach me, every combination of moves he demonstrated, felt clumsy and awkward in my hands. My mind kept wandering to thoughts of partial shifting.

"Your concentration is off," Ryan observed after I fumbled the same defensive sequence for the third time. "What's going on?"

"I'm sorry," I said, lowering my sword. "I keep thinking about other things."

Ryan studied my face carefully. "What kind of other things?"

I hesitated. Should I tell him about my ability to partially shift? Logan had warned me to be careful about who knew, but Ryan was one of Elias's most trusted warriors. And if I was going to use my dragon abilities tonight, maybe I needed to practice them in a realistic combat situation.

"I've been working on some... special techniques," I said carefully. "I want to try incorporating them into our sparring."

"Special techniques?"

I took a deep breath. "Ryan, if I asked you to keep something confidential, would you?"

His expression grew serious. "Of course. What's this about?"

"I need to practice partial shifting during combat. But I can't let anyone else see."

Ryan's eyebrows shot up. "Partial shifting? Are you saying you can—"

"I'm still learning," I interrupted. "But yes. Last night I managed to shift just my claws. I think if I can master doing it during a fight, it might give me the advantage I need against Amara."

Ryan looked around the training grounds, then jerked his head toward a more secluded area near the edge of the cliffs. "Come on. We'll work over there, away from the others."

We moved to the isolated training spot, where the sound of clashing weapons from the main grounds was just a distant echo. Ryan shifted into his wolf form, his brown fur gleaming in the morning light.

"Alright," he said. "Show me what you're working with."

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to recapture the feeling from last night. The dragon presence was there, sleeping deep inside me, but it felt distant and unresponsive. When Ryan came at me with a testing strike, I tried to summon the claws while parrying his attack.

Nothing happened except that I nearly lost my balance from trying to concentrate on too many things at once.

"Again," Ryan said patiently.

We sparred for nearly an hour, and with each failed attempt to partially shift, my frustration grew. The dragon power that had felt so accessible last night with Logan seemed completely beyond my reach now.

"I can't do it," I finally said, breathing hard from exertion. "Last night it worked perfectly, but now..."

"You're trying too hard," Ryan said. "What was different about last night?"

I thought back carefully. "I was with Logan. We were in his room, and it felt safe and calm. He was guiding me through the process."

"And now?"

"Now I'm anxious about tonight. I'm worried about failing. I'm—" I stopped as realization dawned. "I'm letting fear control me instead of using it."

Ryan nodded approvingly. "Fear can be a tool or a weapon. Right now, you're letting it be your enemy's weapon. What you need to do is make it yours."

"How?"

"Stop trying to fight your nervousness. Accept it. Then channel it into focus instead of letting it scatter your concentration."

I closed my eyes and tried to feel the anxiety in my chest, the tight knot of worry about tonight's challenge. Instead of pushing it away, I let myself acknowledge it fully. Yes, I was scared. Yes, Amara was more experienced. Yes, I might lose.

But I had survived everything else that had been thrown at me. I had discovered powers I never knew I possessed. And I had people who believed in me.

The fear was still there, but it felt different now—sharper, more focused. Like a blade instead of a storm.

"Better?" Ryan asked, watching my face.

"Better," I agreed.

"Then let's try again."

This time, when Ryan attacked, I didn't fight the nervous energy. I let it flow through me, guiding me toward that deep place where the dragon slept. As his claws came toward my ribs, I felt heat rush down my arms.

My fingernails extended into dragon claws just as his claws reached me. I caught his between my transformed fingers.

"Valencia," Ryan breathed, staring at my hands. "That was incredible."

I looked down at my claws in amazement. They had come naturally this time, almost effortlessly. "I did it."

"You did more than that," Ryan said with genuine admiration. "You made it look easy. If you can do that consistently tonight, Amara won't know what hit her."

The sun was climbing higher now, and other warriors were starting to glance in our direction. I concentrated on retracting my claws back to normal fingers.

"We should head back," Ryan said. "You're ready for tonight. More ready than you know."

"Thank you," I said quietly. "For helping me find my strength."

"You don't need to thank me for seeing what's already there," Ryan replied. "Now come on. You should get some rest before tonight."

As we walked back toward the castle, I felt the crushing weight of fear finally lifting from my shoulders. The dragon power was mine to command now. I had friends who supported me, a mate who loved me, and abilities I was only beginning to understand.

The sun climbed higher, burning away the morning mist and revealing a world that looked clean and new under its blanket of snow. Tonight I would step into that dueling circle as Luna of Cliffwatch Pack, and I would prove to everyone—including myself—that I belonged here.

For the first time in days, I was truly ready for what lay ahead.

The castle entrance felt warm and welcoming after the crisp morning air. I stamped the snow from my boots and unwrapped my cloak, feeling the pleasant ache of muscles well-used. The corridors were busier now as the castle came fully to life with the morning's activities.

As I climbed the stone stairs toward Logan's room, I felt lighter than I had in days. I couldn't wait to tell him about the breakthrough with my partial shifting.

But as I rounded the corner leading to the main staircase, I stopped short. A familiar figure was descending from the upper levels. Amara.

Her auburn hair was perfectly arranged despite the early hour, and she was dressed in simple training clothes. When she saw me, her amber eyes narrowed slightly, but her expression remained carefully neutral.

"Valencia," she said, stopping a few steps above me. The positioning gave her a subtle height advantage. "Out for an early morning walk?"

"Training," I replied simply, meeting her gaze steadily.

"Training. Of course." She descended the remaining steps until we were at eye level. "Are you ready for tonight?"

"I'm ready," I said, and was pleased to hear how steady my voice sounded.

Amara studied my face for a long moment. When she spoke again, her voice was quieter, almost thoughtful. "You know, Valencia, I've been thinking about what led us to this point."

I waited, not sure where this was going.

"I won't pretend I like you," Amara continued. "You came from nowhere and suddenly you're Luna, mated to the Alpha I've served loyally for years. It's... difficult to accept."

"I understand that," I said carefully.

"Do you?" Amara's amber eyes searched mine. "Do you understand that I've bled for this pack? That I've fought beside Logan in battles where we barely survived? That I've proven my loyalty and dedication over and over again?"

"Yes," I said simply. "And I respect that."

Amara seemed taken aback by my response. She had clearly expected defensiveness or anger, not acknowledgment.

"But," I continued, "I didn't ask to be Luna. I didn't scheme or manipulate to get this position. Logan chose me, and I'm trying my best to be worthy of that choice."

"By fighting me tonight."

"By defending my right to stand beside him," I corrected. "You challenged me, Amara. I'm just answering that challenge."

For a moment, neither of us spoke. The tension in the air was thick but not hostile—more like two warriors sizing each other up before battle.

"You've changed," Amara said finally. "When you first arrived, you were this terrified little thing..." She paused, her head tilting slightly. "Now you look like you might actually put up a fight."

"I intend to."

Amara's mouth curved in what might have been the beginning of a smile. "Good. I would have been disappointed if tonight was too easy."

The casual arrogance in her tone sparked a flame of anger in my chest, but I kept my voice level. "It won't be."

"We'll see."