Elyas

"Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked the walled-up woman in front of me as we landed in the clouds, our wings fluttering to keep us from falling straight through.

She laughed as she ignored my question. Instead, she took off flying. She circled me at a speed so fast my eyes could barely track her. As she flew, the clouds made way, gradually carving out a rounded arena shape. She rose higher, bringing our cloud arena higher. I watched her, satisfied and in awe. In all my life as a prince, I had never seen anyone fly like her. Finally, she came back down in front of me. I tilted my head.

"Thanks for the show, but you didn't answer my question."

She rolled her eyes. "Are you really trying to convince me not to kill the people who were actively chasing you hours ago?'

I smiled slightly. "Maeve, I'm asking if you're really prepared to kill YOUR family."

Her tan skin blanched to a paler tone, and she looked away. "Like you said, they're not my family... family don't lie to you and try to harm you."

I nodded. "Sure. But I know that doesn't make it easier."

"Someone has to stop them," she said bluntly.

I sighed softly. This woman was so cold she could ice her own tears before they ever fell. "But it doesn't have to be you."

She finally looked at me, shrugging. "Who else is going to? You certainly don't have what it takes."

I scoffed. In the back of my mind, I knew her insult was meant to deflect, but I couldn't help responding to it. "I think I'm far more capable than you've given me credit. You've just never had to go against me."

She didn't respond but for a bored look. Before I knew what was happening, she had aimed her wrist at me, firing a dagger right at my head. When it was an inch away, close enough my eyes went cross eyed, I managed to dodge it narrowly, leaning back almost in half. Coming back up, I stared at her in bewilderment.

"What the hell?!" I shouted.

Her eyes narrowed as she got into position. "Now you're against me. Show me what you got."

I hesitated, unsure. She saw that and didn't like it. Aiming both her wrists, she fired daggers rapidly at me, circling in the air. I alternated, dodging left and right, feeling the dangerous breeze of the daggers each time. Ignoring my inhibitions, I spiraled through the air at her feet above my head, hoping to stall her volley. She kicked my head, knocking me away with ease. Before I could recover, she grabbed me, diving rapidly. I swiftly spun us, pushing her away harshly and rising. I flexed my back, making my wings flap hard enough to blow strong gusts of air down at her. She struggled against it, stuck in a vacuum of air.

I grinned down at her. "Do you concede, assassin?"

She aimed her wrist, shooting a grappling. I gaped down at where it caught me by the shirt, allowing her to pierce through the gusts of wind straight to me. In the blink of an eye, I was below her, a dagger on my throat.

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She tilted her head, her green eyes glinting. "Do you concede, Prince Charming? Or will I have to slit your throat to prove my win? Seems like a slightly more painful loss than having a fan in your face."

I rolled my eyes. "You cheat. You have that all mighty gadget on your wrist."

She laughed, moving away. "You just don't think critically. This wrist gadget has to come off some way and I gave you plenty of chances."

She held up her wrist, pressing a single button that clicked the wrist gun free. "All it took was a single push, Elyas."

I clenched my jaw, fighting against the wave of embarrassment.

"Your problem is that you don't pay enough attention to details. You see the big picture, you assume that's enough, and you go for the most obvious solution. But that solution is easily countered... because it is weak."

I continued to glare at her, unable to accept nor deny what she said.

She laughed as she watched me. "Don't be butthurt. Mariposa are the most skilled fighters amongst these clouds. You were never going to best me." Her green eyes darkened slightly. "But with MY help, maybe you'll best the rest of them."

I softened, seeing the turmoil through the tiny cracks in her wall. She said I couldn't spot details, but she had to have been wrong. Because I saw the way her fist trembled from clenching too hard. The way her eyes were narrowed, like any moment she'd have to shut them to block any tears, like putting up a dam. The way her pretty lips were pressed in a firm line, refusing to budge.

Moving closer, I lowered my voice. "Has anyone ever told you that you're not a machine?"

She stared at me.

I continued. "You're allowed to love people, to hate them, to miss them. To mourn. You're not just a gun, Maeve. You're more than a weapon."

She stared at me harder. I saw a tear well up, but she blinked it away. The dam didn't go up completely though. "I can't afford to let myself feel. Doing so would be like taking the weapon I am and pulling the trigger on myself. These feelings could cost me my life if I indulge in them the way you suggest."

Taken aback by her response, I tried not to show it. I moved closer, hesitantly. "Do you really believe yourself to be that dangerous? There was a time you tried to convince me you were not. You were successful without really trying. There's a reason for that, Maeve."

She shook her head. "The reason is that I'm a very convincing liar. I am dangerous. To you. To myself. To everyone. That is why I must keep these emotions in check."

I nodded slowly, moving a little closer. "You're a good liar, I understand... so that kiss? Another convincing lie? Part of the act to lure me in to kill me?"

She blinked, surprised, obviously not expecting me to bring that up. "Of course, yeah."

I leaned ever closer, my hand tipping her chin up. "And if we kissed now?"

She gave a breathy laugh. "We won't."

I smiled, reaching out my arms in surrender. "You can push me away at any—"

She grabbed me, pressing her lips firmly to mine. My arms came around her possessively as her hand trailed its way down my neck. I broke away shortly, gasping, the altitude making things difficult. Something about that feeling was excitedly risky, like everything about her, making me come back for more.

She slowly brought one leg around me, pressing me closer to her as I deepened the kiss. She pushed me, tilting us downwards in the sky. Breaking away again, I felt my head get a euphoric feeling as the blood rushed to my brain.

"So? What is this?" I asked in a breathy tone between kisses.

She rolled her eyes. "A mistake," she said before silencing me with yet another kiss.

We continued until someone cleared their throat. I ripped away from her lightning fast to see Kalon glaring at us both, but mostly me.

"I don't care what this is, but we don't have time for it. You two were supposed to be training. Do you understand that our lives are at stake?" she said firmly.

I tried for a smile, still a little too lightheaded to think better for it. "We were training. She was helping me practice better breathing techniques."

A dagger fired at me from both girls, making me narrowly dodge again.

"I need to help you two practice better anger management."