The Secret Heiress Loved by Four (Isha and Jason) novel Chapter 11

Eleven

I wanted to argue, wanted to yell, Instead, I bit my lip and followed him to the center of the training ground. My hands shook slightly as I picked up the practice sword he handed me. It was heavier than I expected, and the weight made me tense.

“Relax,” Kaelen said, circling me like a predator studying prey. “Or you’ll hurt yourself.”

“I’m fine,” I muttered, lifting the staff and holding it in a defensive position.

He stopped in front of me, eyes flashing, reading me, testing me. “We’ll see,” he said softly.

“See what?” I demanded, chest heaving slightly.

“If you can survive me,” he said, stepping back, spinning on his heel, and then suddenly rushing toward me with the speed that made my stomach lurch.

I barely had time to react. I raised the staff, gripping it tightly, ready for him.

“Not bad,” he said as he blocked my swing with ease, pressing me back a step with his strength. “But Bunny… you’ll need more than that.”

My chest burned, my pulse raced, and the pull inside me twisted between anger and… something else. Desire. Fear. Frustration.

Kaelen smirked again, leaning close so I could feel the heat radiating off him. “This will be fun,” he whispered, voice low and teasing. “You and me, Bunny. Let’s see how fiesty you really are.”

I shook my head, determined not to let him see how flustered I felt. “I… I’ll show you,” I said through gritted teeth. “I’m not… your…”

“Not mine yet, he interrupted softly. Don’t you get tired of saying that?”

And even as 1 gritted my teeth, even as my heart raced, even as my legs trembled… I couldn’t stop staring at him.

The moment I caught my breath, Kaelen stepped in front of me again, arms folded, eyes sharp as he could see through my bones.

“You know how to hold a sword,” he said, voice smooth but cold. “Good. But let’s see how you fight with your bare hands.”

My heart skipped. “What?”

He tilted his head. “Come at me.”

I blinked at him. “You… want me to hit you?”

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“Yes, Bunny.” His smirk grew slow and wicked. “Come hit me.”

My mouth opened and closed. “Are you serious?”

“If you’re scared,” he shrugged, “I can always put you back in the Harem hall to stay with the ladies, Maybe they’ll braid your hair while you sit there scared.”

My blood boiled. “I’m not scared.”

“Then come, prove me wrong” he said softly. “Show me.”

I tightened my fists, breath shaking. Then I ran straight toward him, doing exactly what all my instincts screamed not to do.

I swung.

Fast.

Hard.

Right for his shoulder.

But he moved like the wind.

His hand caught the back of my head. Soft, almost gentle… and then he pushed me back with one single motion. My feet stumbled, and I hit the ground hard.

“Too slow,” Kaelen said, not even breathing hard “Again.”

I growled and jumped up, dust flying off my legs I rushed him again, swinging low this time, trying to surprise him.

He didn’t even flinch.

He caught my arm, twisted lightly… not enough to hurt but enough to make me gasp.. then swept my legs from under me. I hit the ground again with a yelp.

My breath caught in my throat.

“Again, Bunny.”

I gritted my teeth. Sweat dripped down my neck. Stop calling me that!”

He laughed under his breath. “Stop telling me what to do.”

Anger lit fire in my chest. I pushed myself up and sprinted forward again, faster, louder. This time I didn’t swing. I tried to shove him, throw him off balance.

But Kaelen simply stepped aside, touched my back with two fingers, and I went flying forward, crashing face-first into the dirt.

Pain shot through my elbow. My pride was shattered completely.

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But his voice came again, unfairly calm.

“Again.”

I rolled over, chest heaving, and forced myself to get up. My hair clung to my face. My hands stung. But still, I ran at him.

And again, I ended up on the ground.

And again.

And again.

The world blurred into sweat, dirt, and Kaelen’s cold voice.

Until finally, my knees hit the ground and I stayed there, gasping. Every muscle trembled. My vision spun for a moment.

Kaelen didn’t step back this time.

No.

He bent down. Slowly. Until he was crouched right in front of me.

Close.

Too close.

His shadow covered my body, swallowing me whole. The heat of him wrapped around me even though he didn’t touch me. And then-

“Sylvara.”

My breath froze.

It was the first time he had ever said my name.

And the way he said it… low, his voice deep, like tasting every letter.. sent a shock all the way down my spine. My whole body shivered uncontrollably

My lips parted.

My chest tightened.

Why did my name sound different from his? Softer. Like he was caressing it..

But his eyes…

His eyes were nothing soft.

They were cold. Sharp. Like ice cracking.

He had never looked at me like that before. Like I was something he needed to break before I

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could be useful.

His voice came out low, deadly calm.

“I don’t like my women weak.”

The words cut deeper than any blade.

Women.

My throat closed. Heat burned behind my eyes…. anger, humiliation, something else I refused

to name.

“I’m… not your woman,” I whispered, even though the breath shook out of me.

Kaelen’s gaze didn’t move.

“You won’t if you end up dead,” he said simply.

A shiver went through me, furious and unwanted.

Then he stood up in one smooth motion, towering over me like a shadow.

“Get up,” he ordered.

“I… I can’t,” I muttered, my limbs shaking too hard.

“Yes,” he said coldly. “You can. You will.”

His tone held no room for refusal. No gentleness. No warmth.

Just raw authority.

Just Kaelen.

I swallowed and pushed my palms into the dirt, forcing my legs to work. My body trembled from exhaustion, but I stood. Barely.

Kaelen watched me, expression unreadable.

“Good,” he said softly. “Now the real training starts.’

My heart dropped.

“That wasn’t…? Kaelen, I…”

He smirked.

that was only a warm-up.”