AFAF: Will & Serena Training

Enjoy an unedited excerpt from Chapter 5 of A Fox Among Flames, the second book in the Celestial Destiny Series. Book two is expected to release in fall 2025.

*Mild spoiler warning for those who have not read A Sparrow Among Stars yet.

Turning to Rigel, Serena declared, “It’s my turn. What do you say?” The guardian swallowed thickly.

Will stepped between them and reached a hand out to Rigel for a weapon. “Let’s see who’s improved more,” Will said. He hated the idea of Serena ever having to fight for her life again, but he knew she was strong. Stronger than she even realized. He wanted to show her that he was stronger now, too.

“Bold move, Burroughs,” the guardian said, placing the hilt of a sword in Will’s outstretched hand. When Will turned, Serena had pulled the blade from the sheath at her hip. It wasn’t her father’s sword. He wondered if she had returned the Heir’s Blade to the queen. “It was nice knowing you,” Rigel quipped, clapping him on the shoulder in passing.

Serena grinned as she paced out into the open space in the citadel’s shadow. Turning swiftly, she asked, “If you’re so busy at the forge, why continue training? We don’t have to leave Symptee for anything.”

“Actually, I most likely will,” he retorted, getting into an offensive position.

His answer had done exactly as he anticipated. Serena lowered her elbows, allowing the blade to sag toward the ground, and Will took the opportunity to advance. He had learned to be incredibly observant during his training. To use any little distraction to his advantage.

But so had Serena.

She lifted her arms quickly, blocking his initial attack with ease. “You’re leaving?” she snarled. Her nostrils flared as she glared past their entangled weapons at him. “We just got here.”

“Every few months a group heads up to Silvermane to pick up supplies,” Will said. He used his upper body strength to press her back a few steps before drawing his blade back. “Eventually they’ll ask me to go.”

Serena huffed indignantly. “You barely survived the crossing the first time,” she argued. Without hesitation, she charged at him. Her blade cut through the space between them, but Will swiftly parried the attack. Their weapons clashed three times, eliciting cheers from Rigel and the dwarfs watching nearby.

“Atta girl, Serena. You’ve gotten faster,” Rigel called out.

Will glared at his traitorous friend who was beaming at Serena. His grip tightened on the hilt of his weapon. He had improved, too. He wanted Serena to see that. The next time they were in danger, he wouldn’t need her to save him. He’d protect her.

Where he lacked skill, he made up for it in strength. Will pushed her back again with sheer force. Her boots skidded, dragging in the dry soil as he pressed her further back. Serena gritted her teeth, unleashing a growl as she pushed back. When Will didn’t let up, she narrowed her eyes at his posture. He noticed the way her gaze raked down his broad chest, his hands positioned on the hilt of his blade, and the position of his feet. When she looked up again, a faint smile greeted him, and he knew he was in trouble.

A breeze swept through their hair, the cool air a welcome reprieve from the heat. But Serena did not allow her friend to enjoy it. She turned her wrist in a circle, locking onto Will’s blade and forcing it upward. As he focused on regaining control of his weapon, she dropped into a low squat. A quick swipe of her leg had Will tumbling to the ground.

He seethed as he landed hard on his hip. When had she learned to fight dirty? “I see you learned Cole’s favorite move,” he grumbled. His discarded weapon lay a few feet away in the grass. Just out of reach.

Back on her feet, Serena stalked toward him like a lioness on the hunt. There was something predatory in her gaze that sent a chill through his spine. For a moment, he feared she might skewer him. “Do you yield?” He didn’t grant her the satisfaction of quitting. She grinned. As she lifted her blade above him in a show of victory, Will rolled over twice. Grasping his blade by the hilt, he used one hand to quickly maneuver himself back onto his feet.  

“That’s it, Will! Never yield,” Rigel called. Of course, he was playing both sides. That was typical. Both Serena and Will were determined to show each other up, and no one was getting in the way of their display. There could only be one victor in the end.

“You’ve got this, Serena,” Rilura said, lifting her axe over her head in support.

Serena lowered her chin and raced forward. They parried blow after blow, wasting no time between swings. They panted, chests rising and falling quickly as they stared each other down. Hair clung to Serena’s sweat-drenched forehead and neck. As she reached to wipe her face on her shirt sleeve, he rushed forward again. Any distraction was an advantage, according to the guardians, so he had learned to watch and wait for an opening. Before she could reach, Will swung his leg for the back of her knees, sending her crashing onto her back. “Blazing embers!” she cursed on impact. Her weapon bounced once before settling in the grass near Rigel.

Will stepped closer; his blade rested in one hand at his side while he stared down at her. Her chestnut hair fanned out around her head. The sun caught the lighter locks, framing her face. She looked angelic, like Divinity had sent a live star down to walk among them.

“With those skills, I’m sure Elara would gladly add you into Serena’s Guard rotation,” Rigel said from beside them. Will’s lips turned up, his dimples deepening. He had mentioned wanting to find other ways to help and make more money. At first, the idea of joining the Guard made Will uncomfortable, but when Rigel suggested that he could become one of Serena’s personal guards, he quickly warmed up to the idea. He could endure a few guard shifts if it meant seeing her more frequently.

A swift slam to his right shin sent him careening to the ground. The impact knocked the air from his lungs. Before he could gather his senses, Serena slid one leg over him, sitting on his midsection and pressing a dagger to his throat. He hadn’t noticed the weapon on her earlier.

Rigel and the dwarfs erupted into applause. Will stared up at the fierce warrior perched on top of him and swallowed thickly. They had never been this close before. Even though she had won this round, he didn’t mind. Heat pooled in his abdomen at the feel of Serena’s thighs pressed against each side of his body.

Leaning over him, her lips grazed the shell of his ear as she said, “You want to be a guard now? You’ll have to do better than that.”

Rigel piped up, “We could always enroll you at the Academy for a spell. Finesse those skills.” Will couldn’t see their friend, and he was glad. If he wasn’t still pinned under Serena’s dagger, he might have thrown a punch for even suggesting that. The last thing he wanted was to be miles away from Serena Finch right now.

She sat back on her heels and grinned, basking in her victory over the young man from her hometown. No one back home would have ever believed she could take him down. He should have felt shame for that, but he was much too distracted to care. Will placed his calloused palms against the sides of Serena’s knees and gave her a light squeeze. “I’m quite fond of where I’m at now, but thanks,” he replied to Rigel. He grinned, his eyes never leaving hers as he dared shift one hand higher on her leg, gently stroking his thumb across the top of her thigh. His touch elicited a small shiver, and something flashed in Serena’s eyes. “Maybe you should be the one training me,” he murmured.

Rigel chuckled as Serena dove off Will’s lap, rolling away in the grass. They watched as she fumbled to retrieve her sword. She tried and failed to hide the way her cheeks turned deep crimson. From his words or his touch, Will wasn’t sure, but he was damn proud to have elicited a reaction from her—especially right after she defeated him. Perhaps Rigel’s observation in the mountains had been right after all.

Serena grumbled under her breath, loud enough for them to hear, “I don’t need any more guardians. Clearly, I can fend for myself.” With a huff, she turned her attention toward the dwarfs and asked the princess if she’d like to go for a walk around the grounds. Serena couldn’t even look Will in the eyes when she bid her friends goodbye. He watched her as she walked across the yard, and he hoped he would be lucky enough to see her again the next day.