#Chapter 21 – Royal Pain in the Ass

Damon Asher’s hand lingered on Elena’s shoulder, casual but firm. Irritation curled hot and sharp in my chest. I had no reason to care. No reason to feel this slow-burning irritation coil inside me. Yet, before I could think better of it, my feet were already moving. My long strides carried me across the training grounds with silent purpose. The murmurs of the other candidates barely registered as I neared, my entire focus homing in on Elena and Asher. She wasn’t leaning into his touch, but she wasn’t pulling away either. My lips pressed into a thin line, and then I acted. My palm met the curve of Elena’s backside in a firm slap. The sound cracked through the air like a whip, silencing the surrounding chatter. Elena jolted forward with a sharp intake of breath, her entire body stiffening. Asher raised an eyebrow, his mouth twitching with amusement. I ignored him. Elena spun on her heel, her expression shifting from stunned disbelief to pure, fiery rage. “What the