I won't fall for the queen who burned my world-Chapter 269: Last training before assault

One day had passed since the war room plans and Celestian letter, and the air already felt heavier with purpose.

The sky above Saelira’s estate was a steel-blue canvas, streaked with fading clouds, and the training grounds had been cleared for the morning. No guards. No servants. Just them.

Elysia stood in the center of the wide, rune-marked courtyard, her black training combination hugging her form, lightweight and breathable, made for movement.

Her silver hair had been pulled into a loose braid that swayed down her back, already damp with sweat from the preliminary stretches.

She rolled her shoulders slowly, eyes narrowing as Malvoria stepped into position across from her, arms bare, coat discarded.

The demon queen’s muscles rippled under her dark sik as she adjusted the gauntlets on her forearms and lit a small, slow flame in the palm of her hand.

"Ready?" Malvoria asked, voice low and steady.

Elysia took a breath, feeling the familiar burn begin deep in her chest.

The red flame wasn’t just a weapon—it was an extension of her heartbeat, her emotions. Today, she wouldn’t hold back.

"I’m ready."

Without another word, Malvoria launched the first attack.

A broad arc of orange fire surged forward, a whip of blistering heat that tore through the center of the courtyard.

Elysia threw her hand up and twisted her body sideways, calling forth her crimson flame in a tight spiral to counter.

Her fire met Malvoria’s in midair with a violent hiss, red and orange clashing like thunderheads.

The force of impact pushed Elysia back two steps, but she grounded herself, eyes blazing. Malvoria didn’t hesitate.

She was already coming in fast—boots skidding slightly as she spun and launched another strike, flame coiled like a spear in her fist.

Elysia ducked and rolled, her body reacting on instinct. As she came up, she thrust her hand out and released a concentrated burst of red fire—hotter, wilder, dancing with streaks of gold.

Malvoria brought up her arm, a shield of flame roaring to life just in time to absorb the blast.

The courtyard shook.

The heat shimmered.

They were already sweating.

Already smiling.

"You’ve improved," Malvoria called as she skidded back.

"You sound surprised," Elysia answered, bracing herself. Her core burned, her chest tight with power she barely had time to regulate.

Another charge. Malvoria came in again, this time lower, using her speed instead of just magic. Elysia blocked a strike to her side with her forearm, fire flaring between their skin—neither flinched.

Elysia twisted, using the momentum to leap back and throw a crescent of red flame that arced like a blade.

Malvoria deflected it with a sweep of her hand, grinning now, her grey eyes glowing. "That almost touched me."

"Next one will," Elysia snapped, breathless.

They circled each other.

Sparks floated around them, curling up into the windless air, dancing like the embers of a battlefield waiting to ignite.

"Your control’s sharper," Malvoria said, feinting left then hurling a small, burning disc toward her midsection. "You’re not just reacting—you’re reading the field."

Elysia absorbed the flame into her palm, letting it swirl around her fingers like liquid fire. "Because you trained me. You made me strong."

Malvoria paused for half a heartbeat, just enough for Elysia to strike.

She moved fast.

Fire shot from her heels as she kicked off the ground, a pillar of red magic propelling her forward.

She was in front of Malvoria in a flash, hand glowing, and this time the explosion didn’t come from a distance, it burst between them.

The shockwave hit hard.

Both women were blasted backward, crashing into opposite ends of the courtyard wall.

Malvoria was first to stand, brushing soot from her shoulder with a grunt. "You aimed for center mass."

"You told me to go all out," Elysia said, wincing slightly as she got to her feet. Her legs ached. Her chest burned.

Good.

It meant she was fighting right.

"Again," Malvoria said.

Elysia didn’t even wait. She raised both hands and summoned twin streams of fire, twisting them into a helix and sending them forward like a spiraling arrow.

Malvoria took the hit this time deliberately then dispersed the heat with a wide swipe of her arm.

The impact sent wind rippling across the field, their flames scattering like stars.

Elysia was breathing hard now, her hair clinging to her face, red flame coiled tight around her wrists like bracelets of raw magic.

"You’re favoring your left," Malvoria observed.

"I’m compensating for the bruise you gave me yesterday."

"Fair."

Malvoria’s next strike came with no warning a snap of her fingers and a concentrated blast that exploded beneath Elysia’s feet, forcing her to backflip.

She nearly stumbled, but recovered, using her red fire midair to slow her fall and land on one knee.

Then she fired back, but not at Malvoria but the ground.

The explosion sent shards of stone flying like shrapnel, cloaked in fire.

Malvoria brought up a wall of flame, shielding herself. But even she looked briefly surprised.

"That was new," she said as smoke cleared.

"I’m improvising," Elysia said through gritted teeth.

Malvoria’s lips curled. "Finally."

They clashed again blow for blow, flame for flame, the sounds of impact ringing through the courtyard.

Their magic collided in bursts of red and orange, their shadows dancing across the stone walls like warring spirits.

Elysia didn’t know how long they fought.

Minutes. Hours.

It didn’t matter.

She only stopped when her flames began to flicker, breath growing ragged, knees buckling slightly.

Malvoria had paused as well, chest rising and falling, eyes sharp and calculating.

"You’re burning through too much energy too fast," she said. "Good for a fight, bad for a war."

Elysia nodded, sweat dripping down her neck. "Still... I didn’t lose control."

Malvoria stepped closer, her expression softening slightly. "No. You didn’t."

Elysia straightened, wiping soot from her cheek. "I can handle more."

"I know," Malvoria said, reaching for her.

She pulled Elysia into a brief, firm hug. Not romantic but warrior to warrior. Pride to pride.

"You were fire," Malvoria whispered.

Elysia smiled, exhausted but glowing. "So were you."

Malvoria’s eyes lingered on her—on the soot smudged across Elysia’s cheek, on the rise and fall of her chest, on the way her silver braid had come mostly undone and now hung in tangled curls down her back.

Malvoria tilted her head, a slow grin spreading. "You know, you’ve never looked hotter."

Elysia blinked, then gave a short, incredulous laugh. "I’m literally covered in sweat and ash."

"Exactly," Malvoria purred, stepping in close. "Battle suits you. All flushed and fierce, glowing with fire. I should keep you in training gear more often."

Elysia raised a brow. "Careful, or I’ll start thinking you only married me for the aesthetic."

"Oh, I absolutely married you for the aesthetic," Malvoria said with a mock-serious nod. "It just so happens that the terrifying competence, biting wit, and scandalous thighs were all bonus features."

Elysia’s jaw dropped. "You did not just—"

Malvoria leaned in, her lips brushing Elysia’s ear. "—bonus features."

Elysia shoved her, lightly, breathless with laughter. "You’re ridiculous."

"I’m in love," Malvoria corrected. "It tends to make people behave foolishly."

Their foreheads touched, both of them still radiating heat from the training but already leaning toward something softer, slower.

Malvoria let her hands rest on Elysia’s waist, fingers curling in the fabric of her charred combination suit.

"Let me take you to the bath," she murmured. "You’ve earned something decadent. Oils. Steam. A private room."

"Kaelith," Elysia reminded, though her voice had lost most of its strength.

"I’ll bribe Lara."

Elysia chuckled, resting her hands over Malvoria’s. "You really are in love."

Malvoria kissed her temple. "Dangerously so."

Before Elysia could respond—probably with another sarcastic quip or a gentle protest—Malvoria bent slightly, slid one arm under her knees and the other behind her back, and swept her clean off the ground.

"Malvoria!" Elysia yelped, gripping her shoulders instinctively.

"You’re tired," Malvoria said smoothly, already striding across the scorched courtyard like Elysia weighed nothing. "And don’t pretend you wouldn’t enjoy being carried."

"I am perfectly capable of walking."

"You are," Malvoria agreed, eyes gleaming. "But why walk when you can be pampered by your dangerously devoted wife?"

Elysia flushed. "That’s not how pampering usually works."

"It is in my marriage," Malvoria declared.

Elysia gave an exasperated huff and crossed her arms, though her cheek found Malvoria’s collarbone a few seconds later.

"Fine. But if you drop me, I’m lighting your boots on fire."

Malvoria laughed. "That’s fair."

They left the training courtyard behind, stepping through the arched hallway connecting to Saelira’s guest wing.

The cool stone beneath Malvoria’s boots echoed with each determined step, the scent of fire magic still lingering faintly in the air.

Elysia rested quietly now, her breath slowing, cheek warm against Malvoria’s skin. Her fingers twitched once in the folds of Malvoria’s shirt—relaxing.

As they passed an open doorway, two passing servants blinked in confusion at the sight of the demon queen carrying her half-charred wife like a victorious knight from a battlefield. Malvoria didn’t break stride.

Elysia peeked one eye open. "We’re being watched."

"Let them witness romance," Malvoria said loftily. "It’s rare these days."

"And mildly smoky."

"Adds to the aesthetic."

Elysia snorted softly and closed her eyes again, giving in fully as Malvoria carried her into their room. The door clicked shut behind them, and the world quieted.

"Welcome home, battle princess," Malvoria murmured, lowering her carefully onto the edge of the bed.

Elysia looked up at her, eyes soft. "You’re ridiculous."

"And you love me for it."

"Unfortunately... yes."

Malvoria grinned. "Good. Now, bath?"

"Only if you’re not carrying me into that too."

"No promises."