Not quite, loverboy

Raegar noticed Selene was silent momentarily, her usual quick wit replaced by a flicker of surprise and deeper, redder cheeks. Then her lips curved into a genuine smile, softer than before but still edged with her signature mischief.

''Well, Rae,'' she said, stepping back just enough to look him up and down, her tone playful but warm. ''Didn't know you were such a sweet-talker under all that Aether and bravado. Careful, you might make me fall in love with you.''

She gave him a light shove, but her gorgeous yellow eyes lingered on his, a spark of something new passing between them as she thought. 'This boy is so cheeky. I love his confidence.'

The crowd's cheers surged back to life, snapping them out of the moment, forgetting they were in the middle of a spar. Selene spun her sword in her hand, regaining her composure, and shot him a challenging grin.