He never expected her to be this way.
For years, her family had represented chaos and storm, and he’d anticipated more of their energy from her.
Yet she’d torn apart all his assumptions.
A long time ago, he’d been drawn to excitement and drama once, but not anymore.
What he needed deep inside, when he chose to admit it to himself, was for hisŠarimto be the wife and partner who would steady him and bring peace, rather than turmoil, into his world.
Now, more than anything, he craved a woman who would stand by his side through thick and thin. Given their journey so far, it was hard for him to believe.
Yet, as his eyes fell on her silhouette as she walked away, he was inundated with a realization that was heavy with longing and need: she had the spirit to weather the storms alongside him with grace and resilience.
A stab of feeling hit him, and he grudgingly admitted that he wanted to spend more time with her, to know her, to understand what made her tick.
To explore if she was the partner he needed, the presence he yearned for to fortify him for the war ahead.
After breakfast, Mak slipped into his private gym and physical training space. It was where he meditated each morning using the ancient art of rapier play and meditation.
The practice was a core facet of their war dances, the ancient demonstrations of their ferocity and prowess.
Coincidentally, the Akkadians were the most peace-loving people you could find. They abhorred war and hated conflict, even within their own homes.
They kissed three times on the cheek when they met; they said sorry four times when they were wrong.
They never hit their children and always sought peaceful resolutions to disputes.
However, they were not naive. They knew that sometimes force was necessary to protect what they valued.
Mak touched a button on a console in his office, and a secret wall slid back to reveal a mirrored, state-of-the-art gym and training dojo.
Its arched wooden roof and floor-to-ceiling glass outlook provided a breathtaking view that always motivated him and improved his training experience.
Equipment faced the window at one end, allowing one to take in the scenery while exercising.
A luxe lounge with foam rollers, massage balls, and an auto-sauna was in another corner.
The place was fitted with holo cam displays, speakers, and even fitness trackers embedded into the smart mirrors. Designed to stream holo videos, track progress, or blast his favorite tunes to pump to.
With a sigh, Mak stripped down to his shorts, nabbed two rapiers from their stand, and headed to the small beachhead, his little own private beach on the lake.
Stepping onto the sand, he took position, braced, and began cutting them through the air.
Along with his Signet brothers and his Sauvage strongmen, he trained in martial arts that demanded precision, speed, and agility.
They spent two days a week sparring with intensity and focus, their training rigorous and demanding, aiming for perfection in both body and mind.
However, Mak preferred to practice rapier fighting on his own.
It gave him a chance to relax, to indulge in meditation and reflection, seeking enlightenment and understanding in the chaos of the world around him.
The rapiers he wielded gleamed in the light, their polished metal reflecting the sun’s glimmers as they filtered through the trees. He spun and lunged.
The weapons were weightless in his hand, his grip solid, his movements in perfect harmony and synchronicity.
The sound of shifting sand beneath his feet added to the meditative experience. It was a dance of blades and breath, a symphony of movement and stillness, a ritual of mind and body.
As his foil moved in fluid motion, so did his thoughts, finding balance and focus amid chaos and struggle.
