Read Spring Knight: Young Adult Romance Novella (A Seasons of Change Standalone) for Free Online Page B

was turning red with anger while he fumed. His fists were clenched tightly at his side and he was almost shaking as Aiden undermined his authority.
    “You’re right, we don’t have time to all consider the pathetic fantasies of one person.”
    At Adam’s comment she felt Aiden press his hand into her back harder, gaining her attention. “Ignore him,” he murmured before he moved to let Adam guide him into position.
    “Kayleigh, you know the drill; up the tower. You’re going to fall into Aiden’s arms and then kiss passionately, like he just saved your life.”
    Kayleigh’s eyes widened at the thought, but surprisingly it wasn’t the kiss that was playing on her mind. She’d only ever fallen into a group of guys who she trusted implicitly, after having worked with them for nearly three years. Aiden had never taken part in the exercise, and despite being strong, it didn’t quell the nerves churning inside of her. One person meant a lot smaller target.
    “Wait, you just want her to jump off with no practise or back up if something goes wrong the first time?” Aiden asked incredulously. She exhaled in relief, glad she wasn’t the only one concerned, even if a part of her was more unnerved by his lack of confidence.
    It was short lived relief.
    “You have to learn somehow. This way you’ll learn quicker. There isn’t time for mistakes.”
    “You’re crazy! Are you trying to kill her?”
    Kayleigh couldn’t deny the possibility that he was deliberately putting her in harm’s way. She now stood on top of the platform, and even if there was a small amount of trust that Aiden would try to catch her, it wasn’t enough to convince herself to fall.
    “Can’t we try it with the guys around the first few times?” Her voice shook, much to her embarrassment. She watched Adam weighing it up in his mind.
    “Fine, you get a few test jumps.” Obviously he’d come to the same conclusion she had: that it wasn’t an unreasonable request and denying her would only go against him, especially if something went wrong. “You six, move around Aiden, and be ready.”
     
    * * * *
     
Kayleigh climbed to the top of the platform for the seventh time. Her heart was thumping in her chest and its speed was only increasing with every fall. She’d have thought that each time she landed safely in Aiden’s arms she’d calm down and grow more confident, but it didn’t work like that. In reality, she was just waiting for the one time it went wrong, and this time Adam had cleared the guys so it was more nerve wracking.
    She had to admit the distance she was falling wasn’t astronomical, it was only a few metres. However, if she landed wrong, it would do some damage.
    “This time you perform it all: lines, fall, kiss, got it? You’ll go from Aiden’s line,” Adam directed.
    Suddenly, Kayleigh’s heart wasn’t just pounding at the thought of falling. This time she would be kissing Aiden, the same Aiden she’d had a crush on for almost three years. Panic started to seep into her mind.
What if he doesn’t like me? What if I do it wrong and make a fool of myself?
    “Ready, Kay?” Aiden’s words stopped her from adding more ridiculous points to her list and made her want to slap herself. Telling her mind she was an actress and the best on her course, she knew she could do it and had only been thrown by the fact it was Aiden.
    Thinking of her lines, she focused all of her attention on the words and got herself into character. As she did, everything else melted away. It wasn’t going to be Kayleigh kissing Aiden, but a knight and a princess. In that moment, Kayleigh became someone else, someone who was confident and flirtatious.
    Holding her head up high, she moved to the edge of the platform where an unfinished balcony had started to be created. She climbed up on to it, balancing precariously with a dazzling smile.
    “I’ll find another way to get to you, you don’t need to jump,” Aiden called up to her, his voice