“Told the truth?”
He squints, but then those same eyes fix on my arms, which are fully visible in the sleeveless tunic I’m wearing.
Histunic.
His gaze doesn’t lift, and his stare is making me even more uncomfortable.
“What?” I ask.
“You’re just…so skinny.”
His words bring an immediate scowl to my face.
“Oh? Not up to your standards, am I?” I clench my fists, sick and tired of people always judging because of my size.
“That’s not what I meant.” A muscle ticks in his jaw, working overtime as he flexes it over and over again. “It’s just…you’re an Essentari, and typically Essentari—”
“Don’t look like me?” I take an aggressive step toward him, the distance between us vanishing. But now I don’t know who I’m madder at. Him or me.
Because he’sright.
Essentari don’t look like me. They aren’t weak like me.
“No, you misunderst—”
“Enough, you two,” Ishla interjects, coming out of the bathroom, the towel no longer in her hands. “And you, stop talking.” She points at Ryjax. “You’re only making it worse.”
His jaw falls open, but he closes it just as quickly. “Yes ma’am.” He gives her a quick nod, and I wonder if there’s something going on between them, a thought that has no business passing through my mind becauseI couldn’t care less if there was.
“Good,” she says with a smile that showcases most of her teeth. “I’m going to go get you something to eat, Serafina. You two behave while I’m gone.” She eyes us both pointedly, then disappears from the room, leaving us standing in silence. But my silence is out ofadmiration because I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone like Ishla before.
Why would she choose to become a servant? Had things really been so bad in her village that working in the palace was a better option?
Sure, things aren’t great in Village 28, but I’d rather be there than here, living amongst insufferable people and waiting onthisman.
I place my hands on my hips. “Hear that,Ryjax? Best behave now.”
He bites his lip, and his eyes find the ground before shooting back up to meet mine. “She told you.”
“Don’t be mad at Ishla because she’s not as good at lying as you are. Unlike you, it doesn’t come easy to everyone.”Shadow wielder,I want to add, but there will be time for that conversation later.
“I didn’t want to lie to you about who I was. Who I am.”
“Then why did you?”
“Oh, I don’t know, maybe because when you thought I was an Elite you ran away from me. Excuse me if I thought your reaction would have been worse if you knew who I really was. Am I wrong?”
He shoves his hands in his pockets, the action somehow moving his shirt in a way that reveals more of his chest, drawing my eyes back to his tattoo, and to the muscles that look so smooth and defined.
I stare at his exposed skin, and he clears his throat.
Heat floods my cheeksagain, and I look back up at him. “No,” I finally say.
“Exactly.” The way he says the word, as if he’s far too pleased with himself, has me grinding my teeth.
Just because he isn’t wrong doesn’t make lying right.
“But you still should have told me the truth.”
