He nods.
“Did he say why?”
“Yeah, and then he tucked me in and read me a bedtime story,” he says facetiously, leaning on thehilt of his sword.
“Oh, shut up.”
I close the door behind me and follow him. For some reason, I feel like a kid on their way to the principal’s office. Did I do something wrong? Aside from flipping Jace off behind his back a handful of times, I can’t think of anything.
Max dips his head, inclining it toward me.
“How’s training going?” he asks in a secretive voice. I glance up at him, pursing my lips.
“It’s going. Your captain is a hard ass.”
“Hah! You don’t have it half as bad as his men do.”
“Are you kidding?” I scoff. “Since I started training with him, I’ve lost all feeling from the waist down.” I pat my hips emphatically. My legs are still numb from this morning’s session.
“He’s been known to have that effect on females.”
I gasp, appalled and also secretly thrilled by that implication.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
Mind out of gutter, please. I repeat—mind out of gutter.
Max chortles loudly at my reaction, tossing his head back. “I’m just saying, I’m sure he’s going easier on you because you’re a girl.”
I huff, crossing my arms. “Oh, I assure you, he is not. He is merciless.”
“Maybe so,” he relents, still smirking. “He’s been a little on edge lately.”
“Really? I thought that was just his usual winning personality.”
Shaking his head, he blows out a long breath and mutters, “Match made in the heavens, the two of you.”
“Excuse me?” I ask, almost defensively.
“I’ve never seen anyone get under his skin so much. Seemslike the feeling is mutual.” He chuckles under his breath. “It’s pretty entertaining, actually.”
I narrow my eyes at him.
“Look, whatever he’s got you doing in training,” Max gives me a sly once-over. “Keep it up. You look good.”
I roll my eyes and smack him in the arm. Angling the focus away from myself, I ask, “Hey, where’s your twin? Aren’t you two attached at the hip?”
“I’m assuming he’s with the queen,” Max shrugs his broad shoulders.
I tilt my head in silent question.
“Mal is her sworn sword.”
“Ah.”
We round the corner to the king’s study, and Max stops me a few feet from the door when we hear arguing inside.
“The night’s watch saw you sneaking back into the keep last night. Or should I say this morning?” King Derek fumes, pacing behind the cracked door. “You know better than that.”
