I’m not taking anything you don’t want to give.
I want to wrap those words up in my thoughts and hold on to them forever. It’s such a gentle statement. Such apatientstatement. He spoke of my kindness, of my generosity. But it’s him. He’s the kind one. The generous one.
I take a deep breath and pull the shirt over my head. The bed shifts under my weight, but Jax is immobile. His breathing is soft and even, his arm still thrown across his eyes.
There’s at least three feet of space between us, but I keep my voice very low. “I know you’re not asleep.”
He doesn’t move. “I was plotting how to get your weapons.”
I grin. “Want to try?”
He bursts out laughing, and his arm slides off his eyes to land in the spill of hair above his head. “You really would fight all night.”
“I would.” I pause. “I wasn’t sure,” I say, “that you saw them.”
“Scars are nothing to be ashamed of,” he says. “I’m missing an entire foot and somehow the King’s Courier is in my bed.”
“The King’s Courier considers it an honor.”
He blushes deeply, but his eyes hold mine. “Was it done to you by those men who were after your father?”
“No,” I say. “It was done by Prince Rhen.”
He rolls up on one arm to look down at me. “In Emberfall?”
I nod. “When I was fifteen.”
“I hate him,” he says immediately.
I laugh softly. “Jax.”
“I do. Take me with you. I’ll tell him to his face.”
He probably would. I can just imagine Rhen’s reaction.
I also can’t stop the thrill of intrigue that races through my thoughts when he saystake me with you.
“It was a long time ago,” I begin.
“Not too long. You can’t be much older than I am.”
“I’ll be twenty by midsummer.”
“As I said.”
“Prince Rhen was trying to protect his kingdom,” I say. “He bears his own scars. I’ve made my peace with it.”
“Truly? Then let me see.”
Well, he’s got me there.
Jax stares down at me. “You werefifteen. Barely more than a boy. I’m sure you were a huge threat to the kingdom of Emberfall.”
“King Grey was the rightful heir,” I say. “He would not reveal himself.”
“And what does that have to do with you?”
“I alone knew his secret.” I pause. Much like what happened with the soldiers when I was young, I don’t often discuss this—with anyone. “The … the whipping … it was done to us both.”
