This is nothing like sparring with Nora— or with Verin, for that matter. Alek is ruthless in a different way, all brute strength and deadlyprecision. But it’s all right. Unlike my sister, I’ve had a lot of different opponents among the soldiers. And I might be learning to embroider with the queen’s ladies, but I still grew up on a farm, and my muscles know how to work.
Eventually, however, his skill trumps mine. He hooks my hilt, catches my ankle with his foot, and I go down. My blade goes spinning into the dirt.
I glare up at him, breathing hard. Dust from the arena floor collects along the sweat on my skin.
“Go ahead,” I spit at him. “Are you going to jab at me now? Or are you just going to kill me?”
“Neither.” He immediately lets me go, then straightens to sheathe his sword. “We’re wasting time. The queen has asked us to continue our visits among the Royal Houses.” He stands over me haughtily. “Get up. We have our orders.”
I’ve envisioned Alek returning to the Crystal Palace for weeks, but in every imagining, he has soldiers at his back and they’re dragging me through the gates in chains. I stare at him. “Really?”
“Yes.”
To my left, Nora rushes forward, but Alek holds up a hand, then snaps his head around. “No more. Your sister is busy.”
Something in his tone tells me hisnextfight won’t be a sparring match. It’ll be real.
I find my feet, wishing I didn’t have just a training blade against my palm. “I’m not goinganywherewith you,” I say.
“Fine,” he says. “Disobey. Ignore her orders. Run along and tell the queen you have no time for me.” He glances at Nora. “Perhapsyouwould like to join me, little cat. I could introduce you to some new opponents among the Royal Houses. Your sister certainly seemed to enjoy herself during our visits.”
“Alek!” I snap.
He folds his arms and raises his eyebrows. “Ah! Forgive me. Was Nora unaware of our time together?”
I’m frozen in place. Because she wascompletelyunaware.
And he well knows it.
My sister’s expression has lit with surprise, and she glances between the two of us, and now she’s frowning. Her voice goes very small, and I can’t tell if she’s disappointed in me or distrustful of him. “Cally- cal?”
In that instant, I realize how very young she still is.
I grit my teeth and glare at Alek. “Nora. It’s fine. Go back to the nursery.” I heave a sigh, wanting to punch him in his triumphant face. “And when you see the queen, let her know Alek arrived, and I’m with him.”
CHAPTER 7
CALLYN
I expect a carriage, because that’s the only way I’ve ever traveled with Alek, so I’m shocked when we don’t head for the carriage house, and instead he leads me to the royal stables.
I still have no idea what he’s doing here, and he hasn’t said a word to me since we left Nora in the arena.
“What are we doing?” I demand.
“I’m fetching my horse.” He gestures to the stable hand waiting by the doorway. “Fetch Lady Callyn’s as well.”
The stable hand frowns, and he looks to me in surprise. He’s barely more than a boy, and he falters. “Ah . . . my lord. My lady. Forgive me, but—” He looks me up and down. He probably has no idea who I am— just like I have no idea whoheis. I’ve only been here once, when Sinna wanted to show me her favorite pony.
“Alek,” I say. “I don’t have a horse here.”
“Oh, yes.” He nods to the boy. “Send word to the southern stables—”
“No,” I snap, wondering how it’s possible he made this so awkward so fast. “I mean I don’t have a horse atall.”
He looks back at me in surprise. “How is that possible?”
I glare at him. He’s soarrogant—and this is almost humiliating. “Because I don’t know how to ride? Because I’m poor? Because I didn’t need a horse when I ran the bakery?” He’s just staring at me, and my gaze narrows. “Should I keep going? Do you need more reasons?”
