“Get dressed!” she hissed, already scanning the room in a frantic sweep for her own clothes.
She bolted across the room, grabbing her loose red pants from where they’d been discarded the night before. Her head whipped back toward the door.
The flap peeled open another inch.
“I said give me aminute!” she yelped, wrenching the pants over her hips before her hands flew to the discarded leather wrap and dragged it up over her front just as the flap fully opened.
“Ben!” she hissed as dawn filled the room, only to freeze as she registered the much taller shadow looming just behind the boy.
Rynna’s gaze shot upward, catching the tall silhouette of a woman standing at full height, holding the flap open with one hand.
“Mira!” she blurted, this time a full octave higher. “Ah—I didn’t realize you were…there.”
Her fingers scrambled to finish the knot over her sternum.
Behind her, Kaelith had already managed to get his pants on. Loose, dark fabric slung low on his hips, the tie at his waist dangling undone. He was barefoot, seated with one knee pulled up and the other stretched out across the mat, looking maddeningly unbothered. His long, ink-black hair spilled over one shoulder in silken waves, catching the morning light and framing the lean muscle carved down his pecs and stomach.
Still on the floor.
Still not moving.
Andveryclearly not sorry.
Fuck. Rynna tore her eyes away and forced herself to refocus on Mira, trying to slow her heart and chase the heat off her cheeks.
“I thought I’d walk you down to training today.” The tall woman’s brows arched as she moved her hands to her hips. “You can update me on Ben’s progress along the way.”
“Of course,” Rynna managed, voice just this side of hoarse.
Then, her stomach betrayed her with a loud, unmistakable growl.
Right. Food. They’d barely had time to getdressed,let alone think about eating.
“I made leaf rolls,” Ben offered brightly, already digging into the oversized satchel slung over his mother’s shoulder. The bag nearly swallowed him whole, but he wrestled it open with practiced enthusiasm. “Here!” He lobbed the bundle her way, tripping a little as he did.
Expecting some level of clumsiness, Rynna lunged forward, caught it with the arch of her foot, and flicked it up to her hands in one smooth motion.
“Woah!” Ben’s mouth fell open.
She winked at him, flipping the bundle once more and tossing it toward Kaelith without looking. He caught it one-handed, still reclined, still infuriatingly at ease.
Then Rynna stepped up to Mira, who was already holding another roll in one palm. The older woman handed it over with a short nod, her expression unreadable.
“Thank you.” Rynna accepted it with both hands, bowing slightly.
Ben hadn’t stopped staring. “How’d you do that?” He kicked out one bare foot, mimicking her motion. “With your foot like that?”
She laughed, the tension from moments before fading. “We have a ball game at home.” She peeled back the charred ban-leaf wrapping. “You can only use your feet. It’s pretty fun.”
The heat hit her first. Steam rose from pan-seared okra and supple root slivers packed inside a thin millet flatbread, warm and fragrant from the smoked leaf casing, with just enough fire pepper oil to make her nose tingle.
“Smells amazing.” She took a bite, groaning.
“Only your feet?!” His eyes lit up as he immediately began scanning the ground, clearly searching for something to kick.
Behind her, Kaelith rose from where he’d been lounging to stand behind her, tracing a hand along her lower back. “And where exactly do they play that foot-game again?”
She nearly choked on her bite.
