‘That was a low blow,’ he growls, though his eyes flashwith something close to respect. He sits upright and presses his fingers to the wound, checking to see if he’s bleeding.
‘I trust my stitching,’ I say when his fingers come back clean. ‘Now, I believe we’re done here.’
In one sweeping moment, he’s on his feet. ‘I think you’ll find the condition was to draw blood,’ he growls, his eyes glinting. ‘Like you said, your stitches are good.’
‘And I think you should check your neck.’
He moves his fingers up to the place where the very tip of my knife nicked the thinnest line on his skin at the same moment my elbow struck him. A small droplet colours his fingertips, and when he looks back at me, it’s a genuine smile gracing his lips, not a smirk.
‘Well, then. We’re done for now.’ Still looking absurdly proud, he turns, picks up his shoes, and walks away without another word.
I’m still standing there with my pulse hammering when Llinos races back towards me.
‘Okay, that’s enough training. We’re all trained out.’ She grabs my arm as she hauls me in the direction of the dorms. ‘You and I are going to have a serious conversation. Now.’
Chapter 46
‘Idon’t know what’s wrong with me,’ I tell Llinos as we walk into the dining room later that evening. ‘It’s some screwed-up physical attraction thing. You know, it’s just a case of “can’t have, therefore want.” It’s a weird physical crush, that’s all.’
Llinos grins back at me. ‘Rosey, honey, you’ve said that phrase about a hundred times today. Who are you trying to kid? I mean, I don’t mean to be funny or anything, but why the hell not go there? That fight was beautiful. Imagine what it’s gonna be like when you’re fucking.’
She says the word ‘imagine’ like I haven’t done that way too often for my own good. I groan. ‘I can’t get distracted. Two trials left and then the Ofur. Besides, he’s the heir to the throne, and I’m a slum rat.’
‘You’re not!’ she says sharply.
One of us.
‘I am,’ I say firmly, ‘and I’m not ashamed of it. The people there are good people who’ve fallen on hard times.’ I think of the gifts they laid at my door. It’s a reminder that I need to ask Leilah about the food I hoped to get out to the slums. ‘Kind, generous people. But all of that doesn’t change whoheis.’
‘And where you live doesn’t change whoyouare. You are, and always will be, Lady Kultavaris.’
‘Leave it, Llin, please,’ I beg. ‘Now, can we go and get some food? I’m starving.’
Jonas is already at our table, but there’s no food in front of him.Instead, he’s staring at a piece of paper. A pang of annoyance hits. Artur is still sneaking in correspondence to Jonas but hasn’t thought that perhaps it would be nice if he could do the same for Kay and me. Then again, Artur’s already doing more than he needs to, to help us, so I can hardly begrudge him the oversight.
‘Everything all right?’ I ask.
He crumples the paper and shoves it into his pocket. ‘Yeah, just correspondence from my father.’
It’s only been four days since the ball, but Gods, I miss Kay already. Though I’m not exactly sure how she’d take my situation with Kyor, particularly given the warning I gave her about Hew. Talk about hypocrisy.
‘Did he say anything about Kay? How she’s getting on?’
Jonas frowns. ‘No, why?’
‘No reason. I just thought he might say something.’
‘No, no.’ He shakes his head, but the thin vein in his forehead is pulsing slightly, a surefire sign he’s concerned about something.
Before I can question him further, Benny sweeps in and sits next to me.
‘Hear I missed an interesting fight earlier.’ He grins at me before flashing Llinos a loaded look.
Jonas looks up. ‘What happened?’
‘Oh, it was just Zara and Oke,’ I say quickly, shooting the others a look. Somehow, I don’t think Jonas needs to hear this.
‘Yeah? Who came out on top?’
