It really was a wonder that Callen stood next to North as one of Harthon’s trusted leaders. North would slice off someone’s ear if they asked him to make a bet.
“You do realize how unprofessional that is, right?”
“No, it’s justmyversion of professional.”
Screw it. “Fine. Let’s bet. If I beat you in this scenario within a month, you’ll have to follow through on a dare of my choice.”
“That’s vague.”
“Intentionally so. Do you accept it, or are you scared?”
He gave me a look full of mischief. “Oh, I accept. And when you don’t beat me in this scenario within a month, you’ll ask anyone who speaks to you to call you ‘Fish Eyes’ for one whole month.”
That was absolutely not happening. I extended my hand. “Deal.”
He shook it, chuckling. “This will be fun.”
“No sabotaging my training so that you can win.”
“Duh. I don’t need to sabotage your training to win,” he said smugly.
I narrowed my eyes at him. There was no time like the present. Without any warning, I squeezed his hand and sent my leg up into his stomach, releasing his fingers as my foot made contact.
It was perfect form.
He absorbed the blow without moving.
I stared at him with wide eyes. For the love of the Domus, it’d been a direct hit, and he acted like I’d simply tickled him.
He smiled, white teeth flashing as his second dimple appeared. “I cannot wait to hear Harthon and North and everyone else call you ‘Fish Eyes.’”
A growl threatened to rattle my chest once more, but I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.
He winked. “Don’t worry about it too much during your meeting with Aric.”
* * *
Two hours later, I was still determining the best way to make Callen eat his words as Stefano walked me down the hallway. Felda and Frannie had braided my hair and set it into a bun, and I was wearing an ensemble similar to what I wore at Ellan’s party. This time, though, the thin, corseted top was a violet overlaid with a golden sheen, as if the two colors of my eyes had been combined into one.
My eyes fell to the sword at Stefano’s hip as he brought us into an unfamiliar wing of the Citadel. I would have my regular daily trainings with Callen and practice my hits and blocks on my own, but additional hand-to-hand combat was needed if I was to win the bet.
“Have you trained anyone before?” I asked him.
He sent me a look of confusion as we rounded a corner. “Occasionally,but only new recruits.”
I essentially was a new recruit. “Excellent. Starting tonight, we’re going to train together every day.”
His steps stuttered. “I…what? Why? Isn’t Callen in charge of your training?”
Stefano was going to agree. He had to. I couldn’t bear to hear anyone else call me that horrid nickname. “We made a bet, and I need to beat him. To do that, I need your help.”
“Why in all the Territories would you make a bet on beating Callen?” he asked, making it sound like I was idiotic.
Perhaps I was, but it was far too late to back out now.
“I don’t need to beat him in a fight. I just need to be able to knock him back a step. Surely you can help me get there,” I said, not caring that I was pleading with the kid.
“Callen is, like,reallygood in combat. I don’t know if I can get you there. I don’t even know if training you is allowed.”
