“We can’t trust him.”
Roshan turns to face me. “Wedon’t have a choice. We need their help to get you back to Coban. To see you safe. What’s the matter?”
Sands, does he not see that he’s being force-fed rhetoric by the leader of the Dahaka himself? Even if there’s some truth to it, Roshan is an Oryndhr prince, who would be a powerful ally for them. If I were the commander, I’d absolutely say anything to convince him to come to my side. Thisallianceis a fucking windfall to the Dahaka.
“Nothing,” I say, guilt sluicing through me because I know he’s only doing this for us. To keep the promises he made tome. “What else did you learn?”
“Javed’s collecting jadu any way he can get it. But he’s not using it. He’s storing it.”
That draws my attention. “Why?”
“If no one else has jadu, they can’t fight back. They can’t fightyou. Aran might be a magi, but he still needs jadu to amplify and cast. Oryndhr’s only the start of it. I know my brother, and he won’t stop until he gets his secret weapon back.”
My blood chills as my palms heat. Roshan doesn’t need to explain further.
I’m the final piece of Javed’s scheme to take absolute control.
The secret weapon is me.
Chapter Thirteen
When I wake up the next morning, the sleeping area next to mine is empty. I’d thought it was going to be difficult with Roshan sharing the same space as me, but it’d been extraordinarily comfortable. Thank the maker I was too exhausted to have any intimate dreams, because that would have been awkward as fuck.Please excuse any noises I might make while dreaming of you naked, Your Highness.
A low growl that comes from nowhere and everywhere at once makes the hairs on my neck lift, and I blink. What in Droon was that?
Perhaps it had come from the other room. Or maybe it was my stomach, as an ominous, very loud rumble of hunger makes me snort.
Rising, I dress and perform my morning ablutions before making my way to the shared living space. Roshan is there, moving through a series of complex calisthenics. I almost swallow my tongue as I take in his shirtless body on display, his limbs moving in precise, powerful motions that are impossibly graceful. His muscles undulate beneath the sheen of his brown skin.
I clear my throat. “Good morning.”
“You’re awake,” he says, glancing my way. “Sleep well?”
“Yes.” Nodding, I make my way over to the counter, where I choose ayellow starfruit and bite into it. I watch him while I eat as he continues to move in and out of those slow, flowing formations, every muscle flexing and rippling. It takes almost all my concentration to keep chewing.
“Where did you learn to do all this? And to fight?” I ask, finally breaking the silence.
“Javed and I had tutors when we were children,” he says.
“Show me how to do some of it,” I say to Roshan when he strolls toward me and reaches for a glass of water on the table.
His brow creases. “What?”
“I nearly got pummeled by that Dahaka soldier. Teach me your style of boxing. I’m going to need some new skills to defend myself.”
He shoots me a look and empties the cup. “You can defend yourself plenty.”
That shuts me up. Annoyed, I clasp my nightmare hands behind my back. “I don’t want to usethat. I don’t even knowhowto use it. And the last thing I want is for more people to get hurt.”
Those brown eyes of his bore into mine. I’m worried that he’ll be afraid of me, but that’s not the dominant emotion in those warm depths. He looks more afraid ofhimself,as if he doesn’t trust himself around me. Could he be feeling as affected as I am? For a moment, it seems as though he’s going to refuse, and I open my mouth to beg, but then he releases a breath and nods.
I resist the urge to fist pump in victory when he crooks a finger at me to join him at the center of the room.
“Start with putting your hands up like this.” He throws his fists up in front of his chin, and I mimic his stance. “Rule one, always protect your face and throat. Spread your legs apart so your weight is centered. You want to maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses and give your opponent the smallest target possible. You’re small, so you have an advantage.”
“I’m not that small,” I say, drawing myself up to my full height. I barely reach the top of his chest.
Roshan smiles, and I savor the rush of satisfaction. “You’re so tiny, I could put you in my pocket. Carry you around like a little pint-sized pocket princess.”
