“Lieutenant,” the general growls.
Riah pivots on her heel, her smile vanishing as her back straightens when she acknowledges the male. The onlookers disperse in a flurry, resuming their patrols or whatever other tasks they’d been charged with.
“Out.” He issues the simple command clearly and Riah jogs out of the ring.
“I asked her to step in for me,” Awri says, ready to defend the female.
“For what reason?” he demands, walking straight past the lieutenant and swinging himself over the fence and into the ring.
“Riah was far more suited for the task,” Awri explains.
He scoffs and grabs my chin, tipping my head to get a good view of my injuries, minor as they may be.
“Go and clean up, lieutenant,” he commands, “I’d like a word with you, first thing tomorrow morning.”
Riah rushes off and the general puffs out a disgruntled sound. “I’m taking you to see Caden.”
I raise an eyebrow. “I’m sure that’s not necessary.”
“It isn’t an offer,” he says sternly, taking my hand and leading me toward the palace.
CHAPTER 25
THE A’KORI PALACE
Present Day
Caden, I learn, is currently at a small village west of the city. Despite my continued insistence that I have no need of a healer, he is summoned. He makes it to the palace as the sun sets beyond the northern ranges. I hiss a breath when the healing touch of his gift sears beneath my skin.
“I’ll see to it that Riah is no longer involved in your lessons,” the general says as I thank the healer.
Caden smiles shyly and gives me a quick bob of his head before rushing from the room with a wary glance toward the general. Caden seems just as eager to be out of the general’s presence as the last time he healed me and I wonder how he came to be in his service.
“Did you really expect me to walk away from a training session completely unscathed?” I ask incredulously.
He gives me a look that tells me that isexactlywhat he thought.
“You did. Didn’t you? That’s why you sent me with Awri.” I laugh. “I’ll admit, I expected a feyn who fought in the war to put up more of a fight.”
“Awri never fought in the war,” he says matter-of-factly.
A puzzled expression forms on my face as I say, “She told me herself that she was in Brax during the war.”
“She was, but not for the reasons you might think.” He takes my chin and rotates my face, checking over Caden’s work, though I have no doubt he decided before allowing the healer to leave the room that his work was adequate.
“Then, what was she doing in the south?” I ask.
His jaw stiffens as his eyes land on mine. I try to make my answering smile reassuring. The last thing I need is the general to assume I’m fishing for information.
“Sometimes it’s easy to forget that right now I’m the enemy,” I say.
Really, I have always been the enemy, unbeknownst to them. But with the recent landing of the warship, I have no doubt that they will have to draw firmer lines.
“Youare not the enemy,” he insists, “I’m just not sure you know that yet.”
I should be proud that I’ve deceived him so thoroughly, but it isn’t pride that swells inside of me when he says it.
He cups my jaw, swiping his thumb across my cheek affectionately when he asks, “Have you reconsidered my offer?”
