“Who started it?” I ask by way of a morning greeting.
Both Dessa and Kastian turn to look at me, then at each other. No one says anything, and the silence in the room feels even heavier.
Alix, seeming relieved to focus on anything other than the silent argument, looks up at me and grins. “Morning, Aurelia. Nice skirt.
“Thanks.” I lean my hip against the table. “Has anyone seen Jett?”
“If he’s not still asleep, he’s probably in the stables,” Alix answers. “Why?”
“I want to practice sword fighting. I thought maybe he would help.”
Daemon furrows his brow. “Why would you want to do that?”
Alix elbows her soul-bond in the ribs. “Women can fight too.”
Daemon makes an exasperated sound. “I know that, Peaches. I meant, why would she need to? She’s got more magic than the rest of us combined, and Vernallis isn’t going to war any time soon. Not if I can help it.”
“Can’t I just want to be prepared?” I ask, thinking of what Fox said the other day about Fae with magic relying too much on their powers.
“Sure, I suppose,” Daemon says, “But why would you need Jett for that?”
“I thought he might spar with me. Unless you’re offering?”
Daemon shakes his head. “Can’t, sorry. We’ve got to inspect the new barracks over by the lake. We’ll be able to house an army of five hundred by the end of the summer.”
“Do we need that many soldiers?” Odessa asks blithely. “I wasn’t aware Vernallis was going to war.”
“We’re not,” Daemon barks. “And the soldiers will be the deterrent that keeps it that way.”
“Why don’t you ask Fox to help you?” Kastian asks me, cocking his head curiously. “Jett is a decent enough fighter, but Fox is the best there is at running an army.”
“I don’t need to be trained like a soldier. I just want to know how to defend myself.”
“Still—” Kas begins.
“Are you trying to get her killed?” Alix scoffs, interrupting Kastian. “Have you seen the soldiers Fox has been training lately? Half of them have broken limbs, and the other half just finished healing.”
“It would be different with Aurelia,” Kastian insists.
“I’m not worried I’d get hurt or anything,” I rush to say.
“Actually, that reminds me,” Daemon interjects, helpfully changing the subject. “How’s your potion coming along?”
“Good, actually!” I gush. “I think I’ve nearly perfected it. My latest batch should be ready to test by tonight.”
“Good,” Daemon says flatly. “We need it if we’re going to turn all Thorne’s old guards into a functioning army.”
“If you’re going to keep letting Fox beat the shit out of them all day long, you mean?” Odessa asks, examining her nails.
“It’s the same fucking thing,” Daemon growls. “He’s not being any harder on them than is necessary. If they’re too weak to handle training how will they handle a war?”
“I thought we weren’t going to war,” Kastian says, a hint of a smile in his voice.
“We’re not!” Daemon snaps, flexing his tattooed fingers.
Not especially interested in discussing any potential wars, I leave them to their debate and don’t say goodbye before slipping out the back door to go look for Jett. I think Daemon is right anyway. Vernallis isn’t going to war anytime soon—and my gut feelings are nearly always right.
Ienter the stables, and immediately spot Jett at the end of the long row of horse stalls, leaning against the wooden doorframe, his dark hair falling across one eye as he gesturesanimatedly. He’s talking to a curvy servant girl, whose cheeks flush pink as she twirls a strand of copper hair around her finger, laughing at whatever he’s just said while she pretends to sweep the same patch of straw.
