“Oh right. I forgot. We need to wait outside,” Imogen muttered, grabbing my arm to pull meback.
I pulled out of her grip and stepped further inside the training room. The door slammed shut behind me, booming through the cavernousspace.
Lugh’s elaborate routine came to a sudden stop. He twisted toward me andscowled.
I held up my bucket. “Sorry. Came here for aclean.”
Why the hell was I apologising? I ought to be shouting at him for making me mop up after him in the firstplace.
“You’re meant to check the log books before bursting in here with your mop and bucket.” He snapped the spear into its stand against the wall and stalked away from me. “You interrupted my trainingsession.”
“A pretty impressive training session at that,” I said, following closebehind.
He stopped suddenly, but kept his glistening, toned back turned my way. “Has my hearing failed me?” As I inched around him, I caught a glimmer in the corner of his eye. “That sounded like acompliment.”
“Maybe because it was one.” I edged a little closer, coming to a stop when we stood face-to-face. “You’re good with aspear.”
His lips quirked. “Of course I am. I’m the best in this Court. Perhaps the best faealive.”
Bloody hell, this male wascocky.
Feigning disinterest, I leaned against the wall while I watched him towel the sweat off his body. It was difficult to stay focused, but I had a mission. “Anyone else in the Court good with a spear? I’ve only ever met swordfighters.”
He slowed, towel pausing between the dip in his abs. “Most fae prefer the sword, but I’m curious how you’ve met so manywarriors.”
Dammit. Not again. I kept forgetting to downplay my knowledge about thefae.
“There are more solitary fae out there than you think.” Was that even true? Didn’t matter. All that mattered was convincing Lugh it wastrue.
“Nowthatdoes not surprise me.” He dropped the towel into a wicker basket in the corner and grabbed a stainless steel water bottle. As he took a long chug, I couldn’t help but notice how a few drips escaped and ran down his chin, and then neck, and thenchest...
Ahem.
“You talked about signing in,” I tried. “Do you have a weapon’s log as well? Something that people have to sign when they take them out ofhere?”
Lugh stopped chugging and gave me a suspicious glare. “If you’re thinking of taking a weapon out of this room, then you are going to be verydisappointed.”
“Mostly, I’d like my own weapon back, thanks,” Isnapped.
Narrowing his eyes, Lugh leaned forward and wrapped his hand around the back of my neck. All logical thought fled from my brain. My heart barely worked. A beat here, a beat there. Not that I even noticed. The only thing in the world that existed was his hot as fire touch against myskin.
I swallowedhard.
“You will get your weapon back when I decide that I trustyou.”
“And when will that be?” Iwhispered.
His eyes dropped to my lips, and he frowned. “Fate is certainly a strangebeast.”
My heart skipped another beat. “You’re speaking in riddlesagain.”
“I’m not speaking in riddles, and you know it.” With that, he dropped his hand and pulled away. “Your cleaning friend is outside, listening to every word we say. I should let you two get on with yourjob.”
Lugh took another chug of his water, and then strode toward the training room doors. Frustrated, I called after him. “Are you the only fae in this castle who fights with a silver-tipped spear? If so, then I have a riddle for you. One that involvesthe—”
With a growl, he whipped toward me. “Do not question yourKing.”
He ripped open the door to reveal a wide-eyed Imogen creeping in the background. Without a single glance in her direction, he stormed down the hallway and disappeared fromview.
