He tugged down his mask to flash me a smile. “No, you didn’t.”
I smiled back. “Of course not, V.”
“V?” he drawled.
“No? I thought I’d try it out. You know, Viper, Vander, it fits for both.”
He shook his head. “No.”
I snickered. I had to get him out of his seriousness sometimes. “I’m ready for the game.”
“I know you are. I’m impressed with how much you’ve improved since your first day here. You are even better at the sword than Smoke and she’s trained for years. But I doubt she’s been as dedicated as you have.”
“You know why.” I took a deep breath of the cold air and watched my breath plume on the exhale. Today it was warm enough with the sun shining for me to layer two long-sleeved tops instead of wearing a coat. “I need my family to be safe here.None of you city dwellers have to think about that. I haven’t even seen my youngest sibling. He or she will be a couple months old now.”
He chuckled. “You still don’t see yourself as one of us?”
I nudged his arm with my elbow and winked. “You can dress me up and tattoo me LOA, but I will always be the wild girl from Lothleton.”
He laughed again. Oh, how I loved his laugh. It warmed my insides and made my stomach flutter. He stood up, and I mirrored him. I’d followed his lead so often it was simply natural.
“Well, maybe we can sneak off and see them,” he said. “I told you in December if you could beat me at the sword we would go.”
“I thought you were joking. I’m not supposed to until after I graduate my apprenticeship.”
“I think I’m aware of that.”
He knew how much I wanted to see them. I’d mentioned it a few times while we were holed up in our room during a blizzard. He missed his mother and sister, even the father who disowned him, but he wouldn’t go see them. Not even his sister who worked at the scholars’ building. I tried to talk him into it one day, but he said he was barred from the scholars’ building too. His father was one of the seven head council members and had that authority.
My mother and the new baby weighed on my mind. Birthing and nursing a baby at her age would be hard on her. Although I knew my father, grandmother, and sister would step up to help any way they could. My brother was no help with a baby.
“So can you beat me yet?” He smiled mischievously.
I narrowed my eyes. “That’s really not fair. You know I can’t beat you,oh mighty one.”
“What’s with the names today?”
“It’s what we call you behind your back.”
“No, you don’t.” A slow feline smile. “But I’ve heard you and your little friends say other things about me.”
“Oh?” Celine could be downright dirty, so I hoped he hadn’t heard.
“As if you don’t know.”
“I don’t.” I raised my brows in challenge. “Do tell.”
“Handsome, of course.”
I rolled my eyes. “Well, you caught me. Vander the handsome. We sit around and talk about those abs and that face all supper long.”
Surprise rippled in his eyes, and he tilted his head. “Mmm, I’m sure you do. I think I’ve also heard quite a few times that I’m the best assassin, legendary even.” He took out his sword to challenge me.
“Hmm, not ringing any bells.”
He smirked and something daring flashed in him. “I believe I might have even heard I’m very good in bed. Weren’t you supposed to lay naked in our room to find out?”
My stomach swooped and a flush spilled into my cheeks. Celine, that little rat. Or was it Falcon who ran and told him about our chat in the library? That was months ago too. “First of all, that wasn’t even my idea.”
