“What is this really about?” I asked. “You can’t be mad about dinner.”
I stepped closer, pushing his massive unmovable body aside with my shoulder, surprised that it wasn’t metal armor I met but the soft padding underneath. Like he’d been half dressed and decided to come here?
He froze then, at my closeness or something else, I didn’t know, before his eyes darted to where he still held my wrist in his grasp. A twinge of color rose to his cheeks, and he pulled back, letting my hand drop.
“Good night, Axefire.” I shook my head, waiting until he moved away from my doorway before entering.
“Don’t disappear again.”
I slammed the heavy wooden door in his face.
22
Another week into training and I finally developed a routine.
I woke earlier now, to ribbon dance. Edith had suggested it, and I found the familiar movements soothed my mind and stretched my muscles before training. I felt steadier.
And it was a comfort to begoodat something again. To feel like my body knew how to move.
I’d stop by to say good morning to Flame in the tyger stables, where I often found Couscous stealing her breakfast. Other times, my cat would be curled up in the hay, a small ball of orange and cream nestled against the great tygress’s paws.
The warriors around me got better each day, proof of the masterful training of our Ambush Master and Captain of the Guard. We were not only trained in weapons but also taught the limited knowledge they had regarding the demons and monsters we were to fight. Even I had improved, though not enough. I was faster, well-balanced atop Flame, and my archery skills had much improved, but I still struggled.
One afternoon, I turned a corner and slammed into a wall of muscle—Ire. His hand shot out before I could react, fingers closing around my throat as he shoved me back into the stone, trapping me. To remind me how easily he could.
His body crowded mine.
“You don’t deserve to be here,” he said, his breath hot against my cheek. “Fate made a mistake. And the rest of us are stuck cleaning it up.”
His thumb dragged slowly against my skin, just under my jaw, like he was considering something worse. His eyes dropped to my mouth. “You’re not a warrior. You’re a toy someone put in the wrong place. Dressed up like one of us, but soft where it counts.”
I refused to flinch.
He leaned in closer, mouth at my ear now. “Keep pretending you belong. We’ll see how long that pretty act lasts.”
Then he let go and stepped back, smiling like he hadn’t just choked me. “See you in training, little Azure.”
I waited until he was gone, then pressed my shaking fingers to my throat.
Breathe, just breathe.
—
“Again,” Blake ordered.
Sweat dripped off my forehead. It was late afternoon, the sun high today. It was early in the fourth month and a day when spring seemed possible. Most of the men had stripped themselves of their shirts in the heat, though not Blake. I’d admired Jace’s leanly muscled chest and stomach from the corner of my eye. I had stripped my riding jacket off long ago and was in the sleeveless tunic beneath. Malissa opposite me looked the same, her hair braided back smoothly away from her lightly flushed face. She was unshakable against anything I tried.
She often stood close to Blake, a possessive hand on his bicep, leaning in close to confer while Ire watched them with furious, calculating eyes. Clearly, the king favored Blake and seemed to welcome an engagement between them. From Blake’s point of view, who wouldn’t want to inherit a dominion? I wondered how deep their relationship was—and then nearly slapped myself tostopfrom wonderinganythingabout the Ambush Master.
“Use your magic,” Jace called.
“I would, but I’m in short supply,” I muttered under my breath. Still, it made Jace smile.
“I saidagain,” Blake barked.
Malissa flexed her hands once, before darting for me, tackling hard. There were a few bruises along my bicep and forearm where she’d managed to slam me into the mat. I hadn’t landed one clean move on her in all our matches. Balancing against her strength was hard, but Blake had demanded I keep trying.
This time, I darted for her legs, sliding low to hook behind her ankles. She jumped clear of my sweep.
