Page 11 of Drawn into Oblivion

“I—”

“But I wouldn’t say your skills are so superior to mine. How do you figure that?” she challenged. She snatched up a piece of smoked ham and ate it with angry efficiency.

“Your form is good. Solid,” he said, nodding with approval. “And your offense is certainly commendable in its technique and execution, but your defense is full of holes.”

This time, anger rather than shyness warmed her dusky cheeks. He wasn’t yet certain which emotion looked more attractive on her. “Is that so?”

“You would be an easy kill for a bone soldier.” A particularly hideous creature of Oblivion. They were basically walking skeletons, but not something clean and white that had been bleached in the sun or washed clean by water or sand. No, these undead still had bits of flesh, dried blood, and even hair clinging to them. The smell was terrible, but most horrifying was that every bone soldier used to be human. The better the human had been at fighting in life, the better the bone soldier.

“Tell me again who was tripped and nearly beheaded yesterday?” she countered before tearing into a piece of bread. Oka watched them argue, the last of his eggs forgotten on his plate.

“That was planned,” Rosuke clarified.

“Oh really?” she asked, dubious.

He could tell she wanted him to become defensive, but instead he smiled at her. He was delighted to know she had really believed he had been in danger. Her frightened scream had given him such hope, which was why he’d stared at her so possessively after he’d taken off his blindfold.

“Vallen and I have sparred so much that we easily predict each other’s moves, and yet we wanted to show how well one could use the darksight spell, even for a killing blow,” he explained.

“Well…it certainly didn’t look planned,” she mumbled, glowering at her plate. She ate the last of her smoked ham.

“How about we test you?” Having finished his food, he sipped his water and schooled his face to be as neutral as possible. She looked up from popping a grape into her mouth, and her finger was still caught between her lips. He nearly moaned at the sight.

“What do you mean?” she asked after she’d swallowed her food.

“We’ll find an open space, draw our swords, and see who’s better.”

“Ooh, that sounds exciting,” Oka said before shoveling more eggs into his mouth. Mai glanced at him, her jaw working but not on any morsels. He watched as hesitancy rode her hard. After all, the last time she’d thought she was better than her opponent, the empress had nearly broken a few of her bones.

“If you think your defense is as solid as I think it’s not, then a little spar will prove one of us right. We’ll have Oka referee the match. I’m sure he’d enjoy some excitement this morning,” he suggested, earning Oka’s wholehearted support. The boy was bouncing in his seat.

Mai worried her lip. Sparring probably wasn’t the right way to start making nice with men, but…it would be good practice. Perhaps a friendly duel, however contradictory that sounded, could build some rapport between them.

“I’m sure you’re too busy with other things,” she demurred, though she knew he didn’t have much on his agenda that morning. She didn’t want him to know how well she had memorized his weekly duties. At first, she had used the knowledge to avoid both him and the way he made her heart leap whenever she saw him, but then she had used it to seek out that plummeting sensation. Yesterday’s combat demonstration had not been the first time she’d spied on him. Something about him was dangerously addictive.

“Whatever is on my schedule can wait if it’s for you.” His tone was nonchalant, but his steady gaze gripped the center of her chest. The implication that he’d drop everything for her pulled at something knotted and tender deep inside. He scared her, but she seemed happy about it. Divine One help her, the two emotions conflicted so strongly it was dizzying. Her hands shook even as a small smile curled her lips, and she abruptly turned her face away.

“I’d need to retrieve my sword from my room,” she yielded. She pushed her plate away, having somehow eaten all her food.

“Excellent,” he said, standing. “Oka and I shall meet you in the third training room in the barracks. You know the way?”

“I do,” she said, nodding.

She moved to stand. Rosuke offered his hand and she froze with indecision. She had never touched him before. Even after the battle at Vallen’s hidden estate when Rosuke had been brought to his knees with grief, she hadn’t been able to bring herself to touch or comfort him.

“It’s all right, Mai,” he said, wiggling his fingers.

Her fear was like a cold, lead ball in her stomach that rolled around in sickening circles. But she put her fingers into his grasp. Though she hadn’t expected otherwise, she was surprised by the roughness of his hands, totally at odds with his feminine appearance. He pulled her to her feet while wearing an odd expression.

“What is it? Do I have something on my face?”

He shook his head, maintaining his grip on her fingers as his thumb brushed the back of her hand. She found it distracting, and yet she couldn’t pull her hand away.

“Your skin is softer than I thought it would be,” he whispered, low and rough. The texture of his voice rather than his words made her gasp. Her heart pounded with both embarrassment and a giddy emotion she couldn’t describe. She found herself wanting to smile despite how disconcerted she felt. What was this feeling only Rosuke seemed to bring out of her?

Keenly aware of herself, she realized the two of them had captured the attention of nearly everyone in the room. Whispers echoed against the high ceiling, and a couple people gestured at their linked hands.

“I shall meet you in a quarter of an hour, Commander,” she replied stiffly, pulling her fingers from his grip. She beat a hasty exit from the room.