Page 37 of Fearless

Words spill from my mouth in response to his own. “But I’m not pretending to be your friend. I’ve never had to. Not even when I needed to find that tunnel. And I will keep trying to prove that until you tell me you believe it.”

There is a long pause. “Okay.”

“Okay,” I repeat sternly.

He cracks a smile. I smile back.

I feel young. Hopeful. Anew.

In this moment, I see the future we could have—a glimpse of the boy who threw chocolates into my mouth and helped clean each one I missed off the floor.

I see a friendship, not love.

No, love is what I see when I look at his brother.

I run my fork through the pile of mashed potatoes on my plate. “Is this a horrible time to tell you that I’ve never much liked your favorite food?” His raised eyebrows have me attempting to amend with a weak, “It’s a texture thing.”

He leans back, head shaking. “You’re not helping your case, Paedyn.”

I don’t stifle my laugh in time. “Oh, so my dislike for mashed potatoes is what’s unforgivable?”

“I’m afraid so.”

With a shake of my head, I lift a forkful of potatoes between us. “Fine. To my dislike for mashed potatoes. May it be our biggest problem.”

This earns me a slight smile. He clinks his fork against mine and echoes, “May it be our biggest problem.”

CHAPTER 14Kai

I weave between the training rings, hands tucked casually behind my back.

Sweaty bodies pack the yard, some sparring while others groan through the set of exercises I’ve forced upon them. I scan the crowded expanse of dirt and torn grass, tracing the movements of those around me. My hand shoots out, lifting a Brawny’s elbow as I pass. “Keep your back straight. Carry the sword higher.”

The Imperial nods before I continue down the path, catching a Flash before he runs into a loaded crossbow or a Bloom keen on uprooting my training yard.

It seems my soldiers are out of practice.

Father ensured that most of my time was spent hunting down Ordinaries. But, seeing that Kitt freed me from that gruesome task, I can now focus on whipping my men into shape.

“I don’t care if you are the strongest Elite out here,” I call, standing in the center of chaos. “I want you to learn how to fight without ability.” I point to a particularly filthy Imperial. “Widen your stance. And you—”I step into a ring, pulling a Shell’s forearm higher. “Guard your face, always. You’re not made of stone right now.”

I’ve spent the entire day shouting variations of the same thing. Every two hours a new rotation of soldiers stepped into the yard, replacing the ones I’d worn out. Ordinaries are sprinkled among the Elites and instantly recognized by the group. They are timid, unsure of every movement, as if terrified to make a wrong one. I’ve learned over the past several hours that it is best to separate those Ordinaries from the taunting Elites. At least, until I’m confident they can swing a sword correctly.

Darkness has bled across the sky before I finally stride back into the castle.

I’m tired and hungry, but most of all, I’m thinking of her.

My feet are quick to find their way toward the queen’s quarters. It feels wrong, and yet, so entirely fitting that she is occupying them. The halls are quiet, the shadows are thick, and—

Her door is fixed.

I shouldn’t be surprised, considering I’m the one who told Andy it was in need of repair. With her hard work in mind, I gently rap my knuckles against the wood rather than kicking it off the hinges.

Her footsteps grow closer on the other side of the door. I’ve gotten rather good at memorizing every sound she makes. Every laugh from her throat, every shuffle of her feet, every sigh against my mouth.

The door swings open, and there she is. A large shirt hangs off her tan shoulder, the hem of it nearly covering the silk shorts exposing the length of her legs. Her short hair is damp, skin sweet with the remnants of bathing oils. I breathe her in as my eyes roam over the familiar figure before me.

She peeks her head out the door, expression suddenly anxious. “You shouldn’t be here,” she hisses into the silence. Then, without another word, I’m being tugged into her room.

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