Page 141 of Daughter of No Worlds

I’m sure she saw the same thing I did when I looked at her wrist, but for me, this pain was only a reminder that Reshaye didn’t need to waste time with broken sticks and magic swords if it really, truly wanted me dead.

No, what happened in there was a game.

I should’ve known that. I should’ve held out longer.

She opened her mouth, and I knew she was getting ready to tell me, yet again, for the hundredth time today, that I should leave.

“We know how this discussion goes, Tisaanah. Don’t start.”

“If I had hurt you—”

“It wasn’t going to.”

Sammerin stood and cast me one quiet look before he slipped out the door. If Tisaanah noticed him go, she didn’t show it.

“If I took evenone more momentlonger to take back control—”

“You didn’t. And now you know how to do it.”

How strange it felt, trying to be optimistic about this, of all things. Optimistic or willfully ignorant. My most cynical, most obnoxious self would call the two the same.

“Besides,” I added, “tomorrow we leave for Threll, and you’ll be glad you have one of the best fighters in Ara with you when we get there.”

The echo of a smile twitched at the corners of her mouth. “Are you bragging?”

“It’s not bragging if it’s true. And for once, I’m looking forward to watching those bastards burn.”

I meant every damn word of it.

She lifted her face, and for the first time since I returned, I didn’t pull away from the bare, electrifying force of her gaze. I wasn’t sure, entirely, why it had made me so uncomfortable. Maybe there was too much I didn’t want her to see, or too much I was afraid of seeing in her. Maybe there was just something about the way her face struck me, every single time, that terrified me beyond belief.

I pushed aside one strand of hair that cut across her green eye. “Show me that unrelenting brute force, Tisaanah.”

She didn’t move, didn’t speak. But a fiery glitter seeped into her eyes, and I let their flames strip me, burn me, consume me, until there was nothing left but ash.

* * *

Sammerin clenchedhis pipe between his teeth as he released a perfect ring of smoke.

His face never betrayed anxiety, never anything more than thoughtfulness. But I knew he smoked only when he was nervous.

We strode through the halls of the Tower in silence. Down and down.

“What is it, Sammerin?”

His eyes asked me a silent question, and I returned it with a knowing look.

“Whatever you’re pondering. Just say it.”

Another slow puff of smoke, through his nose like a dragon. “One day, Max. It’s been one day, and we’re already here.”

“It wasn’t going to kill me.”

“That thing is unpredictable.”

“She had it. I should have waited.”

“A broken wrist was a small price, and it looked to me like she gladly paid it to ensure your safety.”

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