Page 114 of Thorns & Fire
‘I don’t doubt it.’
Torj showed her all the basic techniques with a dagger – blocks, strikes, footwork patterns.But with each exchange, the air between them grew heavier with unspoken tension.Every correction became an excuse for contact, every demonstration a dance of desire that simmered just below the surface, despite the hurt that was buried beneath Wren’s determination – the hurt thathehad put there.
Torj forced himself to swallow the lump in his throat.‘In close quarters like this, your enemy’s sword is useless.But a blade like this...’He guided the dagger in her hand in an upwards motion that could pierce between an opponent’s ribs.‘That’s dangerous.’
Like the way you’re looking at me now, he thought as Wren’s stormy eyes met his.
‘When you fight with a dagger, you need to be efficient.Every movement should have a purpose, no wasted motion,’ he told her.Unable to resist, he closed the short distance between them in two fluid steps.One hand caught her blade while the other settled at the small of her back.His traitorous heart raced.‘Like that.’
Her breath hitched.‘Very efficient.’
‘Do you want to try?’he asked, using every ounce of willpower he had not to pull her into his arms.
‘No,’ she said, stepping away, allowing the cold to sweep in.‘I think I’ve got the hang of it for now.’
Torj hated the distance, hated the pain still lacing her words.‘Are you sure?’
‘I’m sure,’ she told him firmly, handing his dagger back.‘We’re done here.’
CHAPTER 46
Wren
‘The thicket’s thorns ask no permission to protect what blooms within’
– Elwren Embervale’s notes and observations
WREN WAS SITTINGon her bed, having stared at the same page of her textbook for over an hour.Zavier was still in the infirmary.When he had woken from the initial dose of valerian root, he had had another episode, resulting in a healer being injured.Farissa had told Wren they would keep him sedated until he was no longer a threat to others or himself.
Dessa had been withdrawn ever since, and Torj...Torj still made her heart hurt.Wren winced as she tried to palm the grit from her bloodshot, puffy eyes.She was so tired of crying.So tired of feeling broken.Her head was throbbing, and she was considering making up a sleeping draft when her door creaked open.
With her vision somewhat blurred, she sent her poison-tipped hairpin hurling at her uninvited guest.
‘Fuck!’Thea shouted, jumping several feet in the air from where the weapon in question had embedded itself between her feet.‘You haven’t lost your touch, Wren.’
At the sight of her sister’s familiar grin, Wren couldn’t helpit; she fell apart.Fresh tears tracked down her face and she let out a sob.
‘Wren...’Thea murmured, her grin fading instantly as she rushed to the bedside.‘What’s wrong?What happened?Who do I need to kill?’
Wren threw her arms around Thea’s neck.‘It’s good to see you, Thee.’
Thea squeezed her tightly, and despite the armour she was wearing, Wren felt the warmth of her, felt the gentle hand cradling the back of her head and stroking her hair.
Wren was usually the first to break away from an embrace.Sometimes the contact became too much, made her feel too vulnerable, like she might crack if she was given the support to do so.But she had already cracked, had already broken, and Thea was here to see her in all her messy glory.And so Wren clung to her sister for a few moments longer, the tears still falling.
At last, she peeled herself away and palmed at the wet tracks on her face.‘You’re here.’
Thea surveyed her, gaze lingering on the dark circles Wren knew shadowed her eyes, and the swollen red tip of her nose.But her sister didn’t ask, not yet.Instead, she nodded.‘I would have been here sooner were it not for Queen Reyna.She’s been a royal pain in my arse ever since I met up with her and Wilder.I practically had to drag her here.’
‘Thank you for coming,’ Wren said, her voice threatening to crack again.‘I...I need you.’
Thea made a show of looking her over again.‘Clearly.’
A hoarse laugh bubbled out of Wren at that.
Thea pushed a pile of books off the bed, the tomes thudding to the ground.She settled herself on the other end of the mattress, shoving a few pillows behind her and looking to Wren with surprise.‘You must be out of sorts if you didn’t round on me for not treating the books with respect.’
Wren motioned to her blotchy face.‘Clearly,’ she echoed back.
