Page 72 of Thorns & Fire
As soon as her eyes met his, an ember caught alight.All the blood in his body rushed south as the images of what they’d done between these very shelves flashed before him.From her expression, she was picturing the same moment between them, and the urge to snatch her away from the others and throw her against the wall was almost overpowering.Only the discipline of a Warsword kept him in check – that and the fact that he didn’t know if she’d return the sentiment or slap him across the face.Or both.He’d gladly take both, he decided, as she tore her eyes away from him and entered the private study room, closing the door after her teammates.
Torj and Cal stood watch shoulder-to-shoulder outside, andthough Torj didn’t feel like talking, he needed to take his mind off his hardening cock.‘How’s it been with Zavier?’he asked Cal, scanning the shelves, monitoring the occasional footsteps nearby.
‘Intense,’ Cal replied.‘We had endless meetings here with Audra and the High Chancellor before we rode to Ciraun for more meetings with Talemir and the shadow-touched.There was a lot of controversy about his return and what consequences he should face for keeping his identity hidden and not returning to the throne sooner.’
‘What did Talemir have to say about it?’
Cal shrugged.‘That he never wanted the burden of leading a whole kingdom, and he was glad for the heir’s return in any capacity.’
‘And Zavier’s handling it well?’Torj asked.
‘Wellmight be a bit of a stretch.He barely sleeps, he’s lost weight...and he’s certainly more of a recluse than my last charge.’
‘That might not be the world’s worst thing,’ Torj ventured.‘Definitely less drinking and tavern-hopping.’
Cal huffed a laugh.‘Probably for the best.’
‘Speaking of – any clue whereProfessor Vulpinehas got to?’
‘None, which is surprising.I half expected him to barge into my quarters this morning and demand a visit to the Mortar and Pestle.’
‘You know Kipp...He’s always got several plates spinning at once.’
Cal made a noise of agreement.‘How were your travels?’
‘The rescue mission went as well as could be expected.Hawthorne and I managed to get—’
‘That’s not the travel I was talking about,’ Cal interrupted.
‘Oh?’
The younger Warsword rolled his eyes.‘I meant once you met up with Wren.You really fucked things up there, didn’t you?’
‘So I’ve been told.Several times,’ Torj replied testily.
‘You said you wouldn’t hurt her.’Cal’s voice was soft, but accusatory.
Torj’s mouth was suddenly dry.‘It wasn’t what I wanted.’
‘It’s what happened.’
Torj felt his jaw tic as his temper rose.‘Stay out of it, Cal.’
He expected his former protégé to back off, as he would have done when he was an apprentice, but Cal fixed him with a hard look.‘No.I won’t.What do you have to say for yourself?I saw the way you looked at her then, and I see it now.You love her.So why did you do what you did?’
‘It wasn’t that simple,’ Torj ground out.He hadn’t signed up to be interrogated.It was none of the Flaming Arrow’s fucking business.
But Cal wasn’t done pushing him.‘Then why did you come back?Why not go abroad like you intended?’
‘You think I wanted this?You think that this isn’t agony for me?’The words flew from his mouth in anger and it was too late to take them back.
‘Then fucking do something about it,’ Cal snapped.
‘You have no idea what’s coming, Cal.’
‘You think I don’t know unrest when I see it?You think I lived through the same war as you and came out the other side none the wiser?Whatever is coming, you’re a fool if you don’t realize you’re stronger together than apart.’
But before Torj could open his mouth to retaliate, the door swung open behind them and Zavier strode out.
