Chapter 41
It’s too early in the morning to deal with bickering men, but that’s what I’ve got.
‘No.’ Kyor shakes his head. ‘There’s absolutely no way I’m leaving her alone with you after yesterday.’
‘Well, there’s absolutely no way I’m training her if you come with us,’ Stefan fires back. ‘Not after yesterday. You saw the damage that happened because of you.’
‘Because of me?’ Kyor barks. ‘I’m not the one who has his hands all over somebody else’s woman. And it’s fine. Someone else can train her.’
Stefan has his arms folded across his chest.
‘My hands were not all over the princess. I was trying to help her. And who are you going to find if not me? Any other warriors who can actually teach and are strong enough to go up against Rose’s powers are fighting a war.
Against you, I might add. And it’s too dangerous for anyone else.
As it is, I’m putting my life on the line every time I go out with her. ’
Guilt ripples through me. He’s right. Had one of those mountain peaks toppled in the wrong direction, there’s no way we would have walked out of there. From the way Kyor is momentarily silenced, he knows that too.
‘I don’t trust you with her,’ he says eventually. ‘There must be someone else. Uzra’s been through the Veil.’
‘Yes, and he’s not an Issen. What she needs is somebody who has been through what she has been through, who knows how the different forms of magic can manifest and can help her experience them in a controlled manner.
If you think it’s going to go any better with anyone else, you will be very, very mistaken.
If you don’t believe me, ask around. Ask the kitchen.
The library mice. They will all tell you the same thing.
I am the best teacher that’s here right now. ’
‘Then I’d hate to see what your shit ones are like,’ Kyor mutters.
‘What about Ranveeg?’ I say instead. I can’t believe I’m making the suggestion, but as a general in the army, I assume Ranveeg is strong, and if it stops this arguing and gets me training, that’s got to be a good thing.
Because even if I get through the Veil, I can’t go back to Wrohelm, go and fetch William and comfort Kay, until I have complete control of this.
‘Ranveeg isn’t even in the city right now,’ Stefan responds.
‘She’s not?’ I ask. ‘Where is she?’
‘Running things to the front lines, I think. I don’t know precisely as I wasn’t involved in those discussions. But that’s irrelevant. Either you train with me or you don’t train at all.’
Kyor’s jaw is clenched. ‘We’ll ask the king. Magnus will do it.’
Stefan looks at him incredulously. ‘We are at war with your father, with your kingdom. He’s already spent hours and hours with the princess at the Veil, and now you want him to neglect his other duties to do this as well?’
This talking has gone on for a long time, Little Raven. If such a situation occurred in the wolf kingdom, an unwanted male on our territory—
‘It’ll be fine, Kyor,’ I say aloud, not wanting to hear whatever barbaric suggestion Fen is going to offer me. ‘I’ve got Fen, remember? He’s been wanting to rip someone’s throat out for ages. I’m sure if Stefan is the slightest bit inappropriate, Fen will stop him.’
Kyor huffs. For a moment I think he’s going to keep up the argument, but then his gaze shifts behind me.
‘You two. Can you come here?’ He waves Benny and Ruben over. Unsurprisingly, they are linked arm in arm.
‘Nothing like a direct order from our future king.’ Ruben smirks, though Kyor’s jaw remains tight at the quip.
‘Listen, I don’t trust Stefan to keep his hands to himself, but Rose needs to train and I…
There is some evidence I may have been distracting her.
The Veil’s clock is ticking and she needs to master these powers, so I’d be grateful if you two could go with them and watch him.
Benny will know if he even looks at Rose funny, and if he does, you have my royal permission to hurl whatever size fireball you want at him, Ruben. ’
‘Wow. With public relations skills like that, it’s no wonder our kingdoms are at war.’ Stefan rolls his eyes but doesn’t protest the suggestion.
Kyor steps closer to Stefan and when he speaks his voice is a low, threatening growl. ‘If Benny sees what I see, if my suspicions about your behaviour are well-founded, then you’d better make your peace with Oel and prepare for Mortidem. You’ll be hearing his cane tapping before the day is out.’
Stefan grimaces and stalks off.
Kyor turns back to me. He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. ‘You’ve got this, Thorn,’ he says softly. ‘If I can make peace with a rebel leader, you can get control of your powers.’
‘Not a rebel leader,’ Benny calls out behind us. ‘More of a financier.’
Neither Kyor nor I pay him any attention. Instead, we kiss softly. His lips are little more than a whisper against mine, yet their touch fills my entire body with heat.
‘Try not to get into any trouble while I’m gone,’ I tell him when we break away.
‘Right back at you.’
With one last kiss, Kyor heads off, leaving me and the others to join Stefan and begin our – now very – long walk to the training grounds.
‘How far are we going this time?’ I say to Stefan when it feels like we’ve already been walking for hours.
‘Far,’ he replies. ‘I wasn’t joking yesterday. What you did could’ve been seriously dangerous. Not to mention, the further we are from the prince, the better. Politics aside, I don’t know how you can even stand that man, let alone have feelings for him.’
‘There’s a lot more to Kyor than his exterior,’ I tell him, but from his scoff, I suspect he doesn’t believe me.
‘Oh, to be in love with a possessive megalomaniac,’ Benny says dreamily.
Ruben chuckles. ‘At least you don’t have to worry about that.’
‘No, I don’t. I am in love with a perfect, kind, gentle man. Of course, if anyone put their hands on you, I would beat them senseless, but that’s irrelevant.’ He pauses. ‘Wait. Am I the possessive megalomaniac in our relationship?’
Ruben grins, then cocks his head contemplatively. ‘How do you feel about my power? You know, hugging men and women to stop them freezing to death? You’re not going to be the type of partner who stops me helping people, are you?’
‘Hmm,’ Benny contemplates the question. ‘Perhaps we’re going to have to put some rules in place. No topless hugs, for starters. Unless they’re attractive men and I’m there with you.’
Ruben snorts, but he’s smiling. ‘You’re ridiculous.’
‘I may be ridiculous, but I’m all yours,’ Benny says, leaning forward and kissing him lightly on the lips.
It really is sickeningly sweet. As I separate from them slightly, my mind wanders to Caz and Thessa, wondering if they are equally sweet and in love when they’re on their own.
Then again, everybody expresses love differently.
Kyor and I often want to stab each other or rip each other’s clothes off. Sometimes simultaneously.
‘Shouldn’t we be able to see the jotnar alarms by now?’ I ask Stefan, turning in a circle in the snow. I thought I was finally getting to know the land a little, but as I can’t see any familiar landmarks, I guess I’m wrong.
‘I think your eruption may have covered a couple of the closer ones,’ Stefan replies. ‘But don’t worry, I’ve got a fair idea of where they were. We’ll steer clear.’
With that, he continues marching forward, giving my mind a chance to wander, and it’s wandering down one particular path.
One that has been present since I first left Wrohelm and all the more so since Kyor and I reconciled.
If Benny and Kyor can trust each other enough to have genuine talks about the kingdom and the rebellion, then maybe it’s time I took that next step too.
Fen, any chance you can put a bit of distance between Stefan and me? I want to talk to the guys about something delicate. Something I don’t want to be overheard.
Of course, Fen replies, unexpected exuberance in his voice. How do you prefer I do such a task?
Whatever you think is best, I tell him.
I was hoping you’d say that.
Immediately, Fen slips himself into the gap between Stefan and me, leaning his weight heavily towards Stefan’s side.
‘Hey?’ There’s a definite wariness in Stefan’s voice.
‘I think it might be a sign of affection,’ I comment, not sure why Fen has chosen this less-than-subtle manner to move him. ‘Maybe he’s warming towards you.’
Stefan’s eyes brighten in delight. ‘Is that right? Do you like me, boy?’ His voice sounds as if he’s speaking to a child. High-pitched. Full of false glee. ‘Do you like me? I like you; I like you too. Yes, I do.’
A growl erupts from Fen’s throat, loud enough to send Stefan jumping back a good six feet.
I have no words, Fen thinks in pure outrage.
‘I don’t think he’s a fan of the baby voice,’ I say to Stefan, an apologetic grimace on my face. ‘Perhaps you’d be better off giving him a little room right now.’
‘Yeah, yeah, sure,’ Stefan says and suddenly quickens away from us, giving me all the room I’d hoped for.
When I’m sure he’s out of earshot, I finally turn my attention to my friends. Their arms are still linked together, though they simultaneously seem to be trying to trip one another up. Men.
‘Sorry to interrupt whatever … this is,’ I say, shifting closer, ‘but there’s something I wanted to talk to you guys about.’
‘Is it about how we’re the new power couple of the group, and you and Kyor are old news?’ Benny fires straight back.
‘Surprisingly, no, your love life is not what I want to talk about. I want to talk about William.’
Immediately, any sense of amusement is gone from Benny’s face.
Ruben, too, looks at me with a furrowed brow. ‘I wondered, when you said you saw the Torailians in your vision yesterday, whether you’d made that up so Kyor wouldn’t find out you’d seen William,’ he says.
‘No.’ I shake my head. ‘It really was the Torailians I saw. The last time I saw William with my Raven Sight, he was good. As good as he could be, considering…’
‘Considering?’
‘You know, Kay’s miscarriage and all.’