“Who showed you that?”
Dax blinked at her. “What?”
“What you just did. Who taught you that move?”
Dax lowered the sword, staring at her. “You... did?”
Roa pressed her palm to his chest and shoved. The backs of his knees hit the bed and he sank into it.
“You’re a liar.”
His eyes flashed at that. “I never lied to you.”
“You’re lying to me right now!”
“I told you it was a waste of time. It’s not my fault you were too busy looking at me the way everyone else does.”
Roa stared at him. “What do you mean?”
“My cousin is the commandant, Roa. My sister was once the fiercest dragon hunter in the kingdom. I grew up with both of them. Do you think they would have let me become a helpless king?”
Roa opened her mouth, but no words came out.
He’d played her. He’d been playingher, a daughter of the House of Song, like a common fool.
“If you already know how to wave a sword around, then what have we been doing? Why pretend to let me teach you?”
“Why do you think?” he said softly, looking away from her.
“I don’t know!” she cried. “That’s why I’m asking!”
Softly, he said, “I hate watching you go to him, Roa.”
The howling anger inside her died. “To... Theo?”
That’s what this is about? Theo?
Anger sparked in Roa. “Well,Ihate watching you court every pretty girl who walks your way. Charming them. Basking in their smiles. Taking them to bed with you.”
His eyes darkened. “That’s not what I do.” He shook his head. “Youlovehim.”
Those words seemed to take all of his strength.
Roa opened her mouth. And then shut it.
I don’t.The thought surprised her.
She had loved Theo once. Or she thought she had. But... those feelings were gone.
Roa whispered, “You flirted with nearly every girl in my household while we were home.”
Dax covered his face with one hand. “That was... unkind.” He set down his sword. “My only defense is that I was angry with you. Stars, I feel like I’m always angry with you.” He rose from the bed and moved to the fireplace, staring into the embers. “You rode off to Theoevery night.” His fists clenched. “You only married me because you didn’t trust me. Because you thought I couldn’t protect the scrublands.”
Roa stared at him. Those things were true.
“You only married me because you needed an army,” she pointed out.
“Roa.” His hands uncurled. “That isn’t why I married you.”
