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She grinned, executed a smart bow and walked swiftly from the arena. The session had been intense and brutal. Xian had been relentless; her weapon had been a natural extension of her body. Before today, Tehdra had never wielded a sword. Blades, yes, but not a sword. Close combat weapons were her trade. She believed in being up close and personal when taking a life. She had not needed to fake her imperfect form or her jerky movements as she’d tried to master the lunge and retreat dance.
“It seems the princess admires your endurance,” a soft voice murmured.
Gavyn stood directly in front of Tehdra.
“Why are you still here?”
“Why indeed,” he drawled.
She waited for a response but he provided none. Was he to be her shadow for the day?
“Be careful of Lady Sascha. It does not bode well that it seems that you have planted yourself in the king’s affection.”
“I do not have the king’s affection,” Tehdra said.
“I suppose you would not call it that,” he said, his tone rough but smooth with an enticing undertone of sensuality.
“No, if I remember correctly King Ajali said my purpose is to fuck him to repletion whenever he commands.”
Gavyn laughed, admiration lighting in his eyes. “I would urge you to heed my warnings.”
“I am a simple hari, why would I need to be careful? There are three hundred haris in the King’s harem, do they all have to be careful with Lady Sascha?” Tehdra asked, genuinely curious. She had no time for jealousy; she would probably be driven to snap the countess’ neck from the shadows.
“You are a hari, yes, but you are without power. As a countess, Lady Sascha has the potential to be my king’s kala. The house of Assia is rich and powerful and as old as the house of Haddin. Your presence in the king’s bed and wing threatens her ambitions.”
“Kala?”
“His Queen.”
She subdued her flinch. Lady Sascha desired to be Ajali’s queen.
Tehdra looked at Gavyn as she wiped the sweat from her brow and contemplated his words. “Why are you telling me this?”
“I would hate to see my king’s new favorite harmed. Take heed of the training provided by the princess. There may come a day you need it. The countess may allow her anger to cloud her sensible judgment.”
She tried to dismiss his warnings as frivolous. She rotated her shoulders to work the kinks from them. “Warning noted, Gavyn of the house of Westk’arr.”
A piercing scream resonated in the arena.
“Stupid chit,” Gavyn snapped beneath his breath as he flashed away.
She heard a rush of murmuring and looked in the sky to see Xian struggling to control a massive wraith.
It dipped and rolled trying to unseat her from its back. It roared and plunged, but she hung on as she tried to tame it into submission. Another wraith swooped in, Gavyn its rider. He grabbed Xian from the wraith, seated her in front of him, and flew away. The wraith, now freed of its weight, shrieked in triumph and soared towards the mountains of Nuria.
Tehdra slipped from the battlements and shadow-stepped in the direction that Gavyn flew with Xian. Tehdra halted as he landed the wraith. Her fingers itched to be on the back of one under the banner of darkness.
Xian, now laughing, slid off the wraith. “Did you see me on Azriel?”
Tehdra made to leave but the thunder on Gavyn’s face made her pause in the shadows and observe.
“You could have been killed!” he bellowed. “You have not comprehended the stupidity of your actions.”
Xian’s eyes flashed with anger, quick and bright. “You forget yourself, blade,” she growled softly. “Do not presume to overstep your boundary because you belong to Ajali’s personal blades.”
Her tone held contempt and defiance.
Tehdra blinked. Gavyn flashed so fast she didn’t see him move. He appeared before Xian, and his hands spanned her throat. A growl of feminine affront rose in the princess’ throat, but before she could blaze at him, his lips swooped in and conquered hers. The kiss was raw, dominant and filled with heat. Xian hesitated only for a few seconds, then wrapped her hands around his neck and kissed him back with fervor. The kissed changed from one of anger to one of seduction. Then, with a sharp wrench, he flung her from him.
