Page 17 of Revealing Fate

Not something, someone.

Kal flung the yelping shurii to the side and leaned over, brandishing a curved knife. “Watch your fucking mouth,” he growled.

The shurii curled on the ground, covering its head. “Sorry,” came the muffled reply.

“I could have killed you, Penn. What the fuck?”

The young man, Penn, poked his head out from under his arms, white-blond hair sticking out in every direction. “Me? I could have killed you!”

Kal huffed and stuffed his knife back into its sheath. “Not with that shot. You put a damn hole in my leather, though. And you scared my…Kitty.”

His Kitty?

Felíne stepped out from behind the tree. Their would-be attacker couldn’t have been older than seventeen. He had the gangly limbs of a fawn and the barest hint of hair darkening his otherwise smooth chin. Eyes the color of a spring sky peeked up at her. They were fringed with dark lashes, a surprising contrast to the pale hair on his head. Pink crept into his fair cheeks. “I’m sorry for the fright, miss. I saw you were bound, and when I got closer, he grabbed you up, and…well.”

Kal rolled his eyes. “You thought you’d stop me having my way with her?”

“Kalevar!”

Penn’s deeper blond eyebrows came together in defiance. “That’s right.”

Kal laughed darkly, and Felíne shoved him, no longer feeling sorry for his injury. She bent to help Penn to his feet. “Don’t listen to him,” she said to the boy. “He’s a brute.”

Penn stood, towering over her, and brushed leaves and twigs off his clothes. He gave her a sheepish smile. “That he is, miss. But I didn’t recognize him. If I’d known it was Kal, I wouldn’t have fired.”

Felíne looked questioningly to the broody man next to her. “Oh? I’m starting to think maybe he deserved it.”

Kal bent to whisper in her ear. “I’ll remember you said that.”

A pleasant chill skittered down Felíne’s spine.

“Why are you out here in the first place, Penn?”

The boy straightened. “Rask put me on watch.”

Felíne had to concentrate to keep from flinching at the name.

Kal frowned, sighed, and then shook his head.

Penn swelled. “I’m ready, Kal. I’m plenty old enough to take watch on my own.”

“It’s not your age, Penn,” Kal said as he swung his pack onto Sig’s saddle. “If I’d actually meant you harm, you’d be dead. I’ll talk with Rask. I’m surprised your mother allowed it.”

“But—”

Kal’s hard stare cut Penn’s argument off at the knees. The boy’s head fell forward. Kal set a broad hand on his shoulder. “You’re stealthy as a grimalkin, kid,” he said, tone sincere. “But that shot needs work, and you’ve more to learn before you’re on your own.” He fingered the new hole in his vest. “I need good men, and I can’t use you if you’re blinded by a boy’s pride.”

Penn nodded, determination replacing his indignation. Kal returned the gesture, satisfied.

“Good,” he said. “Now, how about you lead us the rest of the way? It’s been a trek, and I can’t recall the easy path.”

Penn strode off, clearly happy to be useful once again.

“I thought you said you knew the way,” Felíne murmured once Penn was out of earshot.

Kal winked and reached for Felíne’s hand, holding Sig’s reins in the other. He dropped his voice so only she could hear. “I do. But young men are eager to please.”

Felíne quirked a brow, unable to keep from teasing him if only to alleviate her growing unease. “Oh? And what about rakish grown men prone to frequent brooding? Are they also eager to please?”