Page 44 of Tell Them That I’m Coming

But I’m determined, and so is Thane.

Just in case, he moves the three of us further into the golden forest. Once he gives it the all clear—and even asks Binx if the ungez senses any other creates nearby—he shrugs off his cloak, pulls out his sword, and gets ready to teach.

He shows me how to stand, how to shift my weight. His hands correct my hips, my shoulders, and if he lingers just a breath too long each time, I pretend not to notice. But I did. I couldn’t help it. The air between us is charged. I want to back up into him, and when he takes another position to spar slowly with me, I’m sure he can tell what I’m thinking from the way my cheeks are heated.

“Relax,” he murmurs near my ear. “You’re fighting the blade.”

“I’m fighting you.”

“Not quite, demoness.” He steps back, moves around me, then swats my backside with the flat of his sword. “Your stance is wrong. You’re leaning too forward, giving me an opening.”

One he definitely took. Forget my cheeks heating up, now I’m sizzling all the way to the tips of my ears. “Did you just⁠—”

“Yes.”

I turn to jab at him with the sword. Both angry and embarrassed—and, okay, maybe my stance wasn’t the greatest—I trip over the ends of my skirts in my hurry to get back at Thane.

He chuckles. “Nice try.”

I don’t even hesitate. Glaring down at the fabric twisted around my ankles, I draw the blade down and hack through my skirt above the knee, fabric falling away to free my legs.

His mouth parts.

“Better,” I say sweetly, then lift up the sword again.

Mimicking the way he first approached Morgane when they had their swordfight, I circle Thane. His eyebrows lifting, he matches my step.

And that’s when Binx goes low, darting between Thane’s stance at the best possible moment. With the bandit’s eyes on me, he misses the way that Binx gets in his way until he’s tripping and, with a little help from my boot as I lunge toward him, he falls on his back.

He hits the ground hard, and I’m on him before he can recover, knees bracketing his hips, sword point pressed to his chest as I straddle him.

True amusement—with a hint of pride—fills his expression.

“Don’t move,” I warn.

Ignoring me, Thane reaches up, fingers gentle as he nudges the blade a little higher. “Here. That’s my heart. Jab me there and there should be enough time to stun me so you can take my head.”

I freeze.

“Only don’t really stab it,” he adds with a husky whisper. “I think I might finally be getting some use out of it.”

Oh, shit.

Heat doesn’t just flood my face. It floods everywhere. Hurriedly, I scramble off of him, careful not to nick any part of him with the sword clutched in my shaky hand.

“We’re done,” I mutter.

Thane just laughs, low and pleased, as he leaps to his feet.

“Ah, my demoness. We’re just getting started.”

The main road travels along the length of the golden forest. Thane said we were heading East, and we did. That’s where the Shadowed Woods ended, leading to the travel road. After that, we shift North, in the direction of the Gilded Court—and Queen Celeste’s palace.

It’s easier to take the road. About five demon lengths wide, it’s made up of packed earth worn smooth by boots, hooves, and things that don’t leave any tracks at all. The trees pull back just enough to let the bright sun color the path gold during the daylight hours, but once night falls on this part of Noctavara, it’s safer to take refuse in the trees.

According to Thane, we’re two full days of travel out from the Gilded Court. And though I’m desperate to get to Rafe, I agree when he insists that we take a few hours to practice with the sword, slowing our pace so that the guards give up searching for us.

And, okay, he doesn’t add that last part. That’s just my wishful thinking that the guards gave up after Thane slaughtered one of their own. Which is why I shouldn’t have been as surprised as I was when we’re walking along the edge of the road, tucked inside the tress, and Thane cocks his head. He slows his pace, lifting a hand to catch my attention.