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"Do you have a point to all this?" he asked.
"Khan, stop it. I know you. You don't smile over women. You've barely smiled since coming back to this shithole of a city." Kash's expression turned serious. "Finding someone that makes you happy isn't a bad thing."
"It is when she's leaving in a year. I can't afford to get too attached to something temporary—" Kash hit him in the back of the head, making him yelp.
"That's even more of a reason to go after her, idiot. You have limited time, so why not enjoy and appreciate the company? She will never tell anyone your secrets or use you to gain a position in the court. It's the perfect arrangement."
Khan cracked his neck. "Can we just train? I'm too irritated to have this conversation."
"If you fucked her, I'm sure you wouldn't feel irritated at all." Kash swung his spear in a low arc at Khan, and he stepped back just in time. "I bet she would really know how to ride—"
Khan knew Kash was trying to get a rise out of him, and it still worked. Khan went on the offensive and attacked him.
Soon they were too breathless to talk, and it felt so damn good. That was what Khan had needed to clear his head, to only have to focus on one thing, not to let Kash kick the shit out of him.
It worked, but only for so long. Soon his thoughts were drifting back to Fen's braids glowing golden in the sunshine, her hands covered in clay and looking so damn beautiful that—Khan cursed as he hit the floor hard.
"You're terrible today. Do I need to stop taking it easy on you until you focus?" Kash demanded.
Khan groaned, trying to get his breath back. "I'm so fucking bored, Kash."
"I know, cousin. Being locked up in this gilded cage doesn't help either. You probably need an outing in the city again, something to remind you that there is more than the court in Ankhara." Kash sat down beside him. "Maybe you should go and see Asten? The Thothi always cheer you up."
Khan sat up. "Really? I thought you would be telling me how much of a bad idea it would be to leave the palace."
"You are always going to have people wanting to kill you." Kash shrugged. "You are the prince; it comes with the job. You aren't useful to anyone when you get like this. I still think you need to take a chance and ask Fen to bed, but when have you ever listened to my advice?"
"I don't know if it's such a good idea. We are…friends. I hoped we would be, but it's so easy with her. I don't want sex to ruin what we have built."
It was the truth. He wanted her, but he wanted her mind and magic more than a fun time in the sheets.
And if I can have both, even better.He needed to weigh it up and plan it properly so hecouldget both.
There was also the tiny, niggly voice that said he didn't want Fen to sleep with him because her position forced her to. If she went to his bed, he wanted it to be because she chose it. He would just have to deal with the sex dreams and take matters into his own hands until it happened.
Khan considered having self-control as one of his greatest skills. He could be patient.
Kash nudged him. "Gods, your face right now. Youdowant to bed her. Don't pout. It's so damn obvious it hurts me to look at you. Who cares if it's happened quickly? I'm sure Fen would still want to be friends. Besides, you two are so damn alike with how you talk about magic, I think it would be impossible for younotto get along."
"I should take her into the city," Khan said, brightening when he thought of all the things he could show her.
Kash must've seen the plans forming on his face because he released a resigned sigh. "I'll see about finding her a disguise. Gods know she will attract attention with that hair of hers."
Khan hummed, and Kash laughed again. "You're so fucking hopeless."
Twenty-One
Fen's robe was made of wine-colored linen that smelled of sunshine and hot sand. She wore a hood to shade herself from the sun and hide her noticeable fair skin and hair.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" she asked, looking up at Khan. Like her, he was dressed as a commoner in shades of dark brown and an undyed scarf around his neck. All his gold jewelry had been replaced with dull bronze, and he wore none of the kohl around his eyes that the Ankharian nobility seemed to enjoy wearing.
"This is the best idea I've had in weeks." Khan reached over and adjusted her hood. "I want to show you everything."
Fen's heart may have skipped a beat at the excitement on his face. Did he know how irresistible he was when he got like this? His good mood was infectious, and she wanted to surrender to it despite her nerves.
"Don't worry, Fen. Kash and Kemes will be shadowing us the whole time. You'll be safe with me."
Fen poked him in the chest. "It's not my life I'm worried about. Someone tried to kill you, Khan."
