Page 30 of The Shrouded Queen
Jasim cautiously removed his hand but remained on top of me. He ducked his head, so close his lips brushed my ear as he dared to whisper, “Scimitar. Left side.”
I lifted my left hand and reached for his blade.
“Slowly.” Jasim’s eyes darted between me and the chimera. It snarled, head dipping so low that its jaw brushed the earth.
Oh gods.
Moving with excruciating slowness, my hand settled against his ribs and slid down toward his hip. The metal of the pommel brushed my fingertips and I clutched at it. Jasim murmured, “When it attacks, roll to the side and get to your feet as quickly as possible. Make as much noise as you can. Aim your strikes at the tail first, then go for the head.”
I nodded. “And what are you going to do?”
He met my eyes, and I saw the decision there, suddenly understanding why he was on top of me. “You are the Gods-Chosen,” he whispered. “Your survival is all that matters.”
Plenty of guards had sacrificed their lives for me—as recently as just a few days ago. It was nothing new. In fact, it was expected.
So why did panic shoot through me at Jasim doing the same? “You can’t—”
“Draw the blade,” Jasim ordered, eyeing the chimera. It was only a handful of feet away now. So close I could count the spots in its face, see the venom collecting at its tail.
Continuing to keep my movements slow, I drew the scimitar from the sheath and held it by my wounded side.
The chimera’s head lifted. My grip hardened around the pommel, adrenaline surged through my veins.
But then there was a commotion. Chatter, pots clanging together.
The chimera’s spotted ears went flat, teeth bared as it snarled. I squeezed my eyes shut. Jasim’s body curled tighter over mine, face in my neck, arm around my head. Trying to shield me as much as physically possible. Sand shifted as paws pounded. We braced, neither one of us breathing.
Nothing happened.
We didn’t move for several moments. But then Jasim dared to lift his head. His body relaxed against mine as he breathed, “It’s gone.”
I peeked open my eyes. Sure enough, the chimera had vanished. Chased off by the loud noise. As if he could read my mind, Jasim glanced over his shoulder. I followed his gaze.
In the distance, I could just make out the blond shapes of camels and the people riding atop them. They were still far away, and part of our view was obstructed by the wide trunk of the cypress tree we’d camped under, but by the violet shade of their clothes, I knew they were merchants. Probably traveling from Ketopolis to Reeda just like us.
And unwittingly saving our lives on the way.
I let go of the scimitar and sagged against the ground.
Letting out a deep breath, Jasim dropped his head, curls falling over his forehead and skimming my cheek. “Thank the gods. I was not looking forward to being a chimera’s breakfast.”
I laughed hoarsely. “It would have spit you right out.”
“I’ll have you know, I’m delicious.”
“Oh really? Covered in sweat and sand?”
“Seasoning.”
I laughed again. He lifted his head to grin at me, both of us nearly delirious with relief. We were all right. No assassin. No vicious beasts. I made a half-hearted attempt to swat his shoulder. Jasim easily caught my wrist and pinned it to the ground.
My laughter faded. With that one movement, I became hyperaware of his body on top of mine. Warm, firm. The calluses of his palm scratched against the sensitive skin of my wrist.
Jasim’s smile banked. So did his eyes. Irises going from dark sand to a midnight sky.
This was how we’d met three years ago. Sparring in the Khada Guard. By then, I’d already been training with them for a few years, but in all that time, Jasim was the only one brave—or stupid—enough to actually put me on my ass. The first to fight back, the first to look at me with something that was neither cruelty nor obsession, the first to call me his friend.
My first everything.
