Page 29 of Sharpest Court

“We didn’t mean to wake you,” Valeria said, looking sharply toward Goren.

“That’s all right.” I tightened my robe. “I wasn’t sleeping well anyway.”

“Is the bed not up to your standards?” Goren asked roughly. “Shall we come in and fluff the pillows?”

“Goren,” Valeria warned.

He rounded on her. “We have two weeks to prepare her for Banarrat, and she’s already wasted two days on beauty sleep. She even has the two of you serving her like this is a luxury inn.” He gestured to the trolley behind Valeria, overflowing with another hot meal.

Valeria crossed her arms. “She’s been wounded.”

“She’s been scheming. Didn’t you see how she got Rheya to hand over a Gallery invitation? Do you really think she wasn’t after that all along? She’s probably been doing cartwheels in that bedchamber, and if I’m going to train her in time—”

“You’re not,” I said, perfectly composed.

“Not what?” he growled.

“You’re not going to train me, because I don’t need training. Keil only agreed to it so Rheya wouldn’t appoint Arun instead, correct? Which means neither of us has to go through with it. Especially since neither of us actually wants to.”

Goren’s neck tensed, drawing my gaze to his throat tattoo, whose thick black tendrils webbed all the way down his open neckline. Both sets of knuckles were inked, too, with a swirling design that enrobed his fingers. Now those knuckles tightened.

“You struck your king in the palace,” he said. “You erupted the moment you arrived here. Gods, you got yourself caught in Daradon, and you think you don’t need training?”

“Those were exceptional circumstances,” I said.

“And I’ll bet each one centered around emotion. What happens when you lose control on Banarrat? Are you going to blame one of us and land us in yet another political mess?”

“I won’t lose control.”

“Faced with General Holden?” Goren huffed a laugh. “I would lose control just sharing breakfast with him, and I don’t Wield with the inexperience of a child.”

My hackles rose. “Did I seem inexperienced when I put you on your back on the Emberly riverbank?”

“You caught me by surprise,” he snapped.

“My apologies. I’ll be sure to write you a notice the next time I plan on attacking you.”

He opened his mouth, but Valeria stalled him with a firm “That’s enough.”

He shot her a glare, which she returned with unflinching authority, her strong profile carved out against the light.

Goren was the first to break eye contact, his jaw snapping shut.

“You’re certain you can control your specter?” Valeria asked me.

“Yes,” I said.

Her mouth pursed, the movement tugging at her scar. “Then it’s settled. If Alissa says she doesn’t need training, then she doesn’t need training.”

“You believe her?” Goren asked, teeth gritted.

“I believe she’s smart enough to make good decisions.” The challenge in Valeria’s voice made me stand straighter under her gaze.

“And I believe she’s stupid enough to get us all killed.” Goren looked me over, then added darkly, “And selfish enough to not care who dies because of her.”

I flinched, hating that he’d discovered which nerve to strike on the first try.

“Have fun sightseeing.” He glanced meaningfully over my shoulder. “Maybe Keil will buy you a pair of earrings to match.”