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Her heart stammered.

“What?” She gawked back.

“You didn’t protest to the pet name.” A shimmer brightened his infuriatingly stunning eyes.

He had slipped in a few pet names in the last couple of days, and she was sure it was a test to see where she was at mentality. He was always testing out the waters before they sailed.

Today, she felt a little better.

Emara pulled her arm across her chest nonchalantly, stretching off. “I have decided to take a different approach to you from now on.”

His jaw tightened as he folded his arms over his broad chest, not even stretching slightly. “Do tell.”

Emara inhaled sharply. “I have come to the conclusion that highlighting my annoyance for your pet names gives you some sort of thrill.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder and moved on to the next arm, stretching it across her body. His glittering eyes took in every move she made, but Emara didn’t let that intimidate her. Not anymore. “And I won’t be aiding you in seeking any thrills.”

The cold wind around them warmed slightly.

A carnal smile that she hadn’t realised she needed to see revealed a dimple on either side of his cheek. His chin popped up a notch. “I don’t think you realise how much you already do.”

Heat made its way into her cheeks, and she released a staggered breath.

“You’re so annoying.” She rolled her eyes, deflecting from the fact that her skin had heated at his words. That she felt something.

“You can’t say that to your favourite Blacksteel.” He let his arms fall and his eyes lit up like icy diamonds. “Wait. Did I just become your favourite Blacksteel?”

“Absolutely not!” Emara’s eyebrows almost folded into her eyes, and she took a lunge stretch to ease the stiffening of her muscles.

“Well, we all know Gideon’s out. And Kellen…well, is Kellen. So who could possibly be above me?” He still didn’t move into a stretch, he stood still, like a statue of the War God himself.

“Almost anyone in your bloodline.” Emara scowled playfully.

His full lips twitched. “You really are so cruel to me, Clearwater.”

“Why do you say that like you enjoy it?” She finally attempted a laugh.

“Because maybe I do.” He finally pulled a bulky arm behind his head into a stretch, and she noted the familiar blue vein that protruded from his biceps that always caught her attention.

“I thought you took care of your sick afflictions in the markets,” she jabbed with a smile that warranted caution.

Walking closer to where she stretched, he released his arm and said, “I have many afflictions.” His lashes flickered quickly like he was trying to be coy. “But I thought I would ease you back into training slowly before we talked about them.” His ocean blue eyes swarmed with mischief. “I mean, if you really want to explore them now, we can, because I don’t need to be in the markets. These forests are just fine.”

It had been a while since she had seen that wicked grin slash across his face, and she couldn’t help but feel a little relief in her chest.

She was as sick as him.

“No, thank you.” She was thankful again when she saw his grin widen and then when he closed his lips to contain it. “I think our training will be adequate. I don’t need to be delving into Torin Blacksteel’s secret hobbies.”

A low chuckle escaped his throat. “None of them are a secret, angel.”

She sighed. “Are we really back to pet names?”

“Absolutely.” A subtle smile graced his lips in exchange for his devilish grin. “Why would we not be? Training has resumed.”

Secretly, she was thankful for that too. She didn’t want to be fussed over. She didn’t want anyone to act differently around her because they knew of her pain or what blood ran through her veins. She needed something that was normal enough for her to clutch onto, something that was familiar.

“Come on, then, let’s get this fresh hell over with,” she said as she stalked towards the door of the cottage. Torin was not only coaching her practically, but theoretically too. Apparently, there were thousands of books on how to train in combat and weaponry that Torin insisted she must read.

“Always the enthusiast about reading with your favourite mentor.”