Page 27 of A Court of Thralls and Thorns

Zander exhaled loudly, his patience visibly thinning. “Fuck off, Cade.”

I tried not to laugh, but the strangled sound that escaped me only made Cade’s grin widen.

“You’re the funniest highborn noble I’ve ever met,” I said, shaking my head.

“Highborn’s a stretch.” Cade chuckled. “If my family weren’t dominant riders, I probably wouldn’t be here. I’m one title away from being a commoner.”

I smiled at him. “Must be why I like you.”

Then I turned to Zander.

“You, not so much.”

Cade outright laughed. “You finally found a woman you can’t charm the pants off.”

Zander’s eyes flashed, and for a split second, I actually feared for Cade’s life.

I bit into a grape, ignoring Zander’s glare. “Don’t you and I have a date in the ring?” I smirked. “I mean, if you’re scared, you can totally bow out. I’ll understand.”

Laughter rippled through the First Guild.

Zander’s jaw ticked.

He motioned toward the door. “After you, Miss Rebec.”

A hush fell over the room.

Whispers followed me as I walked out, but I turned toward Zander.

I lifted a hand and scratched my nose with my middle finger.

Rule one of the Order—Never let them see your fear.

Rule two? It’s okay to show your anger.

And your hatred.

The morning air was crisp, the sky still tinged with early dawn hues as Zander and I walked toward the sparring ring. It was too early for most people to be awake, and with First Guild still lingering in the dining hall for breakfast, the training grounds were nearly empty. The only sound was the quiet crunch of gravel beneath our boots and the occasional rustle of wind sweeping across the courtyard.

I ate my grapes in silence, pretending like I wasn’t hyper-aware of the man walking beside me.

Zander didn’t speak either.

When we reached the ring, he shrugged out of his jacket, the movement fluid, effortless.

And damn it all, my gaze betrayed me.

The tight black shirt beneath it hugged every defined muscle, the fabric stretching across broad shoulders and a lean, powerful torso. It was unfair. No one should look that good before sunrise.

Sucker for punishment, aren’t you?I mentally scolded myself.

But it wasn’t him. It couldn’t be.

It was Remy. It was the fact that I had been alone since my fiancé, and the dry spell was officially starting to mess with my hormones.

Zander caught me looking.

I shoved the last piece of my biscuit into my mouth, ignoring the way his lips curled ever so slightly, and shrugged off my own jacket before stepping into the ring.