Page 46 of Rebellious Royals

He laughed. "That obvious?"

"I think so." I lengthened my stride to push the button for the elevator. "You're good with a blade, Keir."

"I try," he said.

"I mean that."

Beside me, he ducked his head. "I don't think I've ever heard you hand out a compliment, Torian. I mean, not like that."

"Ok, well, I'll temper it with this. You need to stop leading Rain."

"Yep, that's a good way to put me back in my place," he agreed as the car opened.

Without waiting, he stepped inside and I followed. Keir hit the button for the fourth floor, and we rode up in silence. I wasn't sure what it was about elevators, but they often had a way of killing the conversation. That, or I'd fucked up again and said the wrong thing. Keir probably heard enough about his failings from Bracken. He didn't need me helping.

But when we stepped out on our floor, he tilted his head up the hall. "You're welcome on my side, if you want."

"Because?" Since that sounded like a weighted offer.

"Because I have a feeling you're not happy about the schedule change," he said as he flicked his hand at his lock, magically releasing it. "Or at least you didn't seem happy about it." Then he opened his door and waved for me to enter first.

His room always smelled like pine. Not pine-scented perfume. This was like someone had brought a sliver of the mountains inside for a moment. I had a feeling it was a side effect of his magic, but I'd never had the chance to be sure of it. I also didn't want to ask.

"I thought we were going to be drilled on weapons," I said before claiming the free chair in his room and kicking my legs out. "Ms. Rhodes made it seem like she wanted us to be ready to fight."

"She does," Keir said as he tossed himself down on his bed.

Damn, his waist was flat. His chest wasn't. The shirt he had on showed those muscles off a little too well, making me aware my own physique was lacking by comparison. Then there was the lazy way he lounged, as if he was completely comfortable with his surroundings, including me.

But Keir knew me just a little too well. "Why do you want to keep Aspen away from weapons?" he asked.

"Because I don't want to frustrate her right now."

"Why?" he asked again.

"She just got her control."

He lifted a brow at me. "And?"

"And she's distracted with Rain. A good distraction, I think, since having the Morrigan on her side will protect her better than anything else. It's still a distraction, and if that's the thing that gets her killed?"

"That won't be it," he said. "It'll be some Summer-loving asshole who thinks the color of her magic matters more than the girl who threw away her own dreams to protect theirs."

I twitched back, looking at him again. "She didn't throw away her dreams!"

"Oh, she did," he assured me. "Aspen wanted to be normal, happy, and safe. Sadly, normal and safe don't go with a crown. Not in this world."

"Or ours," I agreed.

"But she has us," he said. "Tor, that's the thing you keep forgetting. Aspen isn't only relying on you and Rain. She has Hawke and Wilder too. Plus Jack, Bracken, Ms. Rhodes, and even Liam!"

"Tag," I added. "She seems to be helping as well." I almost stopped there. "And you're better than I thought."

"I've held back a few hunters," he bragged.

"No." I shifted to lean forward over my knees. "Keir, I've seen the Mad Queen's army. I knew her executioner. I've been there when real veteran fae have fought to the death."

"Oh."