“I don’t believe she meant any offense,” Ildar interjected.
“You are focusing on the secondary issue, lord,” Ashared said. “It’s clear from Lannahi’s words that she thinks only boring men get bored.”
Sezar gave them a heavy look. “You are spoiling my intimidating entrance.”
Ashared smiled impudently. “I don’t think you can intimidate Lannahi.”
Sezar looked at Lannahi, who was watching him with her eyes wide open. “I think I made a strong impression on her.”
Ashared gave Lannahi a cursory glance. “She’s shocked that you have a sense of humor,” he said dismissively.
“You know that the more you deny me, the more my curiosity is piqued?”
“In this case, I would advise that you to curb your instincts.”
Sezar arched a brow. “Particular advice for a shapeshifter.”
When Sezar took a step forward, Ashared did the same, and Lannahi, who had barely recovered from her surprise at the unexpected direction of the conversation, fell into a stupor again. Ashared was facing another fae… but he didn’t seem tense. He hadn’t been from the beginning of the confrontation. It was she who was stressed and found his behavior chivalrous.
But Ashared wasn’t her Knight and Sezar wasn’t her enemy.
“Now I’m even more interested,” Sezar said, eyeing Ashared. “Maybe—”
“No,” Ashared interrupted him.
“You say no, but lady might say yes. We should ask her first, don’t you think?”
They both looked at Lannahi, who was reaching for another praline.
“The lady lost interest in the conversation,” Ildar commented, not hiding his amusement.
A smile lurked at the corners of Sezar’s mouth. “Lady Lannahi—”
“No,” she said and took a bite of the round praline.
Ashared and Ildar burst out laughing, but Sezar didn’t take his eyes off her face. He waited until she put the goblet to her lips and, knowing that she would not be able to interrupt him, asked, “You don’t like sharing, Lannahi?”
When she finished enjoying her first bite, she sent Sezar the look she’d learned from Letiri. Her lips were curved in a light, flirtatious smile, but her eyes said…
“If you come closer, you’ll lose your co—” Ildar began translation.
“…manhood,” Ashared interjected. “Remember, Lannahi is a lady.”
“Manhood,” the general agreed. “Literally and figuratively.”
Sezar, the Ruler of eleven cities and victor of sixty-three battles, burst out laughing so joyfully that even the most sullen landshapers couldn’t hold back a smile.
“I like this part of the room better,” he said to his general. “We’re staying.”
***
The Black Arena was filled with a clash of blades and the buzz of excited conversation. The first round of the third stage of the Tournament of Swords had begun. The first to fight were the fire and water elementals…
Lannahi’s gaze was fixed on the center of the arena, but her attention was focused on the man sitting next to her. They returned to the stands again with the difference that the seats next to Ashared were now occupied by Sezar and Ildar, and the row in front of them, previously empty, was now filled. Lannahi couldn’t shake off her wonder. Who would have thought that Ashared had such powerful allies? Her earlier concerns now seemed ridiculous. She was also ashamed. Living in isolation on the edge of the map, she was accustomed to looking at him only through the prism of his personality. She felt comfortable around him. She also felt safe, and while this was largely due to the fact that Ashared couldn’t use magic other than that which allowed him to turn into a wolf, she had forgotten that power wasn’t limited to magical abilities.
You are as strong as your allies, the saying went.
How could she not have thought of that? Why didn’t she wonder about Ashared’s connections? She was content with the limited amount of information that stated he was a member of Mahrur’s family and looked no further. She rested on her laurels, accepting his attention as if it were something natural and obvious.
