Page 81 of A Kingdom of Fire and Fury
I squirmed, but I wasn’t one to back down. “I thought Ben was all talk with his hookups. He proved me wrong last night. Or rather, you did with your tongue down his throat.”
The man had such a pretty blush. “Ben and I have an agreement. Mostly, it’s when we’re drunk, but it’s whenever we feel the itch.” I definitely didn’t expect that from Gareth of all people. He seemed like the type to lock in and commit to a relationship. At my surprised look, Gareth added, “It’s not easy to date in the ’guard. It’s—a hassle. Especially with”—he raised his gloved hand—“but we’re both happy with the arrangement, so it works.”
I regretted my question. “As long as you’re happy with it. I’d offer to set you up, but Nimue took my only friend. Actually, is my friend even the right gender? Do you have a preference?”
Gareth’s lips twitched. “Men only, I’m afraid.” He relaxed into the hammock. “I’m glad you settled things with Kieran. We all hated the tension.”
After dinner’s patrol, we had the rest of the night to ourselves. No gryphons were spotted, and I prayed that none would show up. I needed thatnotto be my Gift. If nearby gryphons were drawn to me like a short distance beacon, it was one thing. It was another to have them seek me out from across the country.
The awkwardness between me and Kieran faded. He didn’t bring up last night, but this morning was an acknowledgement in itself. He’d known I feltshitty and homesick and justsad,so he made that dish despite saying he wouldn’t cook for us. Gods, I should’ve asked the man to be friends in the very beginning. If he went back to being a dick, I’d be pissed.
“Let’s continue your lessons,” Nimue said, prodding me with a sharp nail. I yelped and nearly fell out of the hammock.
I peeked an eye open and spotted Kieran going through drills with his sword. The sweat dripping from his brow shouldn’t have been so hot. When he lifted his shirt to wipe his face, my brain stopped. I rubbed my thighs together. Gods, I needed to get laid.
“Stop spacing out.” I yelped when Nimue flicked my forehead. “Come on. Play with me. That’s an order from your superior officer.”
I huffed a laugh. “Really? Do we even have rankings?”
“Gareth’s second in command.” Nimue tugged me out of the hammock and led me toward the small table we’d packed. As expected, Nimue slaughtered me. I put up a valiant fight, and at least she didn’t take me down in two moves. Which I hadn’t thought was possible until she did it a week ago.
I fought the urge to tense when Kieran wandered over. “You shouldn’t do that,” he murmured in my ear when I hovered my knight to the left. “She’ll kill him as soon as you set it down.”
I yelped and barely managed to not drop the piece. “Like you—” Immediately, I flushed. He probably could do better. The asshole was perfect like that. It wasn’tfair. “Nimue, make him shut up.”
“Unfortunately, he’s right,” she said dryly.
I groaned and hovered the piece to the right.
“Wouldn’t do that either.”
I messed up by asking him to be my friend. “Then why don’t you play?” I scowled and shoved the piece into his hands.
He snorted and raised a brow at Nimue. “Am I allowed to interfere, Grandmaster?”
Nimue waved magnanimously. “Go right ahead. It was a lost battle anyway.”
I shoved down my irritation. The Mother, I hated losing. I moved over and sat on the ground while Kieran took my chair. Gareth and Ben joined me. I grinned when Kieran ended up losing. “Looks like you can’t be great at everything,” I said cheerfully.
“I had a disadvantage.”
“Says the loser.” I grinned, my chest light for the first time in what felt like ages.
“Are you really in a position to taunt me?” He raised a brow.
I grabbed a cherry and popped it into my mouth. “Hell yeah, because you suuuuck.”
Kieran stared at my lips, stained from the cherry.
“Someone stab me with a knife,” Nimue muttered.
I smirked and grabbed another cherry, wrapping my lips around it before biting down. “If you’re so good, why don’t you face off with Nimue properly? If youlose, I get out of training tomorrow.”
“What about me?” Nimue arched a brow.
“Do you want to get out of training?” I asked her.
She shrugged. “I don’t mind the strength training, but I hate the laps. That’s what I want out of.” We turned to face Kieran. “Is that a deal, Captain?”
