Page 17 of Mirror of Malice
“No, what?” I said.
“No, she cannot use the notches.” Penn grabbed a rope and swung it to me. I didn’t even try to catch it, and I noticed the tick in his jaw. “She uses the rope or she sleeps on the forest floor.”
Shadow’s eyes widened. “Oh, Boss, c’mon?—”
He held up his hand, a challenge in his eyes. I glared at him, once again imagining the day he would be on his knees in front of me, hands pressed together as he begged me not to throw him in the dungeons.
My nostrils flared. Without another word, Penn spun on his heel and strode away.
That arrogant asshole.
“I can get you a bedroll,” Shadow offered, and I nodded, rubbing my sore arms. She studied me for a minute. “Come with me.”
I stayed rooted to my spot. “I can’t handle another training session today.”
“That’s not what this is. Just come on, you’ll see.”
Chapter Eight
The walk to our destination was short, thankfully, and I gasped when we reached the edge of a cliff. Spread out below us were hot springs on the forest terraces. The terraces looked like giant steps carved into the hillside of Mosswood Forest, and cerulean blue water filled the naturally made pools. Steam rose in the air, making the air shimmer like a mirage.
Charming and Hammer sat in one of the pools, and Charming tilted his head. “Like what you see, Princess?”
Shadow huffed and looked at me. “Charming would flirt with a tree if he could.”
He raised a finger. “I’ve done that, actually. Wasn’t very fun. Tree didn’t flirt back.”
Hammer let out a bark that I thought was supposed to be a laugh.
“Just close your eyes.” Shadow made a motion with her finger to the men.
“Well that’s no fun,” Charming said but complied, along with Hammer.
Shadow and I stripped and scaled down the grassy hill to join them in the steaming pool. I lowered myself in, moaning. Oh,that felt good. I’d probably strip naked in front of my entire court just to get ten minutes in this water.
My muscles relaxed, the aches lulled away momentarily, the water now covering my chest.
I peered at Charming and Hammer, Charming’s chest bare while thick red hair covered Hammer’s. “You can open your eyes now.”
“Sorry about Penn.” Shadow stretched her arms overhead, twisting her head from side to side. “He’s strict and tough, but he has his reasons.”
“He’s not very fun,” Charming added. “But we make up for it.”
Hammer grunted. “I think he’s plenty of fun.”
“That’s because you’re a sadist.” Shadow snorted. “You love yelling and being yelled at.”
“Nothing wrong with a good yelling from time to time.”
Charming looked at me. “He and Boss get into yelling matches regularly, loud enough to scare all the birds from the trees.”
A vicious grin spread across Hammer’s face. “I was proud of that one.”
These people were lunatics, acting so casual about their illegal academy.
Still, I couldn’t help but like them. They were kind, funny, normal, except for the whole stealing thing.
“He’s horrible.” I shifted. “And I don’t know how any of you stand him, let alone follow him. He breaks the law, steals from people. It’s wrong.”
