Page 38 of Path of the Dark
Ninia interrupted the brief pause. “You like him, don’t you?”
The words slammed into Ryana’s belly like a clenched fist. Stifling a gasp, she turned to see the princess shift over to the balustrade next to her. The smile on Ninia’s face made heat flower across Ryana’s chest. As it rose up her neck, she swallowed hard. “What?”
“I’m fourteen, not blind,” Ninia replied. “And I know the signs … I traveled with Asher and Mira, remember?”
Of course. Ninia had witnessed the pair’s tempestuous courtship during their journey together a couple of months earlier.
“Idon’tlike him,” Ryana replied, her voice barely above a whisper. “The man’s arrogant and overbearing.”
The memory of Elias’s teeth sinking into her neck as he ground his hips against her core suddenly made it difficult to breathe. That was lust though—it didn’t mean she had any feelings for the man.
“But he’s very attractive,” Ninia pointed out, ignorant of Ryana’s heated thoughts.
Shoving the image aside, Ryana frowned. Ninia wasn’t even blushing. At the same age, Ryana couldn’t admit to a man being good-looking without going as red as a Honeycrisp apple. However, Ninia was much more self-possessed.
Ninia’s smile turned impish. “Like I said … I’ve seen this before.”
Ryana let out a sharp breath. “Enough of your lip.” She slung an arm around Ninia’s shoulders, steering her toward the steps leading downstairs. “Let’s get some breakfast.”
The feasting hall was full when Ryana and Ninia entered. They walked down an aisle, between rows of long tables. The excited chatter of apprentices echoed through the cavernous space. There were plenty of apprentices these days, after Ryana and Asher had sought to increase the numbers of enchanters. The Battle of the Shadefells nearly a year earlier had weakened the Order.
Ninia joined the apprentices, slipping onto the end of a bench and helping herself to a bowl of porridge. Most greeted her with warm smiles, although one or two gave Ninia wary looks. Noting their reaction, Ryana frowned. Irana’s attitude toward Ninia and her ability to wield both the Light and the Dark had left a lingering suspicion among some in the House that had proved difficult to shift.
Ryana walked on, making her way to the dais at the far end of the hall, where the High Enchanter and his consort, and the Head of the Light sat. As Head of the Dark, she took all her meals with Asher, Mira, and Wray.
“You’re limping,” Asher noted as Ryana stepped up onto the dais.
“Ninia got a bit rough during practice,” she replied, lowering herself down onto her seat with a grimace. “My hip’s bruised. Can I get some salve from you later?”
Asher nodded. “I’m going to the Hall of Healing after breakfast.” He reached for a pot of cream and drizzled some over his porridge. He then glanced up, his silver gaze focusing upon Ryana with unnerving intensity.
She tensed. It was a look she knew well. “What?”
“I’ve hardly seen you over the past few days … is anything amiss?”
Ryana shrugged and reached for a bread roll. She did it out of habit, although, in truth, her appetite was poor this morning. Ever since her run in with Elias, her stomach had been closed. “No.”
“You haven’t attended any more of the negotiations. Why?”
Ryana rolled her eyes. “I find them painful,” she replied. “One morning of watching Nathan and Elias lock horns was enough for me.”
Mira huffed a laugh at this, looking up from where she was buttering a roll. “How’s Ninia progressing?”
“She’s quick and able,” Ryana replied, grateful that Mira had just given her the opportunity to change the subject. “I’ve never trained anyone so sharp … you never have to tell Ninia anything twice.”
“She’s like that during our combat lessons.” Mira’s full mouth curved. “The girl has a mean right hook.”
Smearing the roll with butter and honey, Ryana then cast Asher an arch look. “I hear you’ve taught Ninia how to lift a Light Shield already. You’re showing me up. I might have to teach her how to gather a Shadow Spear tomorrow.”
Asher laughed. “Aye … but you might want to don some body armor before you do.”
