Page 78 of Fate's Sweetest Curse
Noble, meanwhile, had lowered his sword. His eyes swept over my body—the pants that hugged my long legs and modest hips, the cut of my tunic accentuating my waist—with the same hunger I’d seen two nights ago. My body woke up, nerves firing throughout my core and between my legs—but it was my heart that felt his stare the most.
Because his gaze was unguarded.Honest.
For days I’d been wondering if it’d been a mistake to share what we had, knowing we ought to never touch each other like that again—but right now, I was grateful.
Misery really did love company.
Noble had come to a complete halt to look at me, but with the two men still technically in the middle of sparring, Oderin—clearly hoping to use Noble’s diverted attention to his advantage—hefted his sword and swung. My eyes tracked the movement, and Noble—with his superior vision—must’ve seen it on my face. He swiveled, lightning fast, and blocked Oderin’s blow.
Then he was walking into Oderin’s space with a series of relentless strikes, forcing the esteemed Major of the Order of the Mighty of Fenrir backward across the yard until Oderin stumbled, landing on his ass in the dirt.
“Why do I feel like that was personal?” Oderin asked with a laugh.
Noble held out a hand, helping the knight up. “Because it was.”
Oderin’s raised his eyebrow at me again. He mouthed an amused,Well done.
I frowned, feigning mild confusion.Whatever do you mean?the look said.
Noble glanced between us, seeing through our silent exchange.
I remembered to be annoyed. “You haven’t answered my question,” I said. “What. Are. You. Doing. Here?”
Noble spread his arms, white shirt billowing away from his frame, the fabric see-through enough for me to glimpse the outline of his cut torso. “I’m sparring.”
“Why?”
“Same reason as you, I reckon.”
I regarded Oderin, expectant.
“He asked if I wanted to spar,” Oderin said with a shrug. “Who am I to deny an Asheren?”
I groaned. We’d might’ve agreed to eschew our rules, but Noble’s presence here was still a huge overstep.
“I’m not doing this,” I said, turning to walk away.
“Afraid I’ll hurt you?” Noble taunted.
Yes, I thought.Just looking at you hurts.
But my irritation got the better of me.
I halted, boots grinding in the dirt as I swiveled back around. “Everyone knows that the son of Kalden Asheren has been training with a sword since birth,” I pointed out. “Why would you want to spar with your uncoordinated alchemy apprentice lab mate?”
Noble shot me a winning smile, all teeth. “For fun.”
Standing beside Noble, Oderin appeared thoroughly entertained. I could only hope that whatever Oderin deduced about us, he’d be as amenable to keeping quiet about it as he seemed to be with Anya and Idris’s secrets.
I approached the two men again, glaring at Noble. “This is serious. I want tolearnso I can keep myself safe.”
Noble’s eyes dropped to my bruised shoulder, then back up to my face. “Safe?”
“Ah,that’swhy it’s personal,” Oderin remarked.
I shot Noble a wide-eyed glare. One that said,Do you really want Oderin inferring any more than he already has?
Noble appeared amused.
