Page 35 of The Fae Warrior's Queen

“I’d expected to run into trouble at this point.” Kai gets back to business, planting his hands on his hips as he glances around. “It’s suspicious and disconcerting that we haven’t.”

If his huffing is any indication, he doesn’t like admitting things haven’t gone as he predicted.

“I warned you this game wouldn’t be what you thought.” I can’t help throwing out anI told you so.

Kai gives me the side-eye, though his grumpy expression doesn’t communicate annoyance because his mouth is relaxed.

The stone-faced warrior might think he hides his emotions well because he never smiles, but his lips are actually quite expressive.

He has many different kinds of frowns.

Angry ones, where the corners of his mouth turn down.

Disappointed ones that are more of a pout.

Confused ones, where his lips thin and he works his jaw, which he starts doing as he pokes around at some dried bushes with his sword.

“Perhaps we should go to the dead ends,” Kai suggests with an unsure tone.

“You want me to go the wrong way on purpose?”

“Maybe the challenges will be in a place perceived as a failure. Somewhere we’d be trapped.”

“That makes sense.” My focus drops to one of the many weapons Kai has strapped to his belt. “Should I have a dagger or something?”

“Can I trust you with it?”

“I know how to use a knife. I’m not as skilled with it as you are, but I can defend myself if I have to.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about.”

My gaze bounces up to his. “You think I’m going to use it on myself?”

“Will you?” he asks, direct.

Mortified by my rock-bottom moment, I heave out a sigh. “Can you just disregard what I said earlier?”

“That’s a hard thing to forget.”

“Well, try,” I insist. “Listen, I’m rooting for you, Kai. I want you to win, and I’m going to do everything I can to make that happen.”

“Us, Sunny,” Kai practically barks.

“What?”

“You wantusto win,” he emphasizes. “I’ll give you a weapon, but only if you tell me you’ll fight for yourself as hard as you seem to want to fight for me.”

“I’ll fight for myself,” I agree.

Cupping his ear, he pretends he didn’t hear me. “What’s that?”

He just wants me to repeat it, and I do, louder this time. “I’ll fight for myself.”

Pleased, his nostrils flare and his shoulders dip as though I just took a thousand pounds off him.

Approaching me, Kai invades my personal space while lifting a six-inch blade from his belt. “Hide this dagger in your pocket. Only use it if you must.”

Passing the sheathed weapon to me, he presses it to my palm. When I try to grab it, I just end up wrapping my fingers around his because his hand stays glued to mine. Instead of releasing me right away, he keeps us connected, holding my hand as he stands close.

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