Copper Ravens(15)

“You did,” he murmured.

“So, when do I get a sword?” Okay, I hadn’t meant that as a joke, but from Micah’s laughter you’d have thought I was the headline act on a comedy tour.

“Love, one does not begin with a sword,” he said once he’d calmed himself. “One begins with simple hand-to-hand techniques.”

“You just showed me hand-to-hand,” I pointed out.

“No, I put a blanket over your head, then I threw a teacup at you,” he corrected. “You do not know how to disarm another, or how to incapacitate an attacker.”

“Then teach me.”

“Very well.” He sat up, and I followed suit. “Hit me.”

“What?”

“Assume that I am an attacker. Hit me.” I moved to whack him with the back of my hand, and I would have if Micah hadn’t snatched my wrist from midair. “Sara, assume your life is in danger. At least make a fist.”

“I—I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t.” I don’t know if it was his smug words or his even smuggier grin, but one or the other or both got my dander up. I clenched my fist and swung at Micah with all my might, convinced that he’d be the one apologizing from behind his swollen lip.

And then I was beneath him, pinned immobile to the bed.

“That wasn’t fair!” I shouted.

“Wasn’t it?” His silver eyes danced, but I’d had enough.

“Why can’t you take me seriously?” I burst out. “This isn’t some kind of joke!”

Instantly, he relaxed his hold. “My Sara,” he murmured, “I am not treating it as one. But you must understand, lo—”

Using what I’d just learned, I took advantage of Micah’s distracted state and bucked my hips upward. As Micah fell forward and tried to steady himself with his left arm, I pushed his right shoulder and flipped him onto his back. I don’t know who was more amazed: me, because that little move had worked, or Micah, for the exact same reason. As I looked down at him, his confused expression quickly gave way to indignation. Not trusting those sinewy arms, I set my knee close to his throat. “Understand what, love?” I purred. Micah didn’t reply and man, did he look peeved. I leaned down and kissed him, at first just as an apology, but I didn’t protest when he had me beneath him again. I considered it a well-earned reward for showing up the teacher.

Later, we snuggled while my fingertips sketched patterns on his chest. “So, I can have a sword?”

“You may have a sword,” Micah replied, pressing a kiss to my temple. “We shall visit the smith in the village and order one.”

“Can’t you just magic one up?”

“I could, but if you are to be armed, I would rather it be with a sword made by one with an intimate understanding of weaponry.”

“A special sword, then? Just for me?” Before Micah could reply, there was a knock at the door. Micah called for them to enter; it was a group of silverkin, of course, greeting their master and informing him of his impending day. As Shep chattered away, I noticed some of the other ’kin readying Micah’s fancy clothes. “Are we going somewhere?”

“I must meet with the Elemental lords,” he replied, without meeting my eyes. I understood why he was uncomfortable; this was obviously a meeting of some import, and as a mere consort, I wasn’t invited. Little did Micah realize, I liked not being invited to over half of these boring events. I much preferred being bored at the manor.

“Is it about the Gold Queen?” I asked, trying to distract Micah from the fact that I wasn’t going. Or from him getting the bright idea to take me along anyway.

“Yes,” he replied. “Oriana’s well-being is at the forefront of all our thoughts.”

“Oriana, what?”

Micah looked up, his head tilted to the side.

“Oriana has only one name? No family name?” I asked.

“Monarchs are usually only known by a single name,” Micah replied.

“But, you’re a Silverstrand,” I pointed out.

“And, as you may have noticed, I am not a queen,” he replied with a wink. I blushed at that and forced a laugh to hide it. “Raintree. Oriana’s family name is Raintree.”

“Oh,” I murmured. “That’s a pretty name.”

“Oriana’s situation illustrates why heirs are so important among Elementals,” Micah continued. Great. Back to babies, and before breakfast, at that. “A large family can help one gain and hold the throne.”

“I thought all those of metal would stand together,” I said. “Or at least, wouldn’t all those of gold support Oriana?”