“He has titles. And a thousand is an exaggeration. It’s more like fifty-two, and they’re all variations on the same thing.”
I crossed my arms, skeptical. “But you, almighty Lord Enchanter, you have a thousand names.”
“Close to a thousand,” he admitted.
“I’ll believe it when I hear them.”
“I wouldn’t want you to hear all of them,” he said, amused. “Some are quite insulting. And untrue.”
“Oh?”
“Sorcerer Who Feasts on Eyes of Children—Enlai’naden. Hateful Master of the Wicked—Kylofeldal. It goes on and on.”
“And the one that unlocks the dagger?”
He waited a beat before answering. “Jinn,” he said. “One of my first names.”
“Jinn,” I repeated.
“Carry it with you always.” He passed the dagger to me, still sheathed. “If someone attacks you, the quickest way is to slice his throat.” Edan pointed at his own throat, drawing a line. “Aim the blade where the pulse beats, then cut across.”
Finlei had tried teaching me to fight when we were children. When will I ever need to fight someone? I’d asked him then.
If only I’d known. I copied Edan’s movement.
“Or you can stab his chest. Here.” Edan wrapped his hand over mine so that we held the dagger together. He raised the blade to his chest, pulling me closer to him. “Aim between the ribs for the lungs, then thrust up for the heart.”
Again I copied the movement, but Edan didn’t let go of my hand. His heart beat against my palm as it landed on his chest. His pulse raced, almost as fast as mine.
Edan’s other arm found my hip; then he leaned forward until he was so close I felt the warmth of his breath on my nose.
His breath touched my mouth, the softest brush of his lips over mine. I closed my eyes. I couldn’t hear anything, not the symphony of the forest, not our horses snuffling impatiently behind us.
A beat. Two beats. My heart squeezed with anticipation.
Then…Edan let go of my hand.
My eyes flew open, and all the breath I’d been holding in was expelled from me in one quick burst. “What—”
“It’s getting late,” Edan said abruptly, lowering the dagger so that it no longer came between us. “That was a good start, but no more for today.”
I closed my mouth, feeling cheated and dejected. I could have sworn he’d been about to kiss me. I could feel that he wanted to.
“I know you want to bathe. Come on, I’ll find you a better place.”
I followed mutely, kicking at a pile of dirt when he wasn’t looking.
What a confusing, confusing man.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The Great Spice Road continued around the Mountains of the Moon, a narrow and winding path through the thick forests hemming in the range. A chill clung to the air as we traveled deeper into the woods, and when I looked up, I saw snow on some of the mountaintops.
I took out the shoes, humming to myself as Opal trotted toward the mountains, and I checked my work from the night before. Only after a while did I realize I was humming the little tune Edan often whistled.
Of course, his enchanter’s ears had heard me. Chuckling, he brought his horse closer to mine so that we rode side by side. “It’s a good song. Quite catchy, if I may say so.”
I wasn’t ready to talk to him. Ever since he’d almost kissed me, the air between us was heavy. Different.
I gave Opal a kick so she’d break from Rook’s side and ride ahead.
“Don’t ride in the sun,” Edan called after me. “Your freckles are multiplying.”
I glared at him, shouting, “You know exactly what a girl wants to hear!”
But I did guide Opal into the shade, cursing Edan under my breath—and my hammering heart. How his teasing got under my skin! How it made my heart pound and set my cheeks aflame. My brothers’ jokes had never done that to me.
Edan caught up with me, looking more solemn than before. “Are you upset with me, Maia?” He managed a little grin. “I was joking about your freckles. I like them very much. Every one of them.”
His eyes were too blue. I looked away from them and groped for the right words. “Why do you enjoy tormenting me?”
He paused for an agonizing second; then, curse him, he simply blinked, looking confused. “Tormenting?”
Demon’s breath! How dense could he be?
A tight reel of words had been weighing on my tongue all day, and now I could not stop it from unspooling. “All this teasing, and pretending to care about me.” My hands wheeled