The Tiger at Midnight (The Tiger at Midnight Trilogy #1)(94)

Esha wrapped her hands around his arms, adjusting them into a lower grasp. Kunal blinked, unsure why she was asking. He thought hard.

“No,” he said. “But we found a soldier who was accused of letting in the Viper.”

“I remember him,” she breathed. “And the Fort, are weapons made on site? Who might have access to a smithery at the Fort?”

“Yes, they are made in the Fort. As for access, only the blacksmiths and soldiers.” Kunal paused. “It’s uncommon, but some soldiers do take a liking to making their own weapons and the Fort allows it, as long as it doesn’t distract them from their duties.

“What’s—” he stopped, in sudden pain. She had kicked at one of his legs to move it out and Kunal felt a few muscles scream in the process.

Esha was behind him now, and he could feel her warm breath against his skin. Images of her mouth, of kissing her, flooded his mind. He turned his head, and their faces were so close Kunal could see the widening of her pupils.

“Kunal, I wanted to say . . .”

Was Esha blushing? The softness of her voice and the smolder in her eye told him the topic had changed. She didn’t finish and he took advantage of it, jumping in with a question that had been niggling at him.

“You and the prince—if you’re promised to him . . .”

“No,” she said quickly, fixing him with a stare. She pulled away, moving to face him, and took his hand, adjusting his grip on the knife. He thought about explaining himself to her, the confusion rolling around in his stomach about his identity, his future, and whether he could be who she thought he was. “I’m not promised to anyone but myself.”

The tightness in his chest relaxed. “Esha, about before.” She lifted her head. “I’m—”

She shook her head ever so slightly, darting her eyes to the side.

“No, I need to—” he tried to say, but he cut himself off at the warning on her face. And turned around to see where she was staring.

The prince now stood behind the twins, leaning against the wooden rail behind the targets. He was clad in a dark green dhoti, his cream silk uttariya worn around his neck and tucked into a thick gold belt. His muscular upper arms were wrapped in gold armbands with engravings of a lion, the sigil of the Himyads, and more gold hung from his neck. And he was watching them with intense eyes.

All in all he looked like a prince, a regal warrior. Kunal tried to not let it intimidate him. Though technically a bastard, wasn’t he a prince as well? Kunal dismissed the idea, feeling uncomfortable.

Harun strode forward, startling Bhandu out of his seat.

“Looks like a cozy training session. You’ve got an incredible teacher there, Kunal.”

Kunal bristled at the use of his name but hid it. It felt unfamiliar and strange in the prince’s mouth, as if he was deciding what to do with it and it might not be pleasant. Kunal clenched his hand around the knife.

“I am quite lucky. She’s showing me how to use a knife to better attack an unarmed man—or woman,” Kunal said.

The prince flashed him a smile, teeth bared, before dismissing him with his eyes and turning to Esha and Arpiya. “If you both have a moment.”

He didn’t wait for a response, striding to the side of the court. Esha followed him and so did Arpiya, after throwing a menacing look at Bhandu and mouthing “Practice” at him.

Whatever they were talking about led them to argue.

Or that was simply how they interacted. Kunal couldn’t tell.

Minutes later, all three of them walked back and Harun stopped in front of the rest of them. “We have another mission.”

“Do we get to go?” Aahal asked.

Kunal almost laughed at the excitement in Aahal’s voice. Bhandu seemed as interested in the answer.

Harun shook his head. “No, just Esha. This is just an information grab. She’ll be meeting with a source we’ve found. There is a situation, but I’ll explain it to you three later, when it’s just the team.” He looked at Kunal when he said it, as if waiting to see his reaction. Kunal kept his face impassive. “All of you is overkill for this mission.”

Aahal’s face fell and Bhandu’s scrunched up. Harun seemed to notice. “Next time, I promise,” he said, his voice soft and disarming.

Kunal saw it then—what it was about the prince that made people stay loyal and devoted to him and his cause. It wasn’t just the commanding, masterful actor he had seen before.

He genuinely cared about his people. Which made him all the more dangerous.

“Kunal will come with me.”

Kunal’s head whipped around to look at Esha. Her face was blank and she said it calmly.

Harun immediately opened his mouth to respond, and she interrupted, looking over at Kunal. “You’re part of the rebels now, so you’ll earn your keep. He’ll be useful in bolstering my cover. If not, I’ll bring him back in chains,” she said.

Kunal furrowed his brow. He had no idea how he would be useful.

But one angry look from Harun was all it took to convince him to keep his mouth shut. He’d be grateful to not be under his watchful eye—which was currently turned on Esha with barely contained annoyance.

In a flash, the look was replaced with a placid smile.

“Whatever you say, my Viper. I expect a full report and I give you permission to use any force necessary to make sure the soldier stays in line. You asked for him, you get to deal with him,” Harun said, his foot tapping. “Don’t let him murder you in your sleep,” he murmured, his words biting.