EMBER’S POV

He tilts my chin up.

“So here’s what’s going to happen. You have my entire library at your disposal. Every record this family has ever kept. You have my best teachers, the finest in my territory, and you’ll have them the second you want them. And physical strength? Easy.” His eyes gleam. “I’ll teach you combat myself. Personally. Every dirty trick I know, every way there is to win a fight you have no business winning, because Goddess knows I’ve won enough of those. I will pour everything I am into making you exactly as dangerous as you already secretly are.”

He shakes his head, and there’s something...