Never (Never, #1) (58)

He tilts his head. “Are ye a bit sad about that?”

I give him a stubborn look. “Not even remotely.”

Though actually, if I were to be entirely truthful, perhaps I am a bit (but very remotely).

He crouches down so we’re closer to eye level. “What’re ye doing in a canoe?”

“Oh.” I sigh. “I just grew tired of all the comforts you get from living in a tree house and decided I wanted to create some new lower back problems for myself.” I give him a sarcastic look.

Jamison squashes away a smile, nodding. “Ye fighting with the wee man?”

I look away. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

He moves his head, looking for my eyes. “Ye came to me last night.”

I give him a look. “And you came with someone else entirely, so that’s completely brilliant for you.”

Jamison frowns. “Is thon what ye were there for?”

I quickly tuck some hair behind my ears. “Of course not!”

He stands, arms folded over himself, staring down at me, brows furrowed. “Yer angry.”

“No, I’m not,” I tell him hotly, and I don’t know when I decided I felt like fighting with him, but I do.

He offers me his hand to help me up, but I brush it away, heaving myself up instead—and rather indelicately so, I might add. He rolls his eyes at me.

I’ve never fought with a man before, so I can’t tell for certain whether that’s what we’re doing right now, but whatever this is, I must admit that there is a thrill to it.

Jamison nods his chin at me. “I like yer dress. It makes ye look quite swarthy.”

I shrug dismissively. “I just get darker in the sun is all.”

“I’m complimenting ye.” He gives me an unimpressed look. “Actually, I’m complimenting the dress that I bought ye…thon yer wearing.”

“I didn’t ask you to!”

He shrugs. “Ye could just be grateful.”

“I was!” I shoot back.

“Until?” He lifts his eyebrows, waiting, and I say nothing.

I keep saying nothing, quite enjoying all the attention he’s giving me, and then he breathes out, annoyed, rolls his eyes, and turns and walks away.

“Where are you going?” I call to him, but he doesn’t stop, just keeps walking. So I climb out of the boat and scramble after him. “Hey!” I call again. “Where are you going, I said!”

He spins around, though he doesn’t stop walking. “Fer a dander up the mountains.” He flicks his eyes. “Would ye care to join me?”

“No,” I say quickly. He rolls his eyes, and I regret it immediately. “Maybe?”

He stops walking. “Maybe?” he says, eyes pinched, and I think I see a smile whisper over his face but ever so lightly and only for a second before he puts it away. He might enjoy being angry at me too. Jamison’s eyes fall to my bare feet. “Yer gonna need something for those.”

I straighten up, offended. “I walked the Fallen Kingdom and the jungle yesterday without shoes.”

“Well, thon was stupid of ye.” He gives me a look. “And this is a mountain. There’ll be jagged rocks and snow and—”

“Oh, never mind then,” I growl, crossing my arms, looking away.

He stares over at me. “Yer an absolute punish today.”

My mouth falls open, a little bit from hurt, but mostly from the reprimand.

Jem moves in towards me and waves towards the town square. “We can buy ye some shoes, Bow.”

“I don’t want you to buy me shoes!” I say quickly.

“For why?” He rolls his eyes.

“Why do you want to?” I ask. “So you can hold it over my head again?”

“I never—Fuck!” He shakes his head at me, his face getting closer to mine. “Is yer head cut?”

And then a ball of light zooms in between us, hovering at my eye level.

Jamison pulls back, surprised, as I put my hand out for Rune to land on.

She chimes.

“Oh no. I’m fine.” I shake my head.

She zips over and jingles aggressively in Jamison’s face—he stands there wide-eyed and stunned—before she darts back over and lands on my hand. She jingles.

I give her a look. “Heard about that, did you?”

She trills wildly.

“She’s very pretty. Oh, you don’t have to say that. Well, thank you. That’s kind.”

More chimes.

“No, I’ve not spoken to him since.” I shake my head, and then I feel Jamison’s eyes on me. I turn to him and frown. “What?”

He lifts an eyebrow, surprised. “Ye speak Stj?r?”

“Yes.” I roll my eyes as though I’ve been fluent in it all my life. “Don’t you?”

He pulls back a little, surprised again. “No’ fluently.”

I scoff and Rune and I trade unimpressed looks.

“I know.” I roll my eyes again as I stare over at him for a moment before looking back at her. She trills something about how handsome he is. “Yes, I suppose, if you’re interested in that sort of thing.”*

She jingles.

“Without it on, do you mean?” I lower my voice as I turn my body a little so Jamison can’t see so much of us, in case I’m blushing because I could maybe, possibly be. “Well, yes, I have. No! No, no! Not like that! But it is quite nice, actually, if you must know.”?