Mama had said she’d kidnapped me from my real parents. They’d probably assumed I was dead all this time. Didn’t they deserve to know the truth as well?
“What are you thinking about?” Lorian’s voice was low in my ear.
“You know, for a man who refuses to tell me anything about himself, you sure think you’re entitled to my every thought.”
He chuckled, and I attempted to ignore just how much that sound made me want to grin.
Surprisingly, Lorian hadn’t said a word after his meeting with the fae. I’d struggled to stay awake that night, but I’d eventually told myself that if he wanted me dead, he could reach out and snap my neck while I was awake. Now, neither of us spoke of the fae they’d been meeting. I was pretty sure he knew I’d been spying. He’d definitely seen evidence that I’d been crawling around in the dirt, away from Galon’s keen eye. But Lorian was tricky. He’d likely guessed that not mentioning it would make me crazed.
We approached the outskirts of the town Lorian had decided we would stop in tonight, and I pulled my hair over my face, flipping up the hood of my cloak. “We’re staying at the inn on the other side of this town, closer to the city,” Lorian said.
If I didn’t know him better, I’d think that was an attempt to make me less afraid. But Lorian enjoyed my fear. He’d made that much clear when he’d pulled that rope out of his pocket by the river.
After this, we would be traveling for just one more night, and then we would arrive at the city gates. Nerves fluttered in my stomach at the thought.
My legs were aching when we dismounted. Lorian took my arm and I stiffened, but he ignored me, practically dragging me into the inn as the others followed closely behind.
“My wife and I need a room,” he said.
I went still. This man was determined to keep me off-balance.
The innkeeper’s gaze dropped to my empty wrist, which would have been encircled with a wedding bracelet had I actually been married. My hair was pulled in front of my shoulders and covering my temples, but the innkeeper still glanced at the side of my face, as if searching for the blue mark that would proclaim me old enough to be wed.
Lorian leaned close. “Is there a problem?”
“N-no. Of course not. You’re in luck today. We have our best room available.”
I closed my eyes, my cheeks burning.
Lorian’s mouth curved as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders and leaned close. “Did you hear that, sweetheart? The best room.” He turned back to the innkeeper. “We’ll take it.”
One day, I would make this man pay for every drop of mortification I’d felt in his presence.
The innkeeper handed over the keys, and I glanced behind me at the others, ignoring Rythos’s snort, Marth’s grin, and even the hint of amusement in Galon’s eyes. As usual, Cavis was staring into the distance, deep in thought.
“Rooms include dinner and breakfast,” the innkeeper said.
“Good,” Marth muttered. “Please tell me it’s anything but rabbit.”
Offense crossed Rythos’s face. “You don’t like it? Maybe you should cook your own food.”
Leaving the men to bicker, I checked the hood of my cloak and wandered into the main room, where a fire was currently roaring in one corner. Lorian prowled after me, practically breathing down my neck.
“What’s the matter?” he purred. “I thought you didn’t want to sleep alone.”
The mercenary was in a playful mood. Clearly, I wasn’t the only one looking forward to a roof over my head tonight.
“I don’t,” I said coolly. “But I’d prefer that no one thought I was stupid enough to marry a coldhearted brute like yourself.”
He gave me a knowing look that made me grind my teeth. By the time we got to the city, my teeth would be little more than dust.
Dropping into his chair, Lorian pulled me down next to him and surveyed the inn. Across the room, a barmaid was pouring ale for a group of travelers who were just as dusty—and likely as road-weary—as us. She looked up and winked at Lorian, her tongue darting out to lick her lips. When I glanced at him, he was looking at me, the hint of a smile on his face.
“What?”
The smile disappeared, his expression falling into its usual neutrality. I sighed and got to my feet. He instantly clamped his hand around my wrist.
“Let go,” I growled.
“You go nowhere alone.”
I knew that resolved expression. The brute wasn’t going to change his mind. After what had happened the last time we were in an inn just like this one…