Terena huffed a breath, a corner of her mouth lifting as she pretended an irreverence she was far from feeling. Her throat became hot. “Well. Don’t believe everything you hear. Unless it was good! Then, of course, it’s all true.”
She even tossed in what she hoped was a saucy wink.
Dear gods.
He didn’t respond, his eyes still locked on her. What was he thinking?
“Mistress,” Danilos prodded, his voice high.
The commander blinked, his full lips pressed in a tight line. He shot a glance at the steward and she noticed for the first time three thin scars along his left cheek disappearing beyond his ear.
He straightened, relaxing a bit. “Emperor Solon’s Royal Tracker. I heard you’re remarkably gifted at finding lost treasures of the gods. That’s quite a talent.”
“It’s a living,” she said with a forced laugh.
“Indeed,” Danilos replied through gritted teeth. He cleared his throat. “Indeed, Mistress Luca was the one who found the Shroud of Faybhen.”
Daris Antonius snapped his eyes back to Danilos, who held his gaze a moment before the steward turned to Terena.
“And once you’re done with… your… well,” Danilos coughed. “The document is ready for your signature.”
Before she could stop herself, Terena turned back to the commander and blurted out, “You’re far from home, aren’t you?”
She watched those cerulean eyes gutter, his handsome face a blank, polite mask as he regarded her.
Terena’s chest quaked, but she plowed on. She gestured at him and his men. “What business does the Liodari have with Duke Aurora?”
Danilos looked as if he’d expire any moment. The steward wiped at his forehead, all but squeaked and panted at her to please allow him to show her?—
“I’m afraid that’s not something I can share,” the commander replied in a silky voice.
He lifted his eyes to the steward and then motioned to someone behind Terena. She didn’t dare turn away to look.
“Of course,” she whispered.
“If you’re staying for dinner?—”
Terena blinked. Her heart missed a beat. “Unfortunately, I’m not staying.” She jerked her thumb behind her, loosing a fake laugh. “Other clients; meetings and such.”
“There you are!”
Terena stifled a curse and closed her eyes at her brother’s bellow.
She heard his exaggerated stomping as he closed the distance between them, his clothes a medley of stains, and took a step away from the commander. She chanced a look back at him to find his gaze still on her. Assessing. And something else.
Danilos wrung his hands and hissed at her. Terena smiled at the steward and turned back to the commander, intent on getting away.
She muttered some pleasantries and pivoted to face Croak when the commander grasped her elbow.
The touch shocked her and she gaped at him. He leaned in, eyes thoughtful. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Terena Luca.”
She nodded, giving him a brief smile as she tugged her arm free before walking swiftly away toward her brother, Danilos at her heels.
“Well?”
Terena tucked her thumbs into the straps of her shoulder guard, not bothering to turn to Croak when he spoke.
“Well, what?”
