Stone hiccupped and Aesira clenched her fists to keep from shaking him. “We’re only passing through on our way–” the words were out of her mouth before she could think any better. Vic’s brows raised and damnit, how was she the one to let such a detail slip?
Stone had been drinking all night and yet she was the one who jeopardized their story.
“Passing through towhere?” Vic set his glass down, still full.
“The Isles.” Stone sat up, pulling his glasses from his pocket and slipping them on. “Lucy’s never been. Thought I’d show her something other than the desert.”
The lie wasn’t totally unbelievable. Except that the Isles were in the opposite direction of the Outpost and months away by ship and required an exorbitant amount of money.
Vic’s dark eyes bounced between them. As if he was waiting for another slip up. Waiting to pounce on one of them for lying. “You’re lucky to have found each other.”
Stone shifted beside her, close enough she could smell the drink still on his lips, feel the heat of his skin. His eyes met hers, wide and somehow clearer than before and without saying it, she knew what he was asking.
Make him believe us. Make him trust us.
She closed the final gap between them, pressing her lips to his in a brief, barely-there kiss that lit her up from her stomach to her toes.
Stone was still close enough to her that if she shifted at all, her nose would brush his. “Very lucky,” he whispered but Vic paid no mind, talking as if they weren’t even there.
“Isles are beautiful this time of year,” Vic said but Aesira barely heard him. Her mind was stuck on Stone’s lips. On the sweetness of his breath and the gentleness of his fingers as they tangled with hers. “Your timing is interesting. Not long ago we had another visitor passing through. So rare to have outsiders here at the Outpost and now we’ve had two in a span of a week.” Vic picked up his glass from earlier and took a sip. “Must be the eclipse, making people anxious for change.”
There it was.
Their opening.
Panic surged in her chest as she waited for Stone to say something. To do something.Forget the kiss, she thought,if he doesn’t get the information we need–
“Another visitor?” Stone sat forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “How peculiar.”
Vic grunted. He pulled a fresh cigar from his pocket and soon the room smelt of smoke and sweet from the drinks. “Seemed harmless, albeit not totally sane. Kept mumbling to himself. Scribbling shit on parchment. We saw to it he didn’t stay long.”
Desmond.
It had to be Desmond.
Blood rushed to Aesira’s cheeks. “How did he find his way here?”
Vic shrugged, another ring of smoke floating between them. “Desert brings all sorts of people. Drifters. Madmen.” He watched her through the twisting bands of smoke. “Sculptors.”
Aesira’s head was fuzzy, a mix of the alcohol and information and Stone’s kiss made it impossible for her to concentrate. “It’s getting late. Should we head back to the inn?” She squeezed Stone’s hand.
“You’re probably right, as usual.” He shot her a wink. “Vic,” he said as he stood, “thank you for the celebratory drinks. I’m glad we could make amends.” Stone extended his hand, but when Vic took it he pulled Stone forward, slamming him into his chest.
“Did you think you could really come into my house and lie to me?”
“We aren’t–” Hepushed Stone away.
“Tell me where you’re going.” Vic snapped his fingers, sending two men rushing from the corners of the room, like spiders descending from their webs.
Aesira chastised herself for not spotting them earlier. But she saw them now, and now would have to be enough. Vic’s attention was honed in on Stone, grabbing him by the collar.
“I know Stone Odega didn’t come all the way to the Outpost to show this bitch the sights.” A glint struck from his gold tooth as he smiled.
Stone sighed and shook his head. “I really wish you didn’t just say that.” Stone reared back, his forehead colliding with Vic’s nose, spurts of blood dripping down his manicured face.
The men closed in around them, various weapons in their palms; knives, a club, a heavy ball and chain. Aesira’s brain went to work, categorizing the best way to escape while Stone and Vic had it out with each other.
The blade holstered to her thigh was in her hand and slashing through one of Vic’s men before she took another breath. She cast a quick glance at Stone, still brawling with Vic, before she moved onto the next man. He was larger than the first, but that made him slower.
