“Angry?”
“Yes, angry. Angry that you haven’t eaten. Angry that you’ve put yourself here. Angry that I don’t know what I can do to get you toleave.”
A fire lit within, one where the licking flames wanted to reach out and scorch his face. “You don’t have to help me, you know. If I’m such aburden.” I rose, standing toe-to-toe with him now, fighting against the prick of sorrow from the thought that he didn’t want me around. I made to move, but his firm grip snagged my upper arm.
This tent was small. Much too small for two people to fit comfortably, let alone fight. Regardless, my muscles primed themselves to strike when his whispered words disarmed me.
“That’s not what I meant.” There was no pain from his hold. Even still, he relaxed it, but didn’t drop his hand from its place. “You’re not a burden, but this place isn’t safe. For you, for any of us.” The unexpected soft stroke of his thumb against my arm made my breath hitch. “Ro, what are you doing here? What do you need? I will give you all that I can, the answers you seek and the ones I can’t, I’ll find. But only on the condition that you leave as soon as you can.”
My eyes fluttered from the tenderness in his voice. This one moment could seal my destiny, alter the course of history if I chose wrong. Still, I didn’t pull from his touch, didn’t tear away and storm off. Chances were I wouldn’t make it to the end of the day in this camp without a proper guide.
So, I took a deep breath, and shared what I was willing to. That I was here because the lives of my loved ones depended on it. Because I was the only one who could save them, and I needed information to do it. That I was on a deadline, and I wouldn’t know what I was looking for until I found it.
Confessing slivers of truth to him felt so easy and natural. I was oddly content with the time he and I spent alone together.
He assessed me with a softness in his eyes, a glint that looked…sympathetic.
42
Marco
Lemon zest, oregano, and thyme kissed the salty sea air in the market off the docks. Coming home never lost its luster. It was here, in the beating heart of Citros, the capital of Duski, where my soul called home.
Poor Alaina had been holed up nearly the whole trip. The girl had never stepped off the continent, and her sea legs were as steady as a foal’s. A selfish part of me hoped maybe the journey had been treacherous enough that she wouldn’t sail back.
While our time together on the ship hadn’t been what I’d imagined, and definitely a lot less sexy, we’d still managed to share moments I would deem uncomfortably intimate. I learned about her family—a mother, father, and brother. About when she first discovered her magic by reversing her own scraped knee to avoid getting into trouble for sneaking into a neighbor’s garden to steal some berries.
She’d painted the picture so clearly while she lay on my lap, my hand stroking her hair to help subset her chronic nausea. I’d smiled without the sake of appearances, something that hadbecome rare in my life. It wasn’t to show arrogance or charm my way into getting what I wanted. It was a quiet smile that grew where she couldn’t see it. One I kept to myself.
During the hours where her battle with vertigo became too strong, I filled the silence to help pass the time, a hopeful distraction while she weathered the worst of her symptoms. Turns out, a lot of self-discovery can occur when one isn’t afraid of judgment or interruptions. While my clothes unfortunately remained on, the vulnerability had still managed to strip me bare.
I was uncertain how much she’d heard, seeing as she’d slip in and out of rest from the potent herbs the healer delivered, but those admissions still resounded in my head.
“I don’t have much coin,” Alaina said from beside me, her gaze cast out over all the vendors and their delicious goods. “But everything smells so damn good.” Her braids were coiled into a large, looped pile on her head, and I had to resist the urge to twirl the stray curl dangling behind her ear.
“Never you mind that. Go pick something.” I gestured toward the array of refined, polished, and sprawling carts and shops before securing my hands behind my back.
“Are you sure?” There was a flame of hunger in her eyes, and a pallor to her skin that required immediate remedy.
“Please, go, before you sully another good pair of my leathers.” I lifted my knee-high brown boot, a pair that had been brought to me as soon as we off loaded. I hated greeting my kingdom in clothes that stunk of stale ship cabin air—and sick. I never wanted to upset the glorious natural ecosystem of scents from my talented citizens, so replacement clothes were always brought to me upon my return.
At that precise moment, my crew hefted the trunk of my belongings past us, which contained a previously thoroughly puked on pair of boots.
“Sorry.” She winced at the memory.
I chuckled. “Seriously, anything you’d like. It’ll be my honor to pay for the first food you’ll keep down in weeks.”
Her piercing blue eyes twinkled, and those plump lips tugged to the side. I much preferred her eyes unmasked by the seer, who I guess also possessed a degree of shielding ability. On my continent, nearly every eye color was magically influenced, and she looked as if she belonged here. A tempting thought, though I suspected entertaining it would leave me disappointed.
She inhaled deeply and straightened. “Very well then. I don’t mind spending a prince’s cash.”
“Good. Maybe you’ll get used to it.” Surprised flashed in her eyes as I maintained a scoundrel’s grin. She said nothing before departing, her commanding steps navigating the market. Like a queen.
Stop that.I shook my head, white hair creeping into my vision. Too long for my taste. I needed to get a cut right away. I brushed it back before invading her space once again.
“If I may,” I whispered into her ear from over her shoulder. “The lamb skewers often satisfy me the most after a long journey at sea.” Greedily, I let my nose brush across her charcoal hair, marinating in the silky luxury of it.
I lifted my hand to point to Stavros, the stand owner of the kabobs I’d suggested. She walked over, and I ordered us several and had them bundled. Offering her a stick, she took it and sniffed. Her shoulders sank at the mouth watering, perfectly seasoned meat and took a bite that resembled a starving cat.
