“It’s the middle of the night.”
“Then why don’t we try the doors?” I stepped over him, making my best effort not to touch him so he didn’t freak out.
He opened one eye as I did, swallowing hard.
I smirked, going around the corner to try the handles. They were all locked, of course, but I decided to sneak in and see if they were occupied. If they weren’t, the innkeeper would never know if we used one. The first had two snoring fae, and the second some kind of sex ritual I wouldn’t ask any questions about. At least I hoped it was sex.
I popped over to the room at the end of the hall and found a tiny, empty room shoved into the tip of the roof space. It had slanted walls and was barely tall enough to stand, but there was a bed, and it didn’t smell damp. Perfect.
I pushed off my leathers and the shirt of leather armor I wore, leaving myself in only my underclothes before pullingdown the quilt. Before I could slip into bed, the knob twisted but didn’t move, as I’d left it locked.
“I know you’re in there,” Faolan hissed. I thought about not responding, but he added, “I’ll break down the door and send Nyx into another tizzy if you don’t.”
I sighed and pulled it open. “What?”
“Were you going out the window?”
I laughed, gesturing at myself. “Like this? Hardly.”
He dragged his gaze down my body, cursing low.My entire body reacted to the way he looked at me. I wanted it and hated it simultaneously, knowing he wouldn’t act on it.
“I’m going to sleep. Goodnight.” I grabbed the door to slam it.
He put his foot there before I could get it closed. “I’m coming in.”
My heart jumped to my throat. “I thought you were sleeping in the hall?”
“I can’t in good conscience leave you without a guard. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you.”
“I thought it was inappropriate for us to be alone.”
“I think that’s gone out the window considering your sister is alone with her betrothed and Kol.” Faolan stepped closer, like he could intimidate me out of the way.
I stood my ground, not because I objected to him sleeping in here but because I wasn’t going to just give into him. “I think I can fend for myself.”
“Then I’ll get Nyx.”
“You’re the one who’s trying to stay away from me so hard. Why insist now?”
He picked me up before I could move or get to my knife, setting me down further in the room while kicking the door closed behind him.
I sputtered, reeling between anger and the burn from his hands on my bare skin. “Oh, now you can touch me?”
“No.” He closed his eyes, swaying a little.
“You’re still drunk.” I reached for him, wondering if he’d let me touch him.
“I wasn’t going to argue in the hall and draw more attention to us.” He’d backed up against the door, tried to stand up fully, and knocked his head. “Fuck. Did you find the room for the small folk?”
“It’s the only one empty. Are you complaining?” My head was too spinny to argue.
“No.” He slid to a seat.
“Are you really going to try and sleep there? You don’t even fit in the room.” There was no space for him to stretch out on the floor either, as the bed took up most of the angled room.
“I’m not going to sleep.”
“You’re going to be useless tomorrow, hungover without any rest.” The world spun around me, but it wasn’t as bad as when we got interrupted by Nyx.
