He chuckled. “I’m sure you are…uh, what’s your name by the way?”
“Kamira,” she huffed, gingerly prodding her aching nose.
“So what brings you, apirate,” he emphasized with a crooked smile, “to Neilmaar?”
“I’m looking for someone,” she said quickly. “Which reminds me, I should really continue my search.” Kamira turned toward the door and stomped her way over, placing a hand on the door latch, but stopped when Jaario’s voice rumbled behind her.
“Have you any idea where the person you are looking for is?”
She didn’t turn around or lower her hand from the latch. “No.”
“I can help you.”
She dropped her hand, spinning with narrowed eyes as she met his dark gaze. “How? You don’t even know who I’m looking for.”
“I’ve lived in Neilmaar for a long time. I know everyone and everything that goes on in this city,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest as he casually leaned a shoulder against the wall beside her and winked.
Kamira frowned and glowered at him for a long moment before finally grunting in annoyance. “Fine, but I highly doubt you will know the person I’m looking for.”
He grinned, eyes dancing with anticipation.“Try me.”
“I’m looking for Adonis Nardisee.”
His smile widened into something far more devilish.
She looked at him incredulously. “Don’t tell me you actually know who I’m talking about?”
She didn’t think it was possible but his grin widened even further. “As a matter of fact, I do.”
A snort of disbelief echoed from her, followed by a groan of pain as a sharp pain ricocheted through her entire face.
“You should really stop snorting like that,” Jaario said before pulling open the door and directing an arm out into the hallway. “After you.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’ll have you know that if this is some elaborate plan to steal my belongings and gain some coin, I don’t have anything worth your time or effort. I’ll even let you check my bag.” She held the rucksack out for him to take.
“Don’t you think if I wanted to rob you I would have done it while you were passed out on the bed?”
Damn him, he has a point.She cast him a final stabbing glare before huffing and walking out into the corridor.
His heavy footfalls followed her out, the door closing with a soft thud behind them. Her skin prickled from the way she felt him watching her movements as they descended back into the tavern. She forced herself not to look back at him.
A few tables were overturned, tankards spilled on the floor. The old woman mopping up the mess didn’t even look up at them as they hurried past and out the front door. She would be upset too if she were the elderly woman. Kamira hadn’t meant for a fight to break out, it had all just sort of happened, and really, it was mostly Jaario’s fault. She finally chanced a glance back at him, the dying sunlight brightening his eyes so she could see their true color. They weren’t brown after all, but a strange hue of dark gray—like a surging storm cloud. He cocked his head to the side and bestowed her with a smug, crooked smile.
“Do you want to go in front of me since I have no idea where we are going?” she asked, frowning at him and motioning for him to lead the way.
He chuckled, elbowing her lightly as he walked past. “Come on, it's this way.”
They were headed toward the town square when he suddenly stopped, spinning around. She ran directly into him, face colliding with his solid chest. “Ouch!” she squealed. “What are you…” but she didn’t have a chance to finish before he, quite literally, picked her up by her shoulders and spun her around, pushing her quickly toward a small shadowed alcove between two buildings. It was barely wide enough to fit one person, let alone two, but he shoved her inside and followed right behind her, pushing them both far enough into the darkness so that they were completely hidden from anyone peering into the cramped space.
“Jaario…” she growled, struggling as she turned around to face him, but that only caused him to pull her close against him, wrapping a large arm around her so she could no longer move and clamping his free hand over her mouth.
Kamira squirmed trying to dislodge his grip.
“Shh…stop struggling,” he whispered.
She finally looked up and noticed the look of alarm in his eyes, and the worry lines carved into his face. Something had frightened him, and whatever it was, he was trying to protect her from it, too.
She angled her head, peering around his arm toward the city street beyond, desperate for a glimpse of what he was shielding them from. Her eyes widened when she glimpsed a red streak past the alley opening. The woman came back slower this time and turned in a circle before pausing to peer into the dark alcove. Kamira gasped against Jaario’s hand, still clamped over her lips, and he instinctively pulled her closer.
