ItwasForcina. She hadn’t been imagining it earlier before going into the tavern after all.
She wrapped her arms tightly around Jaario’s waist and leaned her head against his chest, closing her eyes in anxious anticipation of what was about to happen. This was it. Forcina had seen her on the ship and had come after her—probably to kill her—ensuring Doraan and the crew were forever stuck on the sea.
“Kamira,” Jaario whispered in her ear.
She peeked up at him. He was tall—so much taller than her that she had to crane her neck all the way back just to look him in the eye.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Is she gone?” she breathed.
His brows knit together. “How did you know who I was hiding from?”
“Why areyouhiding from her?”
He huffed, and that characteristic smirk spread across his lips, easing the tension in his features back into the carefree demeanor he had worn since the moment they met. “I’ve been hiding from Forcina for a long time.”
“But why? Did you do something to her?”
He sighed. “She thinks I did. She’s been out for revenge ever since. On a journey to destroy me and any happiness I’ve ever known.”
“That seems to be a common theme of hers,” Kamira said solemnly.
Jaario chuckled gently, and it was only then, when the vibrations of that laugh rippled through his chest and directly into hers, that she realized they were still holding one another. She pushed away from him, which only made him chuckle more.
“How exactly do you know Forcina?” he asked.
“I’m pretty sure she is looking for me.”
He cocked a brow in interest. “Why would she be looking for you?”
Kamira sighed. She barely knew this man and yet here she was just giving away little pieces of information she had no business offering. “It’s a long story and honestly not mine to tell. Can you please just tell me where Adonis is?”
“Alright, but I won’t forget about this. I want that story at some point. Anyone who’s on Forcina’s bad side is a friend to me and I’ll help them anyway I can.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why would you help someone you don’t even know? Why did you even help me back in the tavern, and why are you helping me right now?” She was genuinely curious. Not many strangers would offer or do what he had done willingly and so readily. He hadn’t even taken a moment to think before saying he would help her find Adonis.
His expression darkened, growing somber and distant. “I did many things in my past that I am not proud of. Helping people is my way of attempting penance for all that I have done. It’s the one thing that keeps me going, that makes existing a little more palatable and not so damn daunting.”
Kamira frowned at his phrasing, not entirely sure how to respond to something so raw and honest. It had her thinking about Lord Tarkiin and what she had done to him.
“Come on. It’s almost sunset, and we better find Nardisee before it gets too late.” Jaario peered into the streets, pulling the hood of his blue sleeveless tunic over his head. “Come on, the coast is clear,” he said, continuing on straight through the city square to a road on the opposite side.
Kamira followed, watching as just before they cleared the square, Jaario reached out quickly and pulled a hooded green cloak from a nearby cart. It was so quick and expertly done that she almost didn’t even notice what he had done. She hurried, sidling up to him.
“Did you just…”
“Here,” he cut her off, flinging the cloak against her chest. “Put it on. You don’t want to be spotted by Forcina if she’s still lurking nearby.”
She glared at him and then huffed annoyingly, taking the cloak and throwing it around her shoulders, pulling the hood on. “Why did it look like that wasn’t the first or even second time you’ve done that?”
He smirked at her offering a quick wink before striding down the darkened cobbled lane.
She had to almost jog to keep up with Jaario’s long stride, trailing after him as he winded through side streets and alleys, down stone staircases, and through dark tunnels carved through the base of buildings. Kamira couldn’t help but gape in awe of the beauty around her. She could practically feel the history oozing from every crack and crevice—from the smooth stones beneath her feet worn from centuries of townsfolk walking these roads to the ancient carved archways leading to every building and alley entrance. It was truly extraordinary.
