It was warm, even for her.
The tavern was packed tonight. Probably because of the horrendous weather for the last few weeks. Everyone had been cooped up. The break in the weather finally gave the villagers the chance to leave their homes. Hopefully, she’d make enough tonight to pay for a new coat for Cosmos. He’d grownagain.
Lia fanned her flushed face and touched her warm cheek carefully before looking down at her fingers. They shimmered the tiniest bit silver, but none of the blue had come off, thankfully. Dahlia was paranoid that she’d sweat the dye right off.
Hiding along the border had not been easy as a human while tensions were high between the two kingdoms. While there was a population of halflings that lived along the narrow strip of land between the two kingdoms, they weren’t treated as well as full-blooded giants, but much better than humans. Since the Asteran attack, humans were a target.
Bless Loshika for being the amazing soul she was. Without her, Lia didn’t think she or Cosmos would have survived. Thenonnaehad been able to create a temporary dye that they could bathe in that dyed their skin a shimmering light blue. Dahlia blew a thick lock of black hair from her face. Every time Liaspotted her reflection in the copper wall behind the bar, it shocked her. A mini giantess looked back at her.
The small vain part of herself mourned the loss of her rose-gold hair. Her hair had been her one true beauty, and the royals had even managed to take that. Disgust curled in her stomach along with the ever-present guilt. What was hair when it came to Cosmos’ or Loshika’s lives?
Deep down, Lia knew she wasn’t going to survive what was coming.
One way or another, her choices would catch up with them all. Dahlia’s only hope was that she would be able to get her friend and brother to the Fire Kingdom before that happened.
She stumbled to the right, almost losing her balance as the adorable halfling Jaiix bumped her generous hip against Lia’s. She tossed her shiny periwinkle hair off her shoulder. Even being only half giant, Jaiix still towered above Dahlia.
Jaiix grinned and flicked her eyes suggestively toward the card table. “Have you noticed how Felix has been looking at you?”
Lia shook her head, glancing through her lashes at the game table. Felix was indeed looking their way. The young merchant had been visiting the tavern more often in the last month since he’d been cut off from the west. He never groped Lia, but he always watched her. It made Dahlia feel uneasy. She didn’t need that much attention. If she could disappear into the floor, she would have.
“He looks good, doesn’t he?” Jaiix teased, her purple lips tipping into a grin. “He’s strong, capable, and good looking. Rumor says that he’s looking for a wife.” Lia tried not to flinch at the suggestive pause, instead tracing a gouge in the bar top. “He’s quite the catch, and he can’t seem to keep his eyes off of you,” Jaiix drawled.
Lia once again glanced toward the aqua giant in question. They locked eyes, and...
She felt nothing.
He smiled at her and lifted his ale in a salute, a warm twinkle in his dark eyes.
“He’s a nice enough man,” Dahlia allowed. “But I’m not looking for a husband or bed companion.”
The halfling rolled her eyes in an utterly human way. “You are a widow, Holly.” Lia grimaced at the lie and the fake name. “But that doesn’t mean you have to stay by yourself the rest of your life.” Jaiix gave her a sad smile. “I know marriage to your first husband wasn’t a happy one but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a happier future. You only have to try.”
If only Jaiix knew to whom she spoke.
Marriage to the king hadn’t been terrible. At one time, it had been terrifying. Neve had scared her, challenged Lia, but he’d made her fall in love with him too.
She squeezed her eyes shut at the thrum of pain that threatened to suck her in.
Beauty and the beast.
Dahlia was the beast.
All too soon, she’d pay for what she’d done.
Lia knew Neve.
His accusing gaze still haunted her every waking moment.
He’d never let her betrayal go.
Panic slowly clawed its way up her throat.
Dahlia gestured to the side door and pushed away from the bar, the sound in the room starting to fizzle out. “I’m going to go outside and cool off.” She spun on her heel and made for the door, half stumbling.
“You can’t run forever from love,” Jaiix called.
The words haunted Lia as she pushed out the door into the dark. The icy cold crashed over Lia, cooling her heated cheeksalmost immediately. She leaned back heavily against the stone wall of the tavern, the icy stone seeping through her thin dress.
