Perhaps because at that moment, the three strangers appeared in the doorway. Swaggering across the flagstones, still dressed in their original armour, they had every eye upon them, but it wasn’t due to their clothing. Like my dragon, it was their posture, the way they carried themselves that had all conversation dying away as people turned to stare. Not one look was spared for their audience. They strode past table after table, until they came to a stop at the one that was right across from mine. Two cadets were glanced at briefly, Kael jerking his thumb. Without a word, the cadets relocated, scurrying off to find a seat elsewhere as the three of them drew their chairs up into a line, sitting down to face me.
“What are those bastards playing at…?” Lance muttered and I wish I could answer him. Lorien put his elbows onto the table and shot a smile my way, red spots forming in the cheeks of the white haired one, but it was Kael who caught my attention.
That one…Auren said as his lips curved, his eyes glittering with a dangerous light as he looked me up and down.He wants?—
I think I know exactly what he wants,I replied primly, then turned my attention to Sparrow.
Chapter 15
Lorien
“Is there a reason why we’re sitting here and our girl is over there, seated at the table with another man?” I asked.
“Sit. Down,” Dain growled.
He gave so few orders I found myself doing as he bid without thought, Kael doing the same. Our chairs were dragged into a line, each one of us was seated so we could get the clearest view of her. Fern, that was her name and I couldn’t seem to stop playing it over and over in my mind.
“The lieutenant thinks he’s staking a claim.” Kael’s hand dropped to his sword hilt, something the man at the other table noted. The way the officer stiffened had me thinking he’d like to have his own weapon in his hand. I shot him a sly grin in recognition. “Away from the keep, out from under the watchful eyes of the Royal Riders, we’ll make clear what a mistake he’s made.”
“Away from…?” Dain snorted. “There’s nowhere you can go in Nevermere that’s beyond rider justice. We?—”
“Good evening, gentlemen.”
All of us looked up as someone approached the table.
Women made their presences known all the time when wewent to the tavern. This girl, though? She was no serving wench. Her jewellery, the expensive scent and her elaborate hairstyle, they all sat strangely against the cadet uniform everyone was wearing, but they made clear something. Money and power. Her hand went to her hip as she looked past me and straight at Kael.
“I don’t think we’ve been introduced.” A finely manicured hand extended, passed in front of my face and that had me looking across at Dain. The woman had thick skin, because she didn’t seem to register my brother’s dark scowl. That’d be enough to snatch my own hand back, but she just smiled at Kael. “I’m Lady Seraphina. My father is Baron Ashbourne.”
“And I’m not interested.”
Kael’s eyes remained fixed on Fern, ignoring the woman entirely so he didn’t see those red lips thin, pressing together for just a second before her smile reappeared. That’s when I knew exactly what was happening. My mother, my sisters made sure I knew all about the wiles of women. They’d been at pains to demonstrate all the signs, lest I be sucked in by some manipulative miss. Sitting down in the chair in front of Kael without so much as a by your leave, I’d never heard them talk about that, though when she leaned forward, we were in familiar territory. Her cadet jacket was unbuttoned at the neck, a creamy expanse of bosom revealing itself.
Too bad for Lady Whatever Her Face, because none of us were moved. I glanced over at Kael and watched him shift sideways, straining to look around Serenity to focus back on Fern. My hand went to my face, trying to mask my grin and failing, right as the bitch lined me up in her sights.
And that’s when I saw it.
Ever looked into the eyes of a serpent? I have. There was a fellow who used to keep captive snakes, bringing them out each market day, riling them up in their cages, then throwing them dead mice and rats to earn the coins of passersby. This Seraphina had eyes as cold and hard as a reptile’s as she met my gaze for seconds, then focussed backon Kael.
“Really?” she said, seductive smile back on her face. “That’s no way to talk to a blood relation.”
“What?” She could’ve said a lot of things, but this was clever. Any mention of Kael’s family was bound to get his attention. From the look of this Seraphina, she wasn’t related to our Elsie. “And who exactly do you think I am to you?”
“A cousin.” Her hand slid forward, held out for Kael to take. “Of sorts. Second cousin at most.”
Don’t take her hand, I willed Kael silently.Do not fucking touch this snake.
Snake?‘Fang’s voice resounded in my head.What snake? That one is human, but her mind…I could feel a wave of revulsion.I don’t like it, not even a little bit.
Me either, brother, I told my dragon.
It appeared neither did our Fern. Her eyes narrowed as she watched the proceedings, focussing on the woman’s outstretched hand, but if I noticed that, so did Kael. With a grin, he shook it.
Fern went pale and the urge to get out of my seat and stride over was overpowering. I’d throw myself to my knees and beg for her forgiveness if it’d help. It felt like we’d done everything wrong from the start, which had me looking across at Dain. The slow shake of his head, that deep frown, it made clear he felt the same way.
Argent’s rider doesn’t like this woman, ‘Fang told me.He thinks she’s a female dog. It’s taking everything he’s got to stop from picking her up and dumping her at another table.
Maybe we should, I shot back.
