A flush spread over her face, from her throat to her hairline. She shyly met my eyes. “Oops.”
A shard of memory, a javelin in my brain, sliced through my focus.
An axe hacked at my skull from the inside. My spine jerked itself straight.
I hissed in agonizing frustration.Fuck!Whynow?!
There couldn’t have been worse timing for my broken mind to stitch itself back together.
Wetness dripped from my nose. I slapped a hand over my face, catching the blood before it could splash onto Ginger.
I yanked myself away from her. “I have to go,” I said hastily.
She sat up. “No, wait?—”
I fled, making it as far as possible before the pain doubled me over and stole my senses.
CHAPTER 42
Ginger
Tandor dragged a barrel up from the cellar with a handful of dramatic heaves and grunts.
“What flavor is the cider today?” I asked. “Something new?”
He set the barrel onto the bar with a heavy thunk. “Another barrel of strawberry and sage. It’s been rather popular.”
My brows rose. “Oh, how fancy! Let me taste.” I held my hand out expectantly.
He rolled his eyes, but he moved to grab a goblet for me.
I knew the orc was excited to share his ciders.
He didn’t bother with just a dribble—he poured me an entire glass.
I snatched it from him and quickly lifted the rim to my mouth.
I knew by now not to doubt the orc’s creations—he was a better cider brewer than I was and, if I was being honest, he always had been.
The slightly bubbly liquid pooled on my tongue. It was deliciously refreshing, crisp but not too sweet.
I let Tandor suffer for a moment while I took a few additional sips and pretended to contemplate. I even furrowed my brows and cocked my head for dramatic effect to make him sweat.
And then I tilted the glass and drained the entire thing.
I set it in the wash basin with a clank and swiped the back of my hand across my mouth.
“Well?” Tandor asked, barely able to restrain a nervous grin.
I smiled back at him. “It’s perfect. But you knew that already.”
His cheeks were near to splitting. “It’s alright, huh? I thought so.”
A shiver rippled down my spine, and the pub darkened noticeably before returning to its normal glow.
Tandor glanced over my shoulder and clenched his jaw. “Your friend is back. Again.”
“My friend?” I asked, but then I turned to check.
