He may be easy on the eyes, but he would always be like a brother to Isla—a best friend and protector, someone to bring her cheer on her worst days. She felt more at ease with him there, and she knew he was as nervous for Arden to be on the road as she was, even if he didn’t show it.
“I’m glad you came out tonight, princess. I thought Bri would have to drag you, kicking and screaming.” He nodded toward Bri, who held up her glass in acknowledgment.
“I am, too, Ham. How could I miss seeing this handsome face?” Isla crooned and patted his cheek, knowing he hated when she called him that. He pretended to growl angrily and grabbed her wrist, twisting her arm behind her back. Laughing, she pinched his other cheek with her free hand. She had grown up playing with Arden, Hamil, and a couple of the other boys, and their roughness never bothered her; it made her feel accepted, like she was one of them.
“When did they get on the road?” he asked, sobering a little and releasing her arm.
“A little over twelve hours ago,” Isla answered. “They should be past Aataran and stopping for the night soon.”
Hamil took her hand. “It’ll be fine. It always is. Try to have fun tonight, alright?” he said, the words rolling from his tongue in his soft lilt.
“Why does everyone keep saying that to me? I know how to have fun!” she scoffed. Hamil looked at her out of the corner of his eye before bursting into laughter. “Okay, now I truly am offended. Someone get me some food. I’m guessing I’ll be here a while,” she said with a smile.
Perhaps shewastoo tightly wound. Ever since both her mother and Waylan had died two years ago, life had become very serious. After her mother’s passing, she’d taken up the extra work and thrown herself into the family trade. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d let go and given herself one night with no responsibilities or worries.
“That’s my girl!” Bri cheered, calling to the woman tending the bar to get food and a glass for Isla. Bri beckoned Isla to come closer, putting a hand on her shoulder. “You already look much more relaxed. I knew a night out would be good for you. Or maybe it’s a certain hunter?” She wiggled her eyebrows and looked suggestively over at Hamil.
“Brielle Harvish, how many times do we have to have this conversation? Ham is just a friend,” Isla said, waving her away.
“Just a friend? You do realize he’s been in love with you for years, right?” Bri whispered, except her whisper after a couple of drinks was more like a shout. Isla looked around with wide eyes and pressed a hand to Bri’s mouth.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. And also, you havegotto stop yelling,” Isla hissed.
“Really,princess? Have you ever heard him call anyone else that? I wish he’d callmethat,” Bri grumbled, looking over at Hamil. “Anyway, I know it’s such a surprise, but those doe-eyed smiles of his are reserved only for you. Poor man woke up one day and realized his best friend’s sister could wield a spear, skin a bear,andhad large breasts. He never stood a chance.”
“You’re impossible!” Isla choked out as both girls dissolved into a fit of giggles. Hamil and Andrei, one of the other hunters, appeared in front of them.
“What are you ladies going on about?” Andrei asked.
Bri glanced at Isla. “Just bears and their breasts,” she said with a casual shrug.
Isla doubled over, hardly able to breathe through her laughter.
With a bemused expression, Hamil rested a hand on Isla’s arm. “Well, when you’re done with whatever that means, come find us,” he said, tilting his head toward a table near the door. She nodded, grabbed her drink, and followed him.
“So there I was, right behind the trees, ready to give up for the day ‘cause I hadn’t spotted a single thing. Then this beauty walks straight out of the forest! At least six hundred pounds, one of the biggest I’ve ever seen!” their friend and Andrei’s older brother, Kristopher, was saying excitedly as she approached the table, his arms held wide to show the size of the bear.
“Kristopher, give it a rest!” Hamil shouted as he sat down. “We’ve heard this story all week.” He pulled out the seat next to him and Isla sat, with Bri taking the spot beside her and almost instantly cozying up to Prater, a hunter from the town over. Across from them sat Andrei, Kristopher, and the bartender, Taryn.
“You’re right, I spend too much time with you people. Who here hasn’t heard my story?” Kristopher stood and scanned the room.
Isla chuckled. She loved how these boys always fell into a comfortable—if not slightly ridiculous—rapport with one another. Their little group, along with Arden, had always been close. They relentlessly picked at each other’s nerves but if it came down to it, they would give their lives for one another.
Once, Waylan had been like a brother to them, too.
Suddenly, a biting wind swept across her back. Someone had thrown open the tavern door, letting a rush of cold air inside. Heads whipped around to see who was showing up at the late hour.
“Oi, shut the door!” Taryn shouted from her seat, then rolled her eyes, stood, and picked up her rag. “Guess playtime's over,” she sighed as she walked back behind the bar to help the new patron.
Instead of heading to the bar to order a drink, the newcomer perused the room. A dark cloak hung to his knees, revealing all-black attire when he swung it off his shoulders. His shirt was buttoned to his throat and tucked into pants, his arms straining against the sleeves. The clothing was a stark contrast to his hair, which was so blond it was almost white. It was cut short and neat, accentuating the sharp angles of his pale cheeks and jawline.
He was…dangerously beautiful.
And a complete stranger.
Isla assumed he was a traveler, which was normal for that time of year. What wasnotnormal were his eyes. Isla was close enough to see that his irises were entirely black, like the night sky with all the stars burnt out. His powerful gaze met hers with such intensity that a blush crept into her cheeks. She jumped and quickly turned her face away. At her side, Hamil put an arm around her chair while fixing the man with a glare.
She glanced over at Bri. “Does he look familiar to you?” she whispered as she shivered, trying to shake off an eerie feeling she couldn’t quite place. Her neck tickled as Hamil clenched his arm behind her.
