“Do they usually close this early?” Serafina asked, eyes wide.
“Word must’ve spread about Nefarr. With creatures crawling at night, the town is spooked.”
Just a short distance down the street, lights blazed from the windows of a tavern. That single building was a shining star inthe darkness. As we drew closer, the soft strum of a lute seeped through the door.
“At least there’s some life around here. Come on. We’ll grab a couple of rooms for the night and leave at first light.”
After securing our horses at a local stable, we stepped inside The Hairy Hog. With one hand on Serafina’s arm, I led her to a small table in the back. Curious eyes followed us as we claimed our seats. I noted Serafina stared in return, her head on a swivel.
“You’re going to draw a lot of unwanted attention if you keep staring down the locals like that.”
Sera settled beside me, disappointment in the harsh line of her mouth. “I don’t recognize anyone from Nefarr.”
“I’m sure there are a few around. That is, if any of them survived.”
She cast me a disgruntled glare. “Thanks for the support.”
“Anytime.” I smirked.
A harried server hustled to our table. Ragged wisps of greasy hair eluded her bun. Stains marred her apron.
“Busy night?”
Her eyes narrowed with annoyance. “Since the attacks, the other pubs are too cowardly to stay open, so we’re twice as busy. Lucky for you, we have the best grub around.”
“And how are your rooms?” I asked. “We’ll be needing two for the night.”
“Two, you say?” The woman offered Serafina a disdainful grimace. “I’ve got one you can have. Rest are full. You won’t find anything else in town either.”
“We’ll take it.” I shoved another coin at the woman while Serafina coughed and spluttered beside me. “Along with two of your specials and your best ale.”
“We are not sharing a bed,” Serafina bit out after the server left.
“And I am not sleeping on the floor.”
Cough. Splutter. “You, sir, are no gentleman.”
I clutched my chest. “Oh. You wound me.”
“If only,” she scoffed
Once our waitress delivered our pints, I leaned back in my chair and propped my boots on the table, casting my dinner companion a heavy-lidded look known to drop the bloomers off the most frigid biddies.
“Tell me, you come here often?” For the first time in weeks, I was out from under my surly brother’s claws, and damn if I wouldn’t take advantage of the moment.
Immune to my charms, Serafina cast a glance around the room as though I’d asked her a genuine question. “I’ve never been to a tavern before. My duties to the royal family didn’t allow time for leisure. Nor was I permitted to leave the manor grounds.”
“Ouch,” I said with a sympathetic wince. “That sounds rather dull.”
“It was.”
“Well then, let me say how happy I am to be your first.”
At her arched eyebrow, my smile widened. “You never did tell me how you came to be in that ball gown the night Alaric found you.”
She pursed her lips. “Since our coloring and size were similar, Lady Richwell ordered me to wear her daughter’s gown so I could lure the monsters away, allowing the royal family to escape.”
“You mean they sacrificed you to save themselves?” The mug I held froze halfway to my mouth. “And the knife wounds?” Metal groaned in my tightening grip, the handle twisting.
