“Maybe next time,” Orelia said as she righted herself. “Sorry.”
Glassy eyes searched hers, then Ivan turned around and grabbed both of their mugs off the table.
Orelia scanned the tavern and noticed half the room had cleared out. She couldn’t see the moon through the dirty windows, but it had to only be a few marks from dawn.
Tomorrow was going to be brutal.
Ivan handed Orelia her mug. “How about we finish these, then I’ll walk you home.”
He clinked his mug against hers, and, not wanting to be rude, she finished the drink.
Ivan leaned into her. “But if you change your mind, I can show you every room in my house. Then we can decide which one we want to . . .enjoy.”
He wasn’t getting her message. Warning bells went off in her mind, so she plastered on a fake smile. “On second thought, maybe I will take you up on the offer. Let’s have another ale first, then we can go.”
His face lit up. “I’ll be right back.” Ivan practically bounded off to the barmaid.
As sneakily as she could, Orelia tucked herself into the remaining crowd and made her way toward the back door, away from the bar. Knowing Vade would have her hide if she didn’t take extra precaution to get out before Ivan came back, she slunk under the height of those standing and slipped out the back door.
Doing as Vade had taught her, she stuck to the shadows, moving through town as best as her wobbly legs would carry her. Others justas drunk as she was stumbled their way through the street, but Orelia didn’t risk walking out in the open, lest Ivan find her.
More than Vade’s training of how to move with stealth was the innate sense of precaution all women had. The prickling on the back of the neck that said, ‘Get out while you still can.’ Ivan hadn’t listened to her, insisting she come home with him, and she’d been around men who didn’t get what they wanted long enough to know the night could have ended badly if she hadn’t gotten away from him.
But he was kind, and handsome, and she thought she remembered him saying his father was Lord, or something, of Ravere. Surely nobles behaved like gentlemen, but why take the risk?
Orelia hurried across the street and entered the field that would act as a shortcut to the cabin. She left the noise of the night behind and welcomed only the light of the moon guiding her way.
“Wait up!”
She froze.
Ivan jogged across the street. “I came back, and you were gone.”
“I uhh . . .feel sick, so I left. Sorry.”
“I can get one of my cooks to make you something to ease your stomach.” He threw a thumb over his shoulder, expectant eyes waiting for her to agree.
Orelia started to walk off. “I have to go.”
Ivan pulled her back. “You sure you haven’t changed your mind about tonight?” He tried to kiss her, but she didn’t let him.
“Ivan, I said I don’t feel good.”
“Come on,” he said against her neck. “You’re so beautiful. I just want to show you how much I want you. I thought we were having fun.”
She pushed him away. “I told you no. Why aren’t you listening?”
His eyes flashed, making her skin prick in an unsettling manner. “You’ve been all over me all night. I know you want this.”
“I might have earlier, but I don’t now. I drank too much and I’m tired.” Not a lie, but Orelia also didn’t like that he wasn’t respecting her rejection.
His clean-shaven jaw clenched. “Then why did you waste my entire gods-damned night if you weren’t planning on fucking me?”
She scoffed. “Excuse me?”
He lunged and grabbed her upper arms tight enough to bruise. The kind man from the tavern had disappeared as a possessive look slid across his face. “You owe me.”
She struggled in his grip. “I don’t owe you anything! I changed my mind. Let go of me!”
