That had him meeting her stare with a frankness. “You started a brawl in a tavern, Lia.”
“Which we won.”
“Which we… How in the fuck do you figure that?”
“Neither of us was hit, neither of us is bleeding, and we are no longer in the tavern,” she said matter-of-factly.
“Kailia,” the name flat and monotone.
“What?”
Flipping the book closed, he rested his hand atop it. “You can’t stab someone anytime they touch you.”
“I can if it’s not invited.”
“Admittedly, today’s situation is not the best example,” he sighed.
“You took me to the tavern,” she accused, coming closer to the desk.
“Are you seriously trying to tell me all of this was my fault?” he asked, pointing at his chest.
“You are the one who needed to get— What’s even in that?” she asked, reaching for the sack.
But before her fingers closed on the fabric, he’d snatched it up. “It’s mine.”
She blinked at him. “I wasn’t going to steal it.”
He scoffed. “As if you could steal something from me.”
“I could,” she protested.
“It wasn’t a challenge, Lia,” he deadpanned.
She hummed. “Well, what was so important we got into a brawl for it?”
“Wedidn’t— Nevermind,” he growled, handing her the sack.
She opened it, looked inside, and then back at him. “It’s a bowl.”
“Yep,” he said, swiping the sack back and placing it in a drawer. He’d deal with it later.
“Why did we go to a tavern to collect a bowl?”
“Don’t tell Cethin I took you to the tavern,” he answered, grabbing the book from the desk and handing it to her before heading towards the spiral staircase that would take them down to his chambers.
“But you’re fine if I tell him you threw a dagger at me?” she asked, following him.
Razik shrugged, glancing at her to see her eyes darting around the space, cataloguing everything as she moved.
“What is this?” she asked.
“A book,” he answered as she held up the thing.
Her lips pursed. “Why did you give it to me?”
“I didn’t. I’m letting you borrow it. Basic Avonleyan history, geography, notable places and people. You know, things you should be aware of as the queen.”
As they reached the staircase, he stepped to the side, gesturing for her to go first, but she hesitated, looking up at him.
