When I’d cleaned the bottom of my bowl with a final crust of bread, I looked about the dining room. The six men at the bar were watching us. One with long, stringy hair and rotting teeth caught me looking and licked his lips. The gesture was anticipatory. Predatory.
I shuddered.
“We leave at dawn.” Grayson’s gaze swept the table, daring anyone—me—to argue. His blue eyes looked tired, with dark half-moons hanging below them.
Flynn leaned back in his chair, laced his fingers behind his head, and stretched. “I say we sleep in. These are the last beds we’ll see until we reach Angelfire.”
“First light. We’re behind schedule, and we can’t be late.”
Flynn pouted. “But?—”
Teal grabbed Flynn’s forearm and squeezed. “Enough.”
Flynn groaned dramatically. “Fine, have it your way.”
A hungry smile flashed across Teal’s face, so fast I almost missed it. “Oh, I will.”
Pierce rolled his eyes and covered a yawn with both hands.
As if sensing our fatigue, the innkeeper approached our table. “Your rooms are ready, gentlemen.”
“Where will the shield sleep?”
The shield. Grayson was an ass—one who’d never change. I should have let the wyvern eat him.
“We have a room for shields, sir. Just through there.” The innkeeper pointed to the door that led to the kitchen.
“Isn’t there a room upstairs?” I asked.
“We usually house shields downstairs.”
Grayson grunted his approval. “Go with him, Shield.”
The innkeeper smiled widely.
Why was separating me from the guards so pleasing to him? Something was off. Maybe even dangerous. I didn’t move.
Grayson leaned forward and scowled at me. “I gave you an order.”
I remained in my seat.
“Please, Haven, humor him.” Pierce offered me a tight, tired smile.
Pierce wouldn’t send me off with a man who might rape me. At least, I didn’t think Pierce would do that. And if I was wrong … well, there was a rose-hilted dagger hidden in my boot. I’d dealt with men like this before. Besides, sleeping on the ground for another night might actually kill me. Every bone in my body ached, and my muscles screamed for rest. I could handle discouraging one lecherous innkeeper if it meant a real bed. “Fine,” I said, meeting Pierce’s gaze so he’d know I was trusting him. “Because you asked nicely.”
Chapter
Twenty-Seven
HAVEN
The innkeeper led me to a room just big enough for a narrow four-poster bed and a nightstand. The floorboards creaked under our feet, and I caught the scent of something sweet that almost hid a musky odor. “My wife made you a mug of hot chocolate.”
He’d somehow convinced a woman to marry him? “That was kind. My thanks to you both.”
“Try it.” He nodded to a mug sitting next to a single candle on the table by the bed.
Chocolate was expensive. Rare. And it gave me hives.
