“I could say the same thing. Those pants seemed to be sealed to your curves,” Savine replied.
“Leather is always such a breathable fabric on a hot summer day.” Avery couldn’t remove the smirk from her face. She was being childish, but she didn’t care.
Savine looked down at her clothing as if he wanted to peel them off her. Slowly. “And yours looks no better. Is it the human custom to show off your assets so prominently?”
“Thank you for noticing my assets. I’ve worked hard to make sure that everyone can enjoy the view of my ass in these yoga pants. Now, did you have to interrupt my bath to check out my choice of clothing?”
Avery swore her words had caught Savine off guard. Good. She wanted to make him squirm for forcing her out of the bath. Instead of speaking, Savine walked past her and entered the bathing tent. A few moments later, he emerged with her backpack in his hand.
“I’m taking you to your new tent. Since you are staying in Aeritis, I can’t have my guards overworked by keeping a constanteye on you. I don’t have the manpower to assign a guard just to you. Keep up and do not talk to any of the folk we see through the encampment.”
Without looking at her, Savine turned and walked in a different direction from her previous small tent. Maybe she’d be back with Kyla? Probably not after hearing about the nightly mating ritual.
The sun shone hot on the dry plains as they rushed through the encampment. Folk looked her way and stopped what they were doing as she followed Savine. As she looked at the fae, she noticed how unique they were. Some had intricate designs for their essence. Others had unusually colored skin and hair. Honestly, Savine looked more human than a lot of these people. Nobody was as monstrous as the Hylax, but a few had sharp teeth, and she swore she saw someone in the crowd with a tail between their legs. That was getting a bit too strange for her.
Savine led her to a massive tent. Maybe she would stay in the barracks with some of these creatures. An uneasy feeling moved through her stomach. She did not want to share her space with anybody she hadn’t met.
Avery followed Savine through the flaps of the tent to a well-decorated space. There were comfortable chairs next to a table. A curio held bottles of wine and glasses. Through another tent door, a massive bed was draped with furs and blankets. The wood floors were polished and clean. Everything had a semblance of tidy order.
Suddenly, Avery knew whose tent this belonged to. Hell no. She was not staying in this space.
“Is this some sort of joke?” Avery asked, looking at Savine as he placed her backpack inside the bedroom portion ofthe tent.
“Is this space not up to your standards? I believe it’s more comfortable than the smaller tent you occupied,” Savine said as he moved past Avery and sat in the seat in the corner.
“Sure, it’s nicer, but it’s also your tent, isn’t it?” Avery raised an eyebrow as she spoke.
“It is. I cannot continue having Weston watch you all night and day. He has other obligations, mainly guarding me. He’ll go back into regular guard duty, and we will both share protection. I'll also keep a close eye on you this way to ensure you try nothing stupid.”
Avery’s skin flushed. She wanted to stop her rising frustration, but she couldn’t help it.
“I’d rather be taken captive by a Hylax than sleep in here with you!” Avery shouted. She couldn’t help but delight in the way he flinched from her loud tone.
“That is what will happen if you choose to deny my protection. Or some other beastly creature. Worse yet, the Latian King, Jasper. He’d love to slice into that soft skin and see what makes you scream.” His tone was so casual that now Avery was the one who flinched.
“I adore how I can read every thought on that expressive little face of yours, Avery. You can’t hide your emotions at all,” Savine said as he leaned back in his chair, crossing his long leg across the other in an arrogant male posture.
“I won’t sleep here. I’ll set up my tent outside, and your guard can watch us both that way.” Avery crossed her arms and moved farther from where Savine sat, giving herself space from the frustrating man.
“That won’t do. If your tent is as bright as your pack and sleeping bag, you will be a beacon for any enemy spying on us.”
Avery was defeated again. This stubborn man seemed to be incapable of doing things that others wanted. He only thought of himself and his own needs.
Once again, her mind drifted to the warmth and safety she’d felt as Savine scooped her off the cold, crystal-lined ground and carried her into the tiny temple on the peak of Quartz Mountain. Her mind couldn’t wrap itself around the flip-flopping personalities of this fae man. Warlord?
“I’m not sleeping in your bed. I’d rather sleep on the floor. In my sleeping bag.”
“I would never force you into my bed, little flower. Just into my tent. In fact, I’d prefer it if you stayed out of my bed.”
The damned man couldn’t lie.
“You ass!” Avery shouted. Again, she saw him flinch at her loud tone. Good. But she couldn’t help but think how ridiculous she was being, yelling at this immortal warrior. She had no power in this situation and was lashing out like an angry child.
“I am not asking you to like me. Hardly anyone does anyway. I only expect you to follow my orders to keep you safe. I don’t trust you to not do something dangerous and stupid, so you will stay near me until that changes.Ifthat changes.” Savine’s face showed hard lines.
“You know, in my country, people have free will. I can make my own decisions as an adult.”
“I’m sure you have noticed that we do things differently in Latiah. Get used to it, and don’t make me regret saving your life. Twice now, by the way. Follow me. We have a meeting to attend,” Savine said. His hands looked tense as he stood. He was not the kind of person who was used to being questioned or challenged.
