Of course, if I burned myself out, I wouldn’t have a choice.
So, one step at a time.
I’d made it this far. Escaped the god of death and darkness. And he couldn’t find me. That was a massive win.
The tavern door swung open with a heavy creak.
I didn't look up at first. I kept my eyes on the map, my spoon halfway to my mouth, but then the shift in the room's energy was impossible to miss.
Conversations quieted. A few patrons near the entrance shifted in their seats, suddenly very interested in their drinks. That was when I glanced toward the door.
A group of males entered—eight, maybe nine of them—all broad-shouldered and rough-edged, with ink crawling up their arms and necks in patterns I didn't recognize.
To say they were bad news was an understatement.
Their eyes swept the room with the lazy confidence of predators who knew they owned the space.
I turned back to my bowl, hunching my shoulders slightly, trying to make myself smaller.
Invisible.
But shit…
It didn't work.
One of them noticed me immediately.
His gaze locked onto my hair first—of course, it did—then dragged down to my face, my cloak, then the map spread across the bar.
He smiled.
It wasn't friendly.
He muttered something to the others in a low, amused tone, then broke away from the group and started toward me.
My fingers tightened around the spoon.
Don't look at him. Don't engage.
But I could feel him closing the distance, his boots heavy against the wooden floor.
He stopped beside me, leaning one elbow on the bar like we were old friends.
"Eating alone?" His voice was casual, too casual. Like he had every right to be standing there. "That's a shame. Pretty thing like you shouldn't have to dine by herself."
I kept my eyes on the bowl and said, "I'm not interested."
"Not interested inwhat?" He laughed, a low, grating sound. "I'm just being friendly."
Uncomfortable silence stretched between us, and I could feel his invasive gaze assessing me, like he was already calculating how far he could push.
I needed to either get rid of him or leave. Quickly.
Since I didn’t think I could make him leave, the latter was my only option.
I ate faster, trying not to give myself away.
"You're not from around here, are you?" His tone shifted, mocking now. "That hair... Ravenwood mage. Red like that, must mean you're powerful." He leaned closer. "Or dangerous."
