“Never mind.” I step closer to him, sighing. “We’ll take a room for the night. If the captain isn’t back by morning, we’ll find another way.”
Enver raises his chin with a mild flare to his nostrils. “Very well,” he says tightly. “This way.” He walks away from the boisterous inn, leading us to a smaller one that has potted plants and rocking chairs on the porch.
Entering the building, he greets an older woman with blond hair who stands behind the front counter. She blinks at all of us, surprised. Mostly by Rynthea, of course.
After a few minutes, Enver returns to us with three keys in hand.
“If you truly want rest, this is the best place to stay.” He blows out a weary breath. “The other inns closer to the city are loud and usually packed with travelers. Irina has three rooms available for the night. Will that be enough?”
“It’s fine.” Rynthea takes one of the keys from him. “But just for the record, I don’t share rooms,” she says, eyeing our crew. “I need my privacy.”
“What?” Algar’s mouth hangs open. “Well, if you need privacy, so do I!”
“No. No fucking way,” Thane growls, grabbing both keys out of Enver’s hand before Algar can. “It doesn’t make any sense for me to share a room with Zaira.”
“I agree,” I add rapidly. I couldn’t even imagine that. My stomach flutters at the mere idea of it. “If anything, the men should share, and the women should have their own rooms.”
“Let me tell you something. Zephra will literally bite through or burn those fancy swords and weapons of his if Thane is in the room with us. I’m telling you, she hates other people in her space for too long, and sheespeciallydoesn’t like him. She won’t make it comfortable for him.”
“Then let her sleep outside where she belongs,” Thane says with a smirk. He’s trying to rile Algar up.
It works, because Algar’s jaw drops as he pulls Zephra from his shoulder to cup her head and shield her ears. “How dare you! She is anindoorsleeper.”
“I also beg to differ about Zephra’s tantrum. She’s starting to adore me.” Thane reaches forward to scratch Zephra’s chest with a finger. “Right, girl?”
Zephra chitters a noise of pleasure.
Algar raises her in the air to look her in the eyes. “You little traitor.”
“Okay, you know what?” I sigh. “We don’t have time for this. I’ll just hang out with Enver around the city. I’ll take a quick bath here and then properly catch up with him.” I turn to Enver for approval. “If that’s okay.”
Enver eagerly nods his assent. Thane looks between me and Enver before gesturing to the lounge area. “You can have the room, Zaira. I’ll stay in the lounge, sharpen my blades, or have a drink at one of the taverns. Doesn’t matter.”
“No.” I wave a hand at him, dismissing the offer. “You need rest, too. It’s fine, really.”
Algar plucks one of the keys out of Thane’s hand and hobbles after Rynthea. I watch both of them disappear around a corner before putting my attention on Thane again.
“We can share the third,” Thane says suddenly, shifting on his feet. “I’ll take a spot on the floor. Shouldn’t be any different than the time we stayed in that shabby hut bordering Ruvain. Just promise you won’t snore this time.”
I can’t help smiling as I playfully bump against his arm with my shoulder. “No guarantees.”
“Z, can I have a word with you outside really quick?” Enver steps forward, slicing through our conversation.
“Sure. Be there in a second.”
Enver smiles at me before glancing at Thane again. His features harden for a split second, then he presses his palms together, nods, and strolls out of the inn.
Thane sits on a worn brown couch across from a hearth, dropping his rucksack on the floor between his feet. “I don’t like him.”
I roll my eyes. “You don’t like anyone.”
“Well, Ireallydon’t like him.” He plucks a dagger out of his bag, then takes out an angular rock. “Who is he to you?”
“He’s a friend from Ember Coast. He was one of the kids that was rescued alongside me and Analla. He lived in Meriva for a time with his parents until one day they moved.” I let the information soak in for him. “Anyway, please feel free to make use of the room. You need rest.”
He starts sharpening the blade of the dagger. “Fine.”
As I begin to trot off, I glance over my shoulder, not missing the way his gaze lowers to my butt and lingers before shooting up to my face again.
