I study him for a moment, my anger cooling a bit. “No. I would have made the journey regardless. But I wouldn’t have had to sell my necklace.”
He releases a short breath. “The coins you gave me for that necklace have been used to make this journey easier for you, Zaira. They’ve benefited you most. And I figured I would tell you more about the tome and the blood the closer we got to the island.”
“I would have agreed to help you regardless of if you were willing to help me.”
“I know that now…but I can’t just take people at their word. Actions speak much louder.” His lips twist before he adds, “And this must stay between us—onlyus.” He leans in close—so close, I can feel the heat rolling off his body. “I don’t want a single word about us going after the tome to spread. Algar is a blabbermouth, and Rynthea…well, you know how she feels about me—about any sorcerer, really.”
I start to tell him that Algar already knows but think better of it. I’ll just have to talk to Algar later, beg him not to tell anyone. As for Rynthea, I understand. I’m not a huge fan of this particular sorcerer myself at the moment.
“You better hope that broker still has my necklace,” I growl as I poke a finger into his chest. “And I expect you to repay me for every fucking coin I gave you.”
Thane doesn’t even react to my finger. He sighs instead. “I’ll pay you back with any treasure I get from the island. That’ll be worth way more.”
I scoff and roll my eyes. “Yeah, if we even make it there.”
A body brushes against my right side, and I startle when an arm drapes over my shoulders.
“Zaira the Noble. My goodness, you clean up so well.” Kelrean smells ofwaytoo many pints of ale. “Have I told you how beautiful you are?”
I let go of some of the tension in my body and smile, flattered. Kelrean lowers his hand to squeeze my upper arm. I steal a glance at Thane, who is now glaring at the fire with a frown and a ticking jaw.
“I love mortals.” Kelrean hugs me from the side with a wide smile. “You’re all so…simple.”
“Um…thank you?”
“It’s a compliment, trust me,” he assures me. “Question for you: have you ever tried talmoon?”
“You’re joking,” Thane counters, cutting a glare at the prince.
“Not at all.” Kelrean’s eyes turn to the assassin. “There’s a tent a short walk away with loads of it. Would you like to join me, Zaira?”
“Not wise,” Thane grumbles.
“Let her decide, yeah?” Kelrean gives him a smug grin.
“I’m her protector, so I can chime in. It’s not wise to do talmoon when we’re in the middle of a quest, Quinlocke. Anything could come up, and you’ll be too high off your ass to handle the situation. You shouldn’t go.”
My eyebrows knit together as I focus on Thane. I intended to tell Kelrean that I would pass. I wanted to talk with Thane a bit more, possibly even hammer down on him about withholding the truth about the tome, but now that he’s pulling this shit, I don’t want to be anywhere near him right now.
Yes, he was hired to protect me on our journey, but he has no right to tell me what to do during my free time, and hedefinitelydoesn’t have the right to make any personal decisions for me.
Algar’s warning from before replays in my mind.“Just be careful with him, Zaira.”I know a bit more about Thane now, but I still have so many questions.
How did he go from marching with The Divine to getting involved with Seferin and the Grim? Why does he want to take Seferin down so badly with the tome?
There are still some missing pieces to this giant puzzle, and I doubt he’s going to explain any more of it any time soon. Staying here with him will be a waste of my time and energy anyway. I have no intention of doing anything foolish, but I refuse to allow Thane to dictate what I can and cannot do.
I settle my expression into one of indifference, face Kelrean, and say, “Let’s give it a try.”
Chapter 24
“Clear out for the prince, won’t you?” Kelrean’s deep voice swims through the broad tent. The individuals inside quickly stand up and bow to him before exiting.
“It’s that easy for you, huh?” I ask, drinking in the interior in awe. This tent is colossal, made of purple silk with a high, pointed ceiling and chandeliers hanging from the center beam. Dripping pillar and taper candles flicker throughout, casting a romantic glow.
“Oh, come on. Why be a prince if not to request a whole tent for myself?” Kelrean flashes me another one of his crooked smiles as he sits down on an oversize floor pillow.
I sit on the pillow next to him as he reaches for a stick of talmoon. A pot of burning coals is on the short table as well. He presses the end of the talmoon on the coals, letting it spark before bringing it to his lips and taking a strong pull.
