“Grab some weapons first,” Ace said. “Hopefully, the town put out the fire in time to save some of your gear.”
“I love it when you talk dirty to me.” I turned and led the way around the side of my cabin.
The smell of ash tickled my nose, and I tried not to think of what I’d lost. I had my life, my familiar, and if I could access my reserve weapons, I’d have my bow and arrows. I could replace the other things. I could replace the books.
I sniffed and blinked back the tears.
I really liked those books.
My eyes watered.
I blinked harder.
I would not cry over books.
“Are you crying?”
“No.” I wiped at my face.
Ace turned to me, his expression etched with concern.
“Maybe.” I conceded.
“Over your home? That’s normal?—”
“My books.”
His gaze darkened and he stepped close. He brought his hand up to cup my face. Lifting my chin, he leaned down and brought his lips close to mine. “Do you still prefer your men fictional, Mouse?”
I swallowed, transfixed with him so close. “I might need to investigate the comparison a little more thoroughly.”
In a bed.
With a mattress.
His lips quirked up at the corners, but instead of ending my torment and kissing me, he drew back and straightened. “Grab your bow and arrows, Mouse. If any of your clothes survived, grab those, too. You won’t be coming back for a while.”
“Is that so?”
“If you don’t hurry up, I might have to prove my superiority, and I don’t think the residents of Perga are quite ready for that.”
19
Old Man Reilly was a crusty old man who struck fear in children and adults alike with his stern words, icy glare and habit of whacking you with his cane. He had been the town’s blacksmith before his son had taken over and the job had taken its toll on his health. He had permanent damage to his hands, back and knees.
I’d always expected his cabin to look like something out of a nightmare, but it was the opposite. O’Reilly maintained a tidy yard. He regularly swept the stoop and painted the trim. He had one of the nicest, well-maintained cabins in Perga.
Ace leaned over me. “Are you expecting him to jump out at us?”
“You’re not?”
Ace shivered. “Let’s get this over with. I don’t want to get caught standing out here.”
I reached forward and opened the door. We quickly entered the cabin and the door snicked shut behind us.
The room smelled of dried lavender and cedar. A neatly folded quilt rested on the couch in the living room opposite a hearth and a neatly stacked pile of wood. The meal prep area had been cleaned with no messy dishes or flies in sight.
“Come on.” Ace nudged me with his shoulder. “This place creeps me out.”
