“So I’ve been told,” Wellion said dryly. “I simply find it hard to believe that any one person has a heart big enough to fit that many people within it. The only person I’ve ever loved is my sister, and look where that gotme.”
Tariel flinched at the brief but raw flash of pain in his eyes. “Love and hate can often be intertwined,” she said softly. “I am sorry things did not go the way youintended.”
Wellion snorted. “Pity is the last thing I want from the likes ofyou.”
Tariel raised an eyebrow. “Then what is it that youwant?”
Wellion gave her a slow, thorough once-over that sent tingles racing across her skin. His frosted green eyes seemed to trace every curve and valley of her body, even the ones hidden by her cloak, and suddenly her skin felt far too tight for herflesh.
“I think you know what I want,” he said, leaning close enough for his warm breath to ghost across her flesh. He smelled like fresh air and pine needles, and Tariel had to stop herself from inhaling more of his scent. Even disguised as a woman, he exuded more animal magnetism than most men. “And I don’t share, princess. If I took you to my bed, you’d be so full of my cock you wouldn’t even be able tothinkof any other man butme.”
Tariel’s cheeks burned as she jerked away. “You are the crassest individual I have ever met in my life,” she scolded. “You might woo a harlot into your bed with talk like that, but until you learn what love and loyalty even mean, no woman worth having will ever want you. I certainlydon’t.”
But that wasn’t quite true. Crass as his words might have been, they lit an unexpected fire within Tariel, an aggressive sort of hunger she hadn’t realized was in her. She could easily see herself fisting her hand in Wellion’s shaggy brown hair and dragging him to her for a rough kiss. Sex with him would be nothing less than a fierce battle of wills, and the thought quickened her blood. She had to resist the sudden urge to lick her lips inanticipation.
Wellion smirked. “I have a small talent for discerning truth from falsehoods,” he said, leaning in again, “and I can hear the lie in your voice clearer than the ring of a templebell.”
Tariel turned her nose up at him, annoyance driving away the unexpected surge of lust. “While I do find your form attractive,” she said, “the man inside is far lessso.”
His scowl brought her no small measure of petty satisfaction, and she spurred her horse forward to join her men up ahead. Let Wellion chew onthatfor awhile.
In a few more minutes they reached the town, a charming, provincial place that did indeed have a large inn with a sizable stable. They left their horses with the stable boys, along with a generous bit of coin to have them rubbed down, groomed, and fed, and went inside to procurelodgings.
“We would like two rooms, please,” Riann said to the innkeeper. Yarim scowled at this pronouncement, but since it was Riann’s turn to play Tariel’s husband, he could hardly object. “One for my wife and son and I, and another for her cousin and herhusband.”
Wellion clenched his dainty jaw, and Yarim looked like he wanted to punch something. “You aren’tactuallygoing to make me sleep in the same bed with him, are you?” Yarim muttered as they were shown to theirrooms.
“No,” Tariel relented. She reached out and squeezed his hand surreptitiously, out of view of the innkeeper. “Your place is by myside.”
“Or in this case, in her bed,” Wellion said with asmirk.
Tariel rolled her eyes. “Ignore him,” she murmured to Yarim. They stopped outside the first bedroom, which was for her, Calrain, and Riann. “I’ll see youshortly.”
She closed the door behind her and let out a long sigh. “He’ll come around eventually, won’t he?” she asked in a plaintivevoice.
“Who, Yarim or Wellion?” Calrain askedteasingly.
She swatted at him. “Yarim,” she said. “I know that he has good reason to hate bandits, but I had hoped he would be able to control his emotions long enough for us to make it to thecapital.”
“Why don’t we put that aside for now,” Riann suggested, “and enjoy this spacious room?” He swept an arm around, indicating the giant bed and the huge tub by the fireplace. “I’m not sure I’ve ever stayed somewhere this fine—excluding the mansion, of course,” he addedsheepishly.
Tariel grinned. “This is quite nice.” She moved to the bed, wanting to test the softness of the mattress, but a knock on the door interruptedher.
“Come in,” she called, thinking it was Yarim. But instead, a maid opened thedoor.
“Milady.” She curtsied, and Tariel had to keep herself from correcting the woman about her station. “Would you like me to draw a bath foryou?”
“Yes, please,” Tariel said eagerly. The idea of sinking into that giant tub and washing off the dirt from the road was immenselyappealing.
“I’ll get on that right away,” the maid said. Looking at Riann and Calrain, she added, “There is a male-only bath house on the premises that you are welcome to use, if youwish.”
“That’s an excellent idea,” Calrain said. “Come, Papa,” he said, a teasing grin on his face as he took Riann’s hand. “Let’s give Mama someprivacy.”
Riann rolled his eyes as he let Calrain drag him from the room. “We’ll be back soon,” he called over hisshoulder.
Tariel chuckled as they left. She so enjoyed their sense of humor, which often lifted her spirits even when her mind was wracked with worries. Determined to enjoy herself, she slipped out of her clothes while the maids brought up buckets of hot water, then slid into the bath when they werefinished.
“Oooh,” she groaned as the heat from the water seeped into her skin. Muscles she didn’t even realize were tense began to relax, and she rested her head against the lip of the tub with a deep sigh. “That feelswonderful.”
