I would have to rely on that to complete my assignment.
Day after day, I ventured casually around the area, ignoring the hostile sneers and glares at my pointed fae ears. Let them talk. It was exactly what I wanted.
And yet, staying in an almost entirely human land was a new experience for me. Ordinarily, Calista would assign me to murder her foes and competition, perhaps a wealthy nobleman who was stirring up trouble in the court, or a high-ranking official from another kingdom.
She never sullied herself with the likes of humans. And for good reason. They were a feral, savage species who lived in the wild. They didn’t belong with our kind. That much was evident in this small, filthy town. The humans didn’t even clean up after themselves.
I resisted the urge to wrinkle my nose as I strode into the dank pub I had been frequenting over the past three days. As usual, I placed my coin on the bar and asked for a mug of ale. The owner obliged, his lip curling as he did so. But as much as he despised me, he still took my coin every day. He likely barely had enough funds to keep his business running.
Another reason to despise the humans. They had no concept of integrity or moral fiber. This man should have thrown me out on the spot because I was his enemy.
But no. He accepted my money out of greed, even though my presence made the other patrons uncomfortable. I didn’t care if throwing me out on my ass would inconvenience my plans—at least I would respect him for it.
I sipped on the bland ale, brow furrowed as I wondered why Calista had waited this long to give me this assignment. If the princess had been wreaking havoc for five years, why hadn’t the queen ordered me to kill her sooner?
“I haven’t seen you here before, stranger,” said a smooth, sultry voice.
I turned and found a woman leaning against the bar, her pale blue eyes appraising me with interest. Long, wavy black hair framed her heart-shaped face. She was quite attractive. For a human.
“Excellent observation.” Dismissing her, I turned back to my mug of ale.
“What brings you to the human lands?” Undeterred by my flippant tone, she sidled closer to me, bringing a pleasant whiff of snow and pine. The scent reminded me of my cottage tucked away in the mountains.
“Business,” I replied shortly, refusing to glance at her. My plan involved making my presence known, but I didn’t have to be polite about it.
The woman crossed her arms and snorted. The sound was so unladylike that I swiveled to face her in surprise. She was watching me with a smirk curving along her full, red lips. “You’re a charmer, aren’t you? I’m sure all the ladiesswoonover your gruff demeanor.”
I blinked. Was she… teasing me?
“Yes, and that vacant expression? Enough to make me go weak in the knees.” She pretended to fan herself. “Be still my beating heart.”
My mouth opened and closed. No one had ever spoken to me like this. “Are you mocking me?”
The woman laughed, the sound vibrant and full. “Blood and ice, what’s the matter with you? Have you never been around other people before?”
My jaw clenched. “My work generally keeps me isolated. So, no.”
She leaned closer, her dark hair falling forward like a curtain. A faint, rosy musk mingled with the snow and pine scent. “Let me give you a clue. When someone teases you, the proper reaction is to either laugh or tease them back.” She cocked her head. “So, which will it be, stranger?”
I scowled at her. “Teasing is for children. I would never bother with such improper behavior.”
The woman immediately sobered, but her eyes still glinted with mischief. “Oh, of course, of course. Far too serious for that, aren’t you?” She took a sip from her mug, her eyes flicking to the space between my legs. “It helps if your trousers are properly fastened, though.”
I stiffened, then glanced down, only to find my trousers were just as they should be, concealing everything. When my scowl deepened, the woman only laughed again.
“Made you look.” She took another sip of ale, her eyes sparkling.
I rolled my eyes. “What do you want, woman? If your goal is to bother me, you have indeed succeeded.”
“I want to know what you’re doing in my town,” she said. “You haven’t answered.”
“Yes, I have. I’m here on business.”
“And what business is that?” She leaned closer, and I shifted on my stool to put more space between us. Her eyes once again dropped to my trousers, and I felt my face go hot. I’d never had a woman act so forward with me before. It was unnerving.
She suddenly froze, her face going pale. “I—what is that?”
I followed her gaze and realized she’d discovered I was armed. Her frightened stare was fixed on the array of daggers along my belt.
