“I love it,” Kendra said from Eira’s shoulder. “Keep going, you two.”
My face heated, and I bit back a curse. This was ridiculous. We had more important things to discuss. I straightened, dropping my hands to my sides. “Let’s see your glamour, princess. I need to know what we’re working with.”
Eira shifted her weight and exchanged an odd look with Frisk, for some reason. “It’s solid,” she said.
I rolled my eyes. “I can’t just take your word for it, Eira. Show me.”
“No.”
My head reared back. “I beg your pardon?”
“Beg all you want, hunter. I’m not showing you my glamour.”
Anger simmered in my blood. “We don’t have time for this, princess. If you want to get through that village alive, you need to work with me on this.”
“I swear on my fae blood that my disguise is flawless,” Eira said firmly. “No one will be able to see or recognize me.”
My nostrils flared. “Eira—” I growled.
“She’s right,” Frisk chimed in. “Her glamour is impeccable. Best I’ve ever seen.”
“It’s true,” Kendra added.
“Agreed,” Mauro chimed in.
I groaned and threw my hands in the air. “You and yourdamn secrets, princess! What do you think I’ll do, run to the queen and share the secret to your fancy glamour? I’m on her list. She assumes I’ve failed, so I’m as good as dead. I am no longer an ally to the queen.”
“That doesn’t make youmyally,” Eira snapped. “Besides, whatever happened to letting me keep my secrets?”
“I let you keeponesecret,” I said, my patience wearing thin. “Besides, keeping stolen treasures in your sack isn’t the same thing as using magic that could kill or save us both. My life is on the line with this secret.”
Eira shrugged, as if this didn’t matter much to her. The indifference on her face made my rage boil over. With a roar, I balled my hand into a fist and struck the tree next to me. Pain bloomed along my knuckles, spearing through my body with a jolt. The tree shook, and a pile of snow plopped onto my head. Panting, I inspected my bleeding hand. The wound throbbed, breaking through my haze of fury.
“You finished?” Eira asked calmly.
“Careful, or I’ll punch you next,” I muttered. “Bargain be damned.”
“Maybe I should ask to seeyourglamour.” Eira crossed her arms. “Maybe it’s not as good as you think.”
Frustration prickled to life inside me, but the spark in her eyes told me she was doing this on purpose. She knew exactly how to irritate me. I heaved a deep breath, trying to clear my head.
This was why I worked alone.
“I have a contact in Tolston,” Eira said. “If we can get to their dwelling, we can hide there untilthe area is clear.”
I snorted. “Please tell me it’s not the farm boy who’s still in love with you.”
Eira made a noise somewhere between a cough and a laugh. “What?”
“He means Denton,” Mauro said.
Now her face was beet-red. “I know,” she hissed. “I just—how did you?—”
“How did I know?” Seeing her flustered only made me smirk at her. Finally, I had the upper hand. “His overprotective nature, the way he talked down at you like he owned you, his defensive stance when he stands alongside you… Shall I go on?”
“Please don’t,” Eira muttered, covering her face with her hands.
“Heisoverprotective,” Kendra said.
