Power flooded the connection point. Her eyes, which had been nearly closed as my fingers circled the bite marks, shot open when I took. I channeled her lust into healing magic, pressing it over the two small puncture wounds until I could no longer feel them.
I pulled my hand back as the lust left her. The revelation that overtook her features, the flare of her nostrils, and the narrowing of her gaze told me whatever strange peace had existed between us to defend her from the rodent was gone.
Reason had returned, and she must have felt too exposed by my actions. I longed for the day reason would bring her back to me.
She opened her mouth, and I shook my head sharply, mouthing,Not here.
Something burned behind her gaze, and the bitter taste on my tongue shifted to something spicy with her anger. I’d apologize if I could, but the wagon hadn’t moved. The search continued with the guards at the gate.
Finally, above us, Carl jumped from the wagon to the ground. The guard’s voice traveled to us as he said, “Go on through.”
Ember worked to distance us again as the cart ambled into the city, but every time she bumped against me, the contactlingered. And I could have sworn that not even her anger had burned away all the smoke on my tongue.
Carl let us out when the wagon was safely hidden in the alleyway of his first stop—my tavern. Forest’s Edge looked no different than when we’d left, and I was glad for it. This place, though frequented by the Blessed and indulgent of more than a few vices, was the only thing that felt like mine in Kavios. At least until I’d had Ember.
My gaze followed the rickety staircase to the undisturbed door and the upstairs apartment. It wasn’t much, but it had been home. Ember stood next to me and followed my gaze. A refreshing, minty coolness marked my next swallow. I had expected the heat of her anger. This might be worse.
I stared at the side entrance to the space I’d carved out for myself. In my tavern, my rules were upheld, and the Feared met right under my father’s nose.
Ava leaned against the doorway with her arms crossed and a hint of worry she couldn’t quite mask. “You’re back.”
I nodded. Ember took a few more steps forward, surely searching for distance after our time together in the cart. She shook herself off while straightening her clothes, like maybe she could dust away the memories of my presence against her skin.
Unlikely.
After our ride, I wondered if it was worth trying to conquer lust next. It would anger her, sure, but clearly the feeling was within reach.
It doesn’t mean anything that she feels it so freely with me.
I dismissed the trial of lust quickly. If the wagon ride proved anything, it was that we might need the healing magicbefore this was over. This was a new approach to consider. Which emotions were near the surface for us, and which associated magic wasn’t critical to our success?
This brought me right back to sadness. My father relied on the calming magic of sadness, but I’d never found it useful. I knew Ember disliked it. The stupor it held over most of Kavios’s citizens made it unappealing to her.
We’d need to discuss our next step. We might as well hide in the tavern and see what Ava could tell us of the city.
As if she read my mind, Ava pushed herself off the doorframe and ushered us in. “The back room is open.”
The room always looked as though a group had just left; usually, they had. Much of the time, we used it for high-stakes gambling tables, giving us good reason to gate entry. Dark wood walls surrounded a smattering of tables and chairs. Deep green cushions covered the seats, and candles lit each table and the chandelier above.
Ava walked to the door that led to the tavern. She pushed it enough to flag someone and held up three fingers. At least ordering drinks for this conversation was high on her to-do list. As someone handed her drinks through the door, she lowered her voice and said, “No one comes back here. Got it?”
Whoever worked the front must have accepted her command. She dropped the tankards of ale on the table where Ember sat, then she turned to me. “I have to go help Carl unload. Don’t get into trouble before I return.”
I sighed, thinking again that this was unlikely.
As soon as Ava left the building, Ember picked up her mug of ale and took a long sip. “Does she know who you are?”
It wasn’t the question I expected, but one I was happy to answer. I met her at the high-top table she’d chosen and picked up my own mug. “Yes. Ava is the only one I told. I thought she deserved to know before she ran the tavern forme.” When her gaze finally met mine, I added, “Anyone else who knew didn’t hear it from me.”
“How did Alaric know?” she pressed.
“How did Alaric know anything?” I wanted to laugh but thought it might be indelicate. Alaric’s ability to know what he shouldn’t in a kingdom that regulated information as much as adamas continued to astound me.
She took another sip. “Soren knew.”
I dipped my chin. “He guessed. He was a skeptic. I’d argue he wasn’t quite convinced until the adamas failed against me when he attacked us in the woods.”
Another gulp of ale swallowed my shame at having had to kill Soren. He’d been a fierce fighter for the Feared. Others had looked up to him. He’d been one of the few I could ask something tricky of and know it would be done. I took another long pull of ale, hoping this one would remind me that he’d made his choice.
