My dinner curdles in my stomach. I can see the man who spoke out. It’s a tourist in muddied traveling clothes near the door. He’s tall and has his arms crossed like he doesn’t even want to be here. My face is hot, and I’m annoyed enough to feel tears pricking at my eyes. I hold my chin high. I begin to answer.
The front door swings open with a fresh wave of the inn’s magical scent of clean linens and lemon wood polish.
Archer stands in the doorway, his cloak whipping around him and his glare already aimed at the heckling tourist.
My heart jolts, and Archer gives me a quick nod before pushing through the crowd to the tourist. Archer is nearly as tall as the heckler and a lot broader and scarier.
“Reword your question, human,” he growls out. My toes curlinside my boots. “Do it now, or I’ll make sure you don’t say anything else for the rest of the night. Perhaps for the rest of your life.”
The room is silent except for the snap of the fire. My heart pounds in my ears. Is Archer going to hurt him? I don’t want him to, of course, but also, I have to say his defense of me makes me hot in a more pleasant way than I would ever admit.
The heckler is pale as milk, and his eyes are on Archer’s fangs, which are bared and fully threatening. I’m glad neither Mayor Rustion nor his guards are here or Archer might be in for some legal trouble.
“I…” the heckling tourist stammers, but nothing else intelligible comes out.
“Why don’t I see you to the door?” Archer says in a low and menacing tone. He takes the man’s arm roughly, and the crowd parts to allow them to the door.
Archer tosses the man out and into the snow. The door is wide open still, so I can see the man scramble to his feet and hurry away. I can’t fight the grin crawling over my lips. I don’t even try.
Archer spins and locks that feral gaze on me. A thrill passes over me like the shadow of an eagle, then he is making his way to where I’m standing on the table near Lysandra. I climb down and look up at him. His eyes are the eyes of a predator.
“Archer, thank you.”
The space between us is a storm, lightning striking and wind pushing my heart toward his.
“I…” he starts, but doesn’t finish his sentence.
It’s like we are somehow alone in this packed room. I can only feel his breath on my face, his heat just inches from my body, his gaze locking me in place. My heart jumps from one rhythm to another.
His hand rises and he cups my cheek. “Colette.”
I melt into his touch. “Yes?”
Is he going to kiss me?
“Colette, I’m sorry I wasn’t here for the reading. On time for the reading, I mean.”
“It’s all right.”
His lips part, and it’s as if he wants to say something else, but the words never fall from his tongue. He lets his hand fall to his side.
“Good night,” he says, and he turns to leave.
I’m standing here, trying to catch my breath, when I realize Lysandra is talking to me.
“That was something,” the faun says, grimacing.
“Yes. Something. Right.”
I let her tell me about how Dew starting entertaining the crowd with jokes to soften the mood. The music starts up and it’s likeI’m waking up from a beautiful dream.
Even if I never manage to crack the nut that is Archer’s heart, I know I will never, ever forget him.
Chapter 18
Archer
Itake up a spot behind a tree near the inn to make sure that stupid human doesn’t return to bother Colette. My blood is hot and I want to hurt him, but I hold myself back. I will not act like those who follow the Vampire Council’s suggestions. I’m not evil. I refuse to be.
