Fyn’s brows arched. “And you wonder why I challenged your drink choice. Water is your drink, starshine.”
“Don’t call me that.” I patted my chest as another cough broke free.
When the meat pies were placed in front of us, I drove my fork in and quickly scooped the food into my mouth.
“Good, isn’t it?” He settled back into his chair, gripping his wooden mug. “They use bacon.”
“Bacon?” I uttered the word as I let the salt settle on my tongue.
“No. Don’t tell me you’ve never had bacon before. Coffee… but no bacon?” He stared at me as if I had said something utterly stupid.
“We didn’t have bacon in Bailoc.” At least I was never served it. I shoveled another bite of food onto my tongue, savoring it before I fished out the next salty piece.
“You’re finally eating something like you enjoy it.”
Kylana’s laughter rang louder. Maybe he should call her starshine.
“She seems nice.” I should have said they seemed nice.
“She is,” he said. “Is something wrong?”
I shook my head and chugged the water again. “Why would you ask that?”
Fyn watched every bite I took. “You seem to be deep in thought.”
A heavy exhale dragged longer than it should have. “It’s been a long day.”
He nodded, scanning the room, before he got up again. “I’ll go secure our room for the night. Don’t go anywhere until I come back.”
“I’m fully capable of sitting at a table and eating.” I shoved another bite into my mouth as I watched Kylana speaking with someone else.
Fyn’s gaze sharpened on her for a moment longer before he looked back at me.
The tavern’s hum rose as more and more fae took their places around the mismatching tables.
It was entrancing to see so much conversation—so much joy in one space.
“You came on the right night,” Jayln said as he sat back beside me. “They’ll play the most enchanting music soon.” He pointed to two fae females who pulled stringed instruments out of their cases.
“Kylana and Fyn, are they?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking, but as soon as I did, I wish I hadn’t.
“That’s a curious question. I thought maybe he brought you here because…”
A forced laugh escaped my lips. “We can barely stand each other most of the time.” The hot food burned as it sank deeper.
“Who knows what those two are. She does seem to intrigue him,” he said. “Do you want to get a drink with me?”
“That sounds perfect.” I forced myself to look at Jayln when I realized I had been staring at her again. I needed something stronger than water. He would probably get it for me. “I’d love a glass of wine. A full one.”
“It’s not every night you get to buy a beautiful lady a drink. I’d love to.” He grinned before he turned away from me.
Maybe I shouldn’t have asked. I didn’t know what I had just implied by accepting his offer, but suddenly I didn’t care.
Fyn had a whole life here.
He had people who knew him.
He had Kylana.
