A coupleof confused looks shot my way in the hotel lobby.
‘Just chatting to my beast,’ I told River, who urged me to take a seat while he sorted the rooms.
‘Did you jump his bones yet?’ Anya taunted, and I tried not to roll my eyes.
‘You know there is such a thing as sex addiction.’
‘You need a sex addition, as in to add some to your regime, you get it? Addition,’ she repeated.
I did my best to sound accusatory when I said, ‘Is that what you’ve been busying yourself with along with Roark?’
Anya snickered. ‘Are you trying to live vicariously through me?’
‘Not quite, but it did seem that you two have hit it off quite well,’ I explained. ‘Are you into him?’
‘Of course I am. Besides, it’s not like either of us has many options, not that he isn’t good. He is rather efficient in satisfying my needs. And he can hold a conversation which is more than I can say for some of my partners in the prison.’
‘Why do you always call the banishing a prison? Was it really that bad?’
‘Don’t want to talk about it. Go to your mate and tell me how the search goes,’ she said quieter and left.
‘Good news or better news?’ River asked in a cheerful tone that didn’t match his hooded eyes.
‘Better first,’ I said, hoping the good news didn’t refer to sleeping under the stars. Whether it made me spoiled or a typical princess, I craved air conditioning.
‘You get to spend more time with me,’ he said, smiling.
Thecorner of my mouth lifted; I didn’t exactly resent that fact. ‘And the good news?’
He raised a hand with a room key. There was a spark in his gaze that quickened my heartbeat. ‘They only had one room.’
‘I don’t mean to sound… unappreciative, but why exactly is that good news?’
‘Well, it’s good news for me.’ The tension from earlier ebbed from his face, as though seeing I wasn’t disappointed had brought him a quiet sense of relief.
‘No shit,’ I laughed. ‘Okay, where is that room?’
A ping resounded from my pocket just as we reached the second floor.
Session tomorrow at 11? Let's get these muscles of yours working.
I can't. We're on the search. I'll let you know when we get back.
Are you safe? Who are you with?
I'm safe.
The feeling of being watched made my fingers slip as I typed my reply. River stood behind me, hovering, the grim aura surrounding him putting me on high alert.
‘A friend?’ The muscles in his face stilled, his gaze turning glacial. ‘Get those muscles working? Interesting.’
He sidestepped me to open the door, and I wasn’t sure how to react. It felt like I owed him an explanation. ‘That’s Isaac. He’s my shadow tutor, though he thinks I’d benefit more from combat training.’
River inhaled slowly. ‘Oh.’
‘Yeah.’
‘Why does he think you’ll gain more from combat than shadow training?’ he asked quickly, and I could swear for just a moment his cheeks flushed.
