“A day.”
“Great. Just great. Wasted an entire day sleeping like a fucking child.” The way he mumbled the words sounded almost like he was talking to himself. Scolding himself, really.
“Pretty sure sleeping after an injury is something adults do too, Altair. No need to beat yourself up about it.”
“Easy for you to say, Tershetta.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I sat up, the blankets falling down and the cool air hitting me through the shirt I’d stolen of Altair’s. I needed to get my own clothes. It was…weirdwearing his.
His face moved towards me, eyes locking on his shirt before pinching closed. I watched in bafflement as his cheeks deepened and his jaw flexed. Was he actually mad that I was wearing his shirt? After letting me live in his house? How dramatic.
“I’m not going to get my foul eadi scent on your clothes, don’t worry. I’ll get some new ones.”
“That’s not—I wasn’t—it’sfine.You’refine.”
I scoffed, pushing myself up fully. I was wearing a pair of his cotton pants too, but he’d offered me those awhile ago. In fact, he’d already shared his clothes with me before, so why was it such a big deal now?
“I’m going to the Farigh District today. I need new clothes, supplies, and…other stuff.” What I needed was to find the damn rebellion.
“Woah, woah, woah. Let me get dressed. I’m coming too.” He shoved the blankets off, revealing his chest. I’d noticed before, but it was jarring to acknowledge how positivelyhugeAltair was. Maybe it was because he was so much taller than…Talon—even his name pissed me off—but there was something horrifying about the size of him as he stood.
His abdomen flexed and rippled, his pants sliding so low they showed the deep V between his hips, a trail of silver hair leading down from his naval. His arms flexed as he stretched, a wince slipping out of his full lips as he likely tugged on his stitches.
“I don’t need a sitter. In case you aren’t aware, the Farigh District is the poorest territory on the entire continent. I don’t think there will be a lot of rogue shaytan wandering aroundaside from drunken officials that I can handle.” Hopefully some rebels, too.
Altair cocked his head to the side, eyes squinting as he glared at me. But then his gaze flicked down for a brief moment, and again his cheeks pinkened. Growling, I reached down, gripped the edge of the shirt, and ripped it off. All I had below was an old, green bandeau that wrapped around my breasts. Just to be extra dramatic, I shoved down his pants too.
If looks could kill, Altair’s could revive.
His eyes went so wide that I swore they were going to burst free of the sockets, the bright grey irises fading as his pupils grew. Once pink, his cheeks became a deep red, his nose matching the color.
I thought back to that day I’d opened Talon’s door in only my towel. What had he said then?
“Tershetta, what are you doing?” he asked, coughing when his voice broke on the last word.
“Giving you your precious clothes back since you seem so annoyed that I’m wearing them. Sorry to upset you, oh hospitable savior.” I walked forward, surprised when he matched my steps, following me. His eyes were glued to mine, as if he was attempting not to look at my nearly naked body. Was I truly that repulsive to him?
“You need to put some clothes on.”
“Stars, Altair, grow up. I’ll get dressed in a second.” I reached up, grabbing one of his glass cups from the cupboard for some water. The second I stretched onto my toes, Altair let out a heavy groan. I listened in glee as he stormed away, his stomps nearly as loud as the slamming of the bathroom door. “And he says I’m dramatic.”
***
The Farigh District washuge.I’d only ever heard stories about it, but I’d researched it enough for the type of sand worm in the southeastern dunes that Mama liked to use to produce adhesives. Their blood was also oxygen-rich, which was helpful in a pinch for a blood substitute if someone was injured. Mama was no healer, but she did her best to provide solutions for everyone, made easier by my annoying desperation for knowledge as a child and the many traveling merchants who passed through the Sham District.
Altair had also clearly never been to the westernmost district. In fact, he looked outright terrified as we landed amongst tiny cottages and vibrant green vegetation. A thick smell permeated the air, making my nose scrunch. At first, I couldn’t place it, but Altair was quick to identify it.
“It smells like dead bodies here.” His voice cracked on the wordbodies,causing the hairs on my arms to rise. Yes, that was what it was.Death.
“There’s a market not far from here. We can get what we need and go.” Together, our hoods on and magic thrumming through our bodies like violent storms, we walked through the large, coastal village. Silence seemed to hang in the damp air, though people walked around.
All of the eadi passing by had a bit of a hunch to their stance, the rare exposed collarbone, forearm, or calf revealing thin skin stretched over bones. I couldn’t help but picture my parents, thinking of what their life had been like before the apothecary. Though I didn’t trust the man on my right, I did find myself sharing the thought out loud.
“My parents grew up in this village. That’s how I know there’s a market.” I offered the words in a hushed whisper, as if daring them not to be heard. Or maybe I was challenging Altair to speak poorly about the area. I wasn’t sure. With him, I rarely was.
Like he had so often since I held a knife to his throat that first day in his cottage, the snake surprised me.
Turning my way, he looked down into my eyes and pursed his lips. “Did they like it here?”
