Page 3 of Blood & Claw

Unease stirred in her gut. She’d hoped he’d have his wits about him.

He drained his cup before his lips curved. “Want something?”

Ailsa jolted. She hadn’t realized she was staring.

She swallowed, nerves fluttering up once more. “How … how are things at the forge?”

“Busy.”

“We’ve had a lot of customers lately too,” she said, wishing she didn’t sound so breathless. “Everyone seems to want a prosperity sigil inked onto their arm these days.”

He huffed. “Maybe I should get one of those. I could open my own forge and stop taking orders from Drec.”

Warmth suffused her chest. Finally. They were actually talking. Encouraged, she took a step forward. “Are you—”

Una’s snigger intruded. Her friends joined in.

Ailsa stilled, glancing over at them.

Why were they laughing?

She hadn’t said anything strange. Had she?

When she looked back at Lewis, she noticed he was observing her, dragging his gaze down from the crown of her well-brushed, long black hair to the toes of her leather sandals. She wore a pine-green sleeveless tunic, belted at the waist, and a copper arm ring in the form of a serpent—her only jewelry. Glancing in Kayla’s looking glass earlier, she’d told herself she looked pretty, but now, she wasn’t so sure.

Was that interest she saw in his eyes, or dismissal?

Don’t let his sneering friends put you off, she told herself firmly. You know he’s interested.

She cleared her throat. “Would you like to dance?”

Laughter eddied once more around them, and her pulse quickened.

Underneath her embarrassment though, anger sparked. She’d had enough of being made fun of. How dare these people try to make her feel small?

Lewis glanced around at his friends, and then he pulled a face.

Her belly dropped. Shit. That wasn’t the response she’d been expecting.

“Look, Ailsa,” he said after a heavy pause. “You’re a comely lass and all that … but I think you’ve mistaken things.”

The words struck like a slap. It was hard not to flinch. Mistaken? “I only asked for a dance,” she replied tightly.

Behind Lewis, someone snorted. “Gods, she’s after him.”

Heat washed over Ailsa. Her cheeks started to burn.

Meanwhile, Lewis rubbed the back of his neck. He looked as if he wished she’d disappear.

Right now, she was wishing the same thing.

Una cast her a pitying look. “Do you really think he’d look twice at you?”

More smirks and murmurs followed. Around them, a few of the lads and lasses exchanged glances. Meanwhile, Lewis stared at the ground.

Ailsa waited for him to step in, for him to put his friends right, but he didn’t.

He simply stood there.