Page 285 of Axis of Fire

“But today we'll be following mine instead.”

Somehow, that made me even more excited.

Anastasia Lang’s POV

After the disastrous training session—which had cost us hours with almost nothing to show for it—Tarven took me to a tavern.

The place was filled almost entirely with soldiers and weapon masters.

There were only three women inside.

Me—

And two waitresses.

“So now I’m curious,” I said after finally receiving my cocktail—a drink I’d had to describe in painful detail first to the waitress and then to the bartender.

This place served nothing but beer and hard liquor.

“Do you bring girls here on dates too, or only to taverns like this?”

“I don’t need dates to get a beautiful girl beneath me,” Tarven replied with a wink before taking another sip from the enormous mug of beer in front of him.

I snorted.

“When exactly did you become this corrupted?”

“I'd call it personal growth.”

“Sure you would.”

Sometimes I honestly didn’t understand what I saw in him.

And even less why I was discussing topics like this with him.

“For someone who dreams of finding his soulmate and sealing an Eternity Union,” I said, slowly stirring my drink with the metal straw, “you behave surprisingly recklessly.”

I tilted my head.

“Or are you planning to find your destined one during a one-night stand?”

I smiled.

Hopefully convincingly.

Because pretending had always been one of my greatest talents.

“I’m sure I’ll recognize her instantly,” Tarven said easily.

“One look will be enough.”

I scoffed inwardly.

“I actually wanted to ask you about something else,” he continued.

This time, his gaze settled on me with complete seriousness.

It didn’t impress me.