Page 21

If I’d been born with Madinia’s power, I could have set her hair on fire.

I immediately spun and faced the fire, taking a drink of the watery ale.

It was absolutely none of my business how close any other woman got to Lorian. Our relationship had been dust from the moment I learned he’d spent weeks lying to me.

My mind helpfully provided me with the image of Lorian and the fae woman naked together, and I took a deep breath. I was practically trembling with the urge to get to my feet and stalk outside for some fresh air, but the overbearing fae behind me would simply follow me out.

Then he’d know just how dark my mood was. And he’d likely assume it was about him.

It wasn’t. I was merely tired.

“You’re far too beautiful to be frowning into the flames,” a deep voice said.

This day just kept getting worse. I kept my gaze on the fire. “Leave me alone.”

Of course, the man moved closer. I dragged my gaze away from the fire and looked up.

The stranger was remarkably handsome. Tall, wide-shouldered, with blue eyes that laughed at me. His nose was straight, his face clean-shaven, and he projected an air of trustworthiness that made suspicion tighten my gut.

I opened my mouth, right as a huge hand clamped down on the back of my neck. I slashed out with my knife, and Lorian’s other hand caught my wrist.

“Wildcat,” he growled.

I’d almost unmanned him. My mouth twitched, and my gaze met the stranger’s. He grinned at me.

“We’re leaving,” Lorian said.

“Goodbye,wildcat,” the stranger said.

Lorian went still in that eerie way of his. I got to my feet. Clearly, the man had overimbibed and decided to pick a fight with Lorian. It wasn’t about me.

When it came to men and their need to display their egos in public, it was rarely about women.

Lorian’s gaze had turned predatory as he watched the man. The man just stared back, his blue eyes no longer twinkling. No, now they looked dead.

Lorian angled his head, his eyes flat. I knew that expression. He was contemplating murder.

Cold dripped down my spine. As much as I insisted I didn’t believe in fate, all of my instincts were telling me I would see this man again. I took a long moment to memorize his face. Those blue eyes met mine again, and I barely suppressed a shiver.

Turning, I stalked toward the door.

Lorian was behind me a moment later. “Why are you in such a bad mood?” he snarled into my ear.

The stable hand nodded at us, turning to find our horses. A group of men in dusty, travel-worn cloaks strode toward the door of the inn, and Lorian nudged me to the side, placing his body firmly between mine and the men. I ground my teeth. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Ah. You’re jealous.”

My heart raced in my chest, but I managed to give him a flat look.

“I’m glad you’re jealous,” he continued, voice dripping with satisfaction. “It’s about time you stopped pretending not to care.”

I peered at my nails. Where was the stable hand? “I’m not jealous. Simply reflecting on the fact that while I have many, many good qualities, the past few weeks have proven my judgment of character is supremely lacking.”

“Keep telling yourself that, wildcat.”

The clip-clop of hooves announced the arrival of our horses, and Lorian turned. I took a deep breath, mentally bracing myself for the long days of traveling next to the man I’d almost given my heart to.

Despair rose, so sharp and sudden, I almost groaned.