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I can practically hear Temra’s voice in my head.

No one is looking at you. No one has a thought to spare your way. They’re doing their own things. Focus on having a good time. Think of the hot food coming soon.

I look up at the beams of the ceiling, two stories above my head. Stare down at the grains in the table, look at my lap. Anything to avoid noticing the people around me or the man opposite me.

Because he most definitelyisstaring at me.

“What?” I ask finally, turning to him. I look at his neck to avoid my mind blanking by looking into his eyes. It still happens sometimes, when I feel overwhelmed.

“I’m just trying to gauge how you’re doing.”

“I’m fine. I don’t need you to look after me.”

“I know you don’t, but I still like to do it.”

“Why?” I ask, but he’s stopped from answering. Our food and drinks have arrived.

A bowl of creamy potato chowder with corn and some sort of meat is placed before us.

“Thank you,” I mumble, but the server doesn’t answer. In fact, she’s not looking at me at all.

I look up from my food to find the girl smiling at Kellyn. She lowers two glasses of ale to the table. She’s a pretty thing with creamy-smooth skin, short curls, and a beautiful figure.

For some reason, I hate her immediately.

“Could we get some water, as well? My sister doesn’t like ale.”

“Your sister? That’s good to know.”

“Is it?” he asks.

“Yes. That leaves me free to tell you my shift is over at ten.”

Kellyn grins, showing all his teeth. When was the last time he gave me a smile like that? Does that mean he wants to see her after her shift is over? Will he leave me alone in our room tonight?

“I’m flattered, but I’m not available,” he says.

“Sometime tomorrow, then?”

“Sorry, miss, I didn’t mean my time wasn’t available. I meant I’m already spoken for.”

She looks heavenward. “The pretty ones are always taken. I’ll be right back with that water.” She glides toward the kitchens, as though the conversation hasn’t hurt her ego one bit.

My mind has so many thoughts running through it, I can barely snatch them out to examine one at a time.

Why is he telling everyone I’m his sister?

Why did he tell the girl he wasn’t available?

And how is he already taken? Did he meet some girl in Ravis’s dungeon?

That’s ridiculous and you know it, Ziva.

Did he find the time to romance someone in the brief moments we were apart in Skiro’s castle?

Also super unlikely.

Then he must have lied.