Page 149

She pulled out her last clean, dry dress from her pack. They’d often had to wash their clothes in streams, but it was better than not doing it at all.

She sniffed her dress.I can never get the smoke of campfire out of my dresses.Oddly enough, she liked the sweet aroma of it.

Now that she was clean, refreshed, and calm, Valerie pulled out a map she managed to acquire of the eastern kingdom. She fingered where she thought she would have to walk to find what she was searching for.

If I go southeast of the town and circle north through this ridge of hillside, it will take me to the highest point of forest before it becomes rocky mountain.She wondered if this was the best route to take.I do not really know where I am going, but I should find what I want if I follow the mountain around.

If not, hopefully it found her.

Somethingtingedagainst the ground, like a metal coin dropped from a high place. It snapped her attention, and she turned around to find the key that had been in the door was now vibrating against the ground as it waited to settle.Ching. Ching. Ching.Before she could walk forward and reach for it, the door flung open.

Someone had used magic to unlock it.

A grumpy-looking man entered the room.

His eyes narrowed on her when he stepped inside before he slammed the door shut once more. It bashed against the door frame with a deafening boom.

“Found you, little mouse.”

He pushed the hood of a cloak off his head to reveal a sour expression. His nose was crinkled, one side of his upper lip raised over his teeth.

Her face paled at seeing Geryon; not even she could control her shock. Damnit. Valerie was almost where she needed to be, was so close to completing her task.

She didn’t know what emotion it was that quickened the steady beat of her heart, but it began to pound when he stepped closer.

“How did you–” She quickly scrunched up the map behind her back before he could see it.

She should have lunged for her sword instead.

He didn’t stop growling, even when he closed the small space and threaded his fingers through her hair. He forced her head back with a yank, and... sniffed her temple?

She blinked at the unexpected action.

He began to sniff down the side of her face. It tickled when he did it to her neck, right behind her ear.

“What are you doing?” She tried to press her shoulder to her ear, closing the space to stop him from tickling her further.

“You are covered in a mixture of smells. I am trying to figure out what is what.”

He was being aggressive. She’d only ever heard his voice this deep when he was angry.

“Why?” Why were they having this strange start to a conversation?

“You have surrounded yourself with men. I’m trying to determine if your scent isclean.”

“You... you!” She rose her hand to slap him.

He quickly caught her wrist before she made impact.

“I learnt a long time ago not to make assumptions with you. Trying to figure out the truth first.”

She pushed against his chest with her free hand when he drew his tongue against the centre of her throat. Then, she felt his lips moving, as though he was speaking against it, and warmth radiated all the way around it.He used a spell?

“Has another man touched you?”

“N-No,” she whispered, unsure of why she was answering his rude question.

His growling finally settled, and he released her wrist, wrapping one of his arms around her midsection while the other slipped across her shoulders. The position forced her face into the crook of his neck.