Page 52 of A Rose Among Snakes (Gardens of Ruin and Revival)

Chapter Fifty-One

Mihrra

N obody paid us any mind as Enverro and I made our way through the streets. We stopped in front of a music shop, where inside, an older man walked around the store and fiddled with the displayed instruments.

“Here’s the plan, Mihrra. I need you to go in first and keep him distracted. Should be easy enough with that dress.”

I did not appreciate the implication. “What does that mean?”

He raised a sardonic eyebrow. “You knew exactly what you were doing with that gown.” His eyes dipped to the swell of my bosom over the satin neckline.

Self-conscious, I cleared my throat and gave a fruitless upward tug on the dress. It wasn’t my fault the dress wasn’t made to my measurements.

“Anyway,” he continued, unfazed, “I will sneak into the back and start grabbing some instruments.”

“Enverro, we don’t actually have to play the instruments, do we?”

“Not if Velian does his part well. We only need to look like a troupe of musicians to get in the doors.”

“And if he doesn’t? ”

Enverro smiled wryly and gave me a gentle shove across the street. I stumbled, recovered, and entered the store with the little remaining dignity I possessed. The air was stuffy and warm, smelling of rosin and paper. Instruments covered every available surface, and hundreds of books lined the shelf in the corner. Out of my element, I bit my lower lip before deciding to take advantage of my ignorance.

The owner stood behind a counter, squinting under his bushy brows. Seeing me, his eyes widened and a grin broke out on his face.

“Welcome, Miss. How can I help you today?” His voice was feeble, giving me the impression he was older than I’d thought.

“I’ve been wanting to learn how to play an instrument. Do you think you can help me with that?”

“Certainly, Miss. Do you have a specific one in mind?”

“I’m afraid I don’t. Maybe you can tell me what you think would be best?”

The poor, unsuspecting man nodded his head as he stepped out from behind the counter and led me over to a stringed instrument with a wooden frame in a triangular-like shape. He plucked a few strings and a beautiful, melodious sound swelled into the air.

He turned to me and said, “Have a go.”

I brought a tentative hand forward, then paused. He smiled encouragingly, and I plucked a couple of strings. It sounded pretty, but not as neat as the shopkeeper’s presentation.

“Well done! How did that feel? ”

Movement flashed out of the corner of my eye as Enverro snuck in. I plucked at the strings again, louder that time, to keep the old man’s attention.

“Good, but I wonder what else you might have?”

His cloudy eyes lit up as he hobbled over to another stringed instrument with a wide body and long neck. He picked it up and cradled it in his lap as he sat on a stool, his fingers moving quickly over the strings to play a soothing melody.

“What is this one called?” I wasn’t playing a part. I was curious and with all my inner turmoil of the past few days, the music filled me with a welcome sense of peace.

He continued playing for me as he said, “It’s a lute. One of my favorites.” I let myself get caught up in the music, my hips swaying in time as the melody soothed the guilt needling the back of my mind.

“Mihrra, dear.” Startled, I turned to find Enverro poking his head in the front door. “It’s time to go.”

I faced the shopkeeper and said, “I’m so sorry, but that’s my brother, and I have to be off.”

The old man smiled sadly, and a lump formed in my throat. I placed one hand on his arm and said, “Thank you for your help. Hopefully, I’ll be back someday and you can show me more.”

“Of course, Miss. It was my pleasure. It’s been some time since I was able to share my love of music with someone new.” His eyes misted. “Enjoy the rest of your day.”

I walked out of the shop without looking back, but with a subtle flick of my wrist, I dropped the pouch of coins I’d been concealing in the folds of my skirt. Behind me, I heard the old man say,

“Miss, wait-”

I brushed past Enverro, who was grinning and bouncing on his toes. “Go, don’t look back,” I said.

“I feel so alive again.” He fell into step beside me.

“Did you get everything?”

“Of course, I did. I could have gotten more, but I stopped myself.” He rubbed his hands together as we walked up the street keeping an eye out for the others.

“You have a problem,” I said, shaking my head and stepping around a cart full of fragrant spices.

“A problem, or a gift?” He gave me a smug smirk, and it hit me who he reminded me of. Jem. It was the ridiculous ego and boyish charm. Fondness swept through me as I watched him, and I resisted the urge to scold him further.

Ahead, I spotted Velian by the gate leading to the castle road. He was listening to a plump woman with ruddy cheeks and lines on her face that spoke of many years of scowling, but she was smiling at Velian. She said something and he threw his head back in hearty laughter. My heart swelled just looking at him, and the sound of his laugh sent tingles of pleasure through my limbs. Eventually, he bowed to the woman and walked back to Enverro and me.

“Well?” Enverro asked.

“We’re in,” Velian replied. “How did you do? ”

“Don’t insult me,” Enverro said, his tone haughty, but his eyes still sparked with exhilaration.

“I wasn’t asking you,” Velian said, moving to my side.

I shrugged and Enverro said, “She did great. That old man was putty in her hands.”

Velian’s smile was sultry as he locked eyes with me. “Aren’t we all?”

Warmth bloomed on my cheeks, and I knew it was pointless, but I still shifted my face downward as if it could hide my flush.

Enverro groaned, “Where are the others?” He stepped away to peek around the corner for them and Velian moved closer.

“Do you have the pouch?”

My eyes widened as I looked up at him. “I don’t, I’m sorry. I gave it all to the shop owner.” Velian raised his eyebrows. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking. He was just so kind and seemed lonely-”

“It’s fine, Mihrra,” he brushed a knuckle along my jaw. “I trust your judgment.”

The creaking of a wagon rattling over the cobblestone streets pulled our attention. Denzen sat in the seat, directing a set of oxen toward us. Enverro pointed him to the alleyway where he’d stashed the stolen instruments. The wagon rolled to a stop and out of the back jumped Corman and Paolef.

Corman asked, “Are we good to go, Boss?”

“We are,” Velian answered as he motioned that Enverro needed help with the instruments. The wagon was quickly loaded and Paolef and Enverro hopped in the back while Denzen took his seat. Feeling jittery, I stepped forward to follow them, but Velian snagged my arm, pulling me to his side.

“Mihrra, I need to say something to you.” He wrapped his hand around mine and led me deeper into the alleyway, positioning us behind a stack of pallets. We stood facing each other, his emerald eyes swimming with apprehension and fervor. He ran a hand through his hair before taking both of my hands in his.

“This is so selfish of me, and maybe it’s not the right time, but I don’t know what the rest of this day holds.” He pressed his lips together, eyes scanning every inch of my face. My pulse quickened. “Mihrra, I’ve spent a majority of my life keeping people at arm’s length, but as hard as I’ve tried, I can’t stay away from you. You are the most captivating woman I have ever met.” Shaking his head, he let out a huff of laughter. “I can barely even think straight when you’re around.” He paused, searching my face again.

I was frozen. My stomach was doing backflips, but I had no idea what my face conveyed.

“I don’t expect you to feel the same,” he continued, “especially after the role I’ve played in disrupting your entire life, but I didn’t want there to be anything left unsaid between us.”

I stared at him in wonder and I knew. I knew it with every rapid, yet steady, beat of my heart I didn’t want to waste a single moment of whatever time we had left. The words bubbled on my lips without hesitation. There was no fear of rejection or worry that I was making a mistake.

“I love you, Velian.” It slipped off my tongue with ease, like I’d said it a thousand times before.

His eyes widened, and I memorized every fleck of amber glimmering among the vibrant green. I hadn’t been aware of our feet inching closer together, but his chest rose and fell against mine.

“Do you really?” he asked, his voice low and breathy.

I nodded slowly. “I do.”

Velian seized my face in his warm hands and pressed his lips to mine. He guided us backward until my back was flush against the stone wall. Pulling back, Velian whispered in my ear,

“I love you, too, Mihrra.”

The words paired with my name on his lips sent a thrill through my body. His hands slid down my arms as he kissed my neck just beneath my ear. I moved my head to the side, arching into his touch as his mouth moved down the column of my neck, leaving goosebumps following behind. He trailed kisses across my skin and back to my mouth.

Our bodies pressed together as I plunged my hands into his soft, wavy hair, and Velian rested his hands on my lower back, keeping us as close as possible. I was lost in an ocean of need as our lips melded together, moving hungrily against each other. And when I thought we couldn’t get closer, Velian gripped my hip and slid his hand along my outer thigh to hitch my knee up around his waist. My mind wondered what that possessive touch would feel like on my bare skin and I shuddered with yearning.

His tongue grazed along my lips, and I opened my mouth, craving more of him. Velian created feelings in me I had never experienced—desires I had never known—and as his mouth moved back to my neck and his nose nuzzled my ear, I sighed .

I wanted to memorize and savor every sensation: the warmth of his full lips, the taste of his mouth, the scratch of his stubble, the tickle of his breath on my neck.

He slowly pulled back and I floated in his green eyes, our chests heaving as he placed my leg back on the ground. With one finger, he tipped my chin up and placed one last tender kiss on my lips. Heart pounding and blood singing, I sent up a silent prayer it would not be our last kiss, that we would survive the day.

“I love you,” he murmured against my lips.

“I love you, too,” I panted, pulling back and smoothing out the mess I’d made of his hair. “Now, let’s go save your sister.”