Page 25

Feeling refreshed, if a bit nervous, Mia stepped into the kitchen as she finished braiding her damp hair—and froze.

“Why do you have bags next to mine?” she asked Tiber, who was casually drinking tea.

“I made you tea,” he said in response, nodding at the fresh pot on the stove. “And I’m going with you.”

“Wait…what?” Last night she’d told him that she was heading out this morning and he’d been fine with it. Had even joined her and the others in a board game. She’d beat him too. They really needed to learn better strategy when it came to building cities.

“I’ll be going with you. You have no experience traversing our mountainous terrain and it’s not for the faint of heart.”

“First of all, I hired someone. So I’m good.

I guess there’s no second of all.” Clearly, she needed some strong tea this morning.

“And I know you can’t spare the time to travel.

And before you say anything, Octavia recommended a guide so it’s not like I just hired some random person.

This man is trained, and I’ve already paid him.

So you can rest easy and let Starlena or the queen or whoever know that I’m safe and will be out of pocket for about a month.

I’ve already let Xenia know and she’s happy,” she added.

“She’s hoping I’ll come back with even more inspiration. ”

“I let your guide know that his services aren’t necessary.” Each word out of his mouth was clipped. “And he’s reimbursed you. I paid him what you would have owed him so he has no hard feelings either.”

“Tiber!” She wanted to stomp her foot even though it was a childish impulse. “You can’t just… do that.”

“But I did.” He took another sip, looking almost smug. And fine, he was painfully gorgeous as he stood there sipping tea.

“Tiber.”

Now he smiled.

“Oh my god, you’re driving me crazy.”

“Why? I’m an excellent guide, an excellent tracker and I will get you to your destination much faster than that… guide.” The way he said guide sounded as if he was saying “pile of crap.”

“Octavia said he was the best, very skilled.”

Tiber shrugged again. “I’m better.”

She covered her face with her hands. “What is going on with you? Your duty is over! You don’t have to keep me safe anymore.

I’m very appreciative of all that you’ve done.

Seriously, you’ve gone above and beyond.

And I’ve accepted your apology. More than your words, you’ve shown me who you are.

But you don’t have to do like… whatever this is.

Some weird version of penance. I promise, you and I are good.

You owe me nothing.” And she needed some distance from the distracting dragon.

“Would you like breakfast before we leave?”

“Am I a ghost? Am I talking and you’re just not hearing?”

“You would make a beautiful ghost, but I can hear you just fine. I’m choosing to ignore you because I don’t wish to argue with you. I’m going with you and that’s that.”

Her heart stuttered for a moment and she tried not to get hung up on the “beautiful” comment. “What about your job? I know what you do for the castle is important.”

“Plenty of people can take over for me. I’m just a cog in the machine.”

“Lies!”

He shrugged. “Octavia and Cyprus will be taking over.”

She let her head fall back and stared up at the ceiling, realized Ilmari was watching her from the netting above. “Are you coming too?”

He chirped in what sounded a whole lot like a positive response.

Sighing, she looked back at Tiber. “I’d like to make it clear that this…” She motioned at him. “This not listening to me, is not okay. I’m not okay with it.”

“When it comes to your safety, I’m not bending.

I’ll bend on almost anything if you ask, but not this.

You will stay safe. And I’m not leaving your safety in the hands of some guide—or anyone else.

” There was a finality to his words that sent a shiver down her spine.

But unlike the iciness she experienced around Charles, this was wholly different.

Also, it was really hard to get mad when he wanted to keep her safe. But for her sanity she’d been hoping for distance from him. Especially after the evening last night with him and all his warriors. He’d been so relaxed, and she’d been able to see the other side to Tiber.

The kind male who’d been looking out for her ever since the gallery auction.

“I already made you breakfast,” he finally said, breaking through the silence. “Your favorite.”

He’d been cooking her something similar to Migas from back home and…

apparently, she was weak. “Thank you. For breakfast and for caring. I just hate that you’re taking time away from work.

I was being serious before, I know how important you are to the castle.

” Or she could guess considering the deference so many others gave him.

“They have survived without me and they will again. Now sit, eat. Are we bringing Neptune?”

“Ah, no. Jonothon is going to pick him up this morning. He’s a good traveler, but I worried it might be too rough for him. And Jonothon and him are two peas in a pod.”

Tiber simply grunted at the mention of Jonothon, but nodded.

And apparently, that was that. He was coming with her.

She wasn’t sure how she felt about it. Liar, liar. She was simultaneously excited and worried. She was starting to catch feelings for the big dragon. Or more accurately, she’d caught feelings for him.

And while he might be apologetic for what he’d said, and he’d gone out of his way to keep her safe, she still didn’t think he would view her as a potential… whatever. Lover? That was sort of a gross word. Girlfriend? Also weird.

A hookup?

Ugh, she didn’t like that either.

And she shouldn’t even be thinking about that anyway. They were just… friends? Yeah, she was pretty sure they were friends at this point.

Even if he was over-the-top bossy.