Page 42 of The Heart of Nym (The Twisted Roots Duology #1)

Awarm, buttery light filled the tavern, catching the wafts of smoke that lingered in stagnant clouds in the air. The smell of tobacco, ale, and cabbage stew filled the air around them—thick, humid from sweat and the heat of all of the bodies packed inside.

It was the only inn for miles and the final stop before heading deep into the Wander. It was hard to see roots and thorns at night. Nymiria knew this firsthand. She didn’t blame any of the patrons inside the inn for being cautious.

Beside her, Aziel did a quick scan of the room, his hand firmly locked around her elbow, rooting her in place. He deemed them safe with a quick nod of his head. He glanced over her glamour to ensure it was still intact before ushering her through the heart of the room to the bar.

The bar maiden’s face lit up the moment Aziel came into view. And while his plan would have worked better had it been Dorsey, the elderly man that usually worked at a full house, he supposed that he could utilize Siobhan’s infatuation with him to his advantage.

He and Siobhan had had their nights together. Quick, meaningless trysts until she started looking at him…

Well, like this.

Nymiria was still stiff beside him, her eyes darting around the room.

Looking more like a scared rabbit than a seasoned assassin.

He hadn’t failed to notice how she moved closer to him upon seeing the large group of very large men shouting loudly at their cards in the corner.

It piqued his curiosity enough to assess each of their faces, noting each distinguishable feature. And then he saw him.

She saw him too. The large fae male with black hair and a black beard, his shoulders wide enough to take up his seat and part of the one next to it.

Don’t.

The warmth of Aziel’s magic blanketed her.

And while she didn’t stray down the dark paths of her mind, her cautiousness was still there.

She wanted to hide her face. She wanted to turn and run away, but it would only lead to more questions and more frustration from Aziel.

And while she usually wouldn’t hesitate to piss him off to get her way, this was different.

This was… shame.

“Mr. Haze,” the bar maiden chirped. “It’s been a while.”

Nymiria looked over the young woman, calculating her to be about her age. She seemed harmless enough, but there was something in her eyes that made Nymiria feel uneasy. The young woman wasn’t looking at Aziel like a regular patron, but rather someone who frequently ruffled her sheets.

With a frown, Nymiria looked up at him, his throat looking like the perfect target for her fist. Or a knife.

She thought they came here to rest, not for him to get a quick fuck.

“It certainly has,” he smiled at her. Smiled at her. Good gods, Nymiria didn’t think it was possible. Maybe he had an affinity for brunettes. But, then again, it seemed like his usual scowl and sneer was reserved just for her.

How lucky.

The young woman grabbed another glass from the bar, smoothing her rag around the rim in a way that—Nymiria believed—was not how one was supposed to polish glasses. “What can I help you with tonight? A drink or a kink?"

Aziel chuckled, his thumb brushing over Nymiria’s ring finger at such a slow pace that it made bumps form along her arms. Before she could jerk away from him, he was lifting their joined hands to flash shiny wedding rings at the young maiden.

Nymiria did her best to give a shy smile, but deep inside she was seething for his lack of disclosure.

“I’m afraid the kinks are over for me now. Just a drink and a room, please. For the missus and I.” He said. “Siobhan, this is my wife. Mrs. Aziel Haze.”

I’m burning this entire establishment down.

Nymiria gritted her teeth, squeezing his hand a little too hard as she gave a small wave with the other. “A pleasure to meet you Siobhan. How is it that you know my husband?”

Aziel turned to her, his eyes threatening to narrow for just one moment before the creases at the corners relaxed. “I’m afraid that will have to be a story for another time, dear. Siobhan and I have known one another for years.”

I’m sure you have, you little forest demon. She forced a giggle, taking up a strand of her glamoured auburn hair and twirling it around her finger.

Siobhan and Aziel exchanged a few more pleasantries before she was handing him a key to a room.

Nymiria was fine with sharing a room with him.

She knew that he wouldn’t do anything nefarious and, besides, sleep was sleep.

As tired as she was, she could use a pile of cow shit for a pillow and grass for a blanket and still sleep like a baby.

He led her up the stairs at the far side of the room, tugging her along behind him with each creaking step.

The hall above the tavern was just as loud, but there were far more scandalous activities happening.

Couples clung to one another, their lips locked and hands roaming.

Some were even engaging in the act, itself. Rooms be damned.

Nymiria took a final peak at them over her shoulder before Aziel tugged her forward, shaking his head at her in amusement as they headed up a second flight of stairs.

This floor was nearly vacant, filled with the melancholy sound of a flute playing behind a closed door. After passing three doors, Aziel paused. He released her hand to unlock the door and scanned the hallway once again before he opened it and stepped into their room.

It was dimly lit by a red oil lantern that sat on the bedside table. The sheets were left in a folded pile at the end of the bed, as well as fresh drying cloths. Aziel was already making himself at home, unlacing his boots and kicking them under the bedside table so that they were out of the way.

Nymiria glanced out at the hall and loosened a sigh before finally closing the door, muffling the noises that permeated through the inn.

"Too promiscuous for your tastes?" Aziel hummed from the corner.

Nymiria adjusted her tunic, partially wishing she'd stuffed something more comfortable to wear for bed into her pack before they left. It would suffice, she thought, seeing as how the hem covered almost everything of value. She looked up at him and shook her head. "I've slept in worse places."

With men who had the worst intentions. She didn't say it, but she knew that Aziel had already caught on to what she was insinuating.

"The king's favored… how scandalous." Nymiria snorted at that, reaching for the waistband of her breeches and pulling them away from her hips. "What are you doing?"

The shock in his voice caused her to look at him again, her hands bracketing her hips. "What are you talking about? I'm getting ready to go to bed."

"The breeches stay on."

She shot him a pointed glare, lips pursing. "I'm sorry, Mr. Aziel Haze. Need I remind you that, despite this ring you slipped onto my finger, I am not your wife. You don't get to tell me what to do."

"What if you were my wife?" He was suddenly right in front of her, his lean body towering over hers.

She could feel the warm heat radiating from his body, the scent of his death replaced with that same smell of cherry blossoms that made her head spin.

"What if you were my wife and I told you that I wanted you to keep as many layers of clothing on your body in a place like this because I couldn't stand the way all of those men downstairs were looking at you? "

This was not good.

Her body was reacting to him, her mind replaying the path his hands made on her body when she was dreaming.

Her cheeks were red. She knew they were.

It was one thing she hated most about herself.

If she was embarrassed or aroused or… flustered in any type of way, her face and neck would surely give her away. She had to stop this.

"Well, when you put it like that," She sighed, hands bunching at the waistband once again.

"I'd tell you that you can fuck right off.

" And with that, she shoved the breeches down her legs and kicked them off the rest of the way.

Aziel glowered at her, the muscles in his jaw jumping when she smiled up at him.

"Marriage doesn't mean a woman has to change who she is and a good husband would respect it.

" She could feel his eyes on her as she brushed past him, but she merely scooped the article of clothing off of the floor and walked to the bed.

She plopped down onto it with a grunt, absolutely paying him no mind as she crawled under the blankets.

"A good husband also would not take his wife to stay in a place where one of his past lovers was currently employed. " Nymiria smarted.

She wanted to keep going because she had a list of things he did that a husband wouldn't do. At this point, she was taking it easy on him.

"A good wife wouldn't intentionally do things to piss off her husband."

She let out a dramatic laugh. "Ha! It's a good thing we aren't really married, then, isn't it?"

He was grumbling to himself now. Even with her eyes closed, she could already see the expression on his face.

She'd be lying if she said that it didn't please her to some degree.

It was a nice distraction from everything that was happening, from all that she'd experienced in the last several days.

Her mind was a war zone at the moment and getting under his skin was the closest thing to entertainment that she had.

Nymiria was nearly dozing off when the other side of the bed dipped down and the blankets were tossed back just enough to allow room for the body sliding in beside her. Her eyes snapped open when her heart gave a loud thud. "What are you doing?" She nearly shrieked.

The way the moon reflected off the color of his eyes made it seem as if they were glowing. Nymiria swallowed, her body going stock still when his gaze dipped to her lips. "I'm getting ready to go to bed." He said blandly.

"I didn't agree to this."