Page 129 of The Moon's Fury

He’d come to tolerate her.

Voices floated up as she descended the tan, stone steps.

“…take this out to Zem, will ya? Tell him I sent it.”

A loud groan, followed by, “Will ya cut it out, Lasha? The two of ‘em areobviouslymarried. Yer gonna scare away our only customers in weeks.”

“There’s no ring on her finger!”

“They could be Minhypani.”

“No, then she’d have—”

Layna stomped off the last step, and the siblings’ heads snapped toward her. Stone-faced, she grabbed the tray Lasha had been trying to push onto her brother.

“I’ll take it out to Zem,” she said stiffly, giving the woman a fierce glare. “We’re lucky to have suchhospitablehosts.”

Nylasha flushed but said nothing, shuffling papers on her desk.

Layna headed toward the stable, and Lash quickly fell into step beside her.

“Don’t mind my sister, Miss Ahna,” he said quietly, glancing behind him. “Lasha’s been takin’ care of me since our parents passed. She’s lonely. She’s like this with all the handsome men that pass through.” He quickly added, “Not that I think he’s handsome. I don’t know what ya both see in that grouch. Him and his demon horse.”

A surprised peal of laughter tumbled out of her, and Lash snatched the tray out of her hands before anything spilled.

When her laughter subsided, she softly said, “I’m sorry about your parents, Lash. What happened to them?”

A frown marred his features, muted grief dimming his blue eyes. “It was ages ago. It had been a particularly rainy season. The mountain was all kinds of muddy. They got caught in a landslide. Lasha took over caring for the inn. And me,” he said softly. “She’s gotten a few proposals over the years. But I think those men just want the inn. And they definitely don’t wantme.”

Her heart twisted. “I’m truly sorry, Lash. I lost my parents, too. It’s an emptiness that never truly leaves.” She pursed her lips, opening the door that led to the stable. “Your sister is very … noble.”

Lash grinned. “Ya look like yer about to hurl all over me.”

She burst out laughing again, and the sound drew Zarian’s attention from where he stood brushing Najoom’s glossy coat.His gaze darted between them before settling on her, his mouth tipped up.

He set down the brush and leaned against Najoom. Lash set the tray on a nearby stool.

“Breakfast is served,” he announced grandly. Zarian rolled his eyes. “Yer eyes will get stuck like that. Then people willreallywonder what the lovely miss sees in ya.”

She hid her giggles behind her hand as she rubbed Najoom’s flank. Moons, her cheeks ached from laughing. A muscle ticked in Zarian’s jaw as he glared at Lash, but his gaze fell to her and her shaking shoulders, the anger in his eyes receding.

Breakfast was a small assortment of flaky pastries and berry jam. While Zarian washed his hands, Layna spread a thick layer of the sticky jam over a large pastry. She handed it to Zarian as he walked back, but Lash plucked it from her hands and munched into it.

Mouth full, he asked, “So how did ya two meet?” He seemed oblivious, or uncaring, of Zarian’s murderous expression and the white-knuckled fists at his sides.

“Our families knew each other,” she replied with a smile, handing Zarian another pastry. He accepted the second offering with a scowl.

Lash hummed. “And is it yer first time in Tarakshan?” He licked the jam from his fingers.

“Her first time. Not mine,” Zarian said gruffly.

“I could show ya around town!” Lash exclaimed, ignoring Zarian. “I have to pick up some things for dinner anyway.”

“No—”

“We’d love that!” she interrupted. Zarian’s glower burned into the side of her face, but she ignored him.

Lash beamed. “I’ll be back in alash,” he said with an exaggerated wink that had her chuckling again. The sunlight glinted off his blond locks as he darted inside.