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Noticing the way my nose wrinkled, he shifted in his seat. “Oh. I normally… well. Does the meat bother you? Or the fingers? I can eat over there. I thought I’d get my fill before we’re back on the road. I can go a couple of days between meals, so in the future?—”

“No, no. Sorry.” Cheeks warming, I turned my gaze back to the map. I hadn’t meant to make him uncomfortable; it took me by surprise, was all. I ought to clarify that so he didn’t end up self-conscious. “Eat whatever you like,” I added aloud. “We all have our preferences.”

Raw meat wasn’t unheard of. Steak tartare was a thing, after all.

And the others ate with their hands too; that wasn’t uncommon.

Public eateries didn’t tend to offer silverware for their patrons, and when you were hungry, that last thing you wanted was to go digging through your pack for a utensil.

After so many years here, even I often slipped into a state of complacency. These reminders were good for me.

You’re not in Kansas anymore, Mar .

I put the map away to tackle my dinner, trying to ignore the way that Lu now angled his body to one side to shield his plate from view.

After leaving the inn with full bellies, we found a nice glade not far from the road and set up a temporary camp with our tents clustered together for safety.

While I threaded carved poles through loops of fabric, I shifted my weight to relieve the ache in my feet.

Not for the first time, I envied the hardiness of the fae.

None of the others were bothered by a full day of walking.

Even without mending magic, they healed quickly, so they would be fine by morning.

A figure loomed at my back, light from the full moon above casting a shadow on the wall of linen before me. I didn’t bother turning to look. “Yes?”

“May I give you a hand?” It was Luthri.

“Thanks for offering, but that’s all right. I’ve got it.” In fact, I was done. Stepping back to examine my work, I nodded to myself. With just enough room for one adult and their things, it wasn’t anything fancy, but it was serviceable. Summer nights in Kereti were mild.

“Quaint,” Lu remarked. Smoke curled from his nose in soft, gray tendrils before dissipating in the wind.

He held a petite but ornately carved white pipe in one hand.

I didn’t take him for a person who smoked, but vices often went hand in hand like that.

Whatever he was smoking didn’t smell bad—herbal, like thyme, rather than harsh like tobacco or marijuana.

“Do you need help with yours?” I wasn’t sure if he even had a tent .

He shook his head, gesturing vaguely to a pile of brush nearby. “I never cared for this kind of shelter. I prefer sleeping out in the open.” His tone turned flirtatious. “If you wanted to try it, you’d be more than welcome to join me in my nest. There’s plenty of space.”

“And waste all my hard work?” I indicated the stakes tying down the structure. “Thanks, but I think I’ll stick with my tent. Smaller chance of wild animals getting into my things. Or something falling on my head while I sleep.”

“Mm.” Luthri took a long, thoughtful pull from his pipe. Upon noticing my curiosity, he offered it to me. “ Mensa leaf. Have you had it before?” I shook my head, and he continued. “It relaxes the mind and body. I find that it helps me sleep.”

“Ah. I prefer to stay sharp.” We were in an unfamiliar area and didn’t have much but the clothes on our backs. Though I’d dismissed it at the time, Vyrain’s warning about bandits hung heavy in some part of my mind. Best to stay alert and on guard.

“How are your feet?” Luthri asked then.

I blinked at the change of subject. “Fine.”

His yellow eyes smoldered in the darkness.

They captured mine, unblinking, and for a moment, I was a fly caught for an eternity in amber.

The inhuman shape and color gave off a hypnotic intensity, as if he could see into my soul and steal secrets from its depths.

It should have set me on edge. Strangely enough, it didn’t.

“I could massage them for you if you like,” Lu murmured, tipping the burnt remains of mensa leaf from his pipe and stamping them into the dirt without looking down. “I’ve been told I’m good with my hands. Among other things.”

They were nice hands. Shapely, strong, but with a delicate touch.

Square joints and understated veins. A hint of dark hair on his knuckles and forearms. The state of his body conveyed an intimate familiarity with physical activity, so I got the feeling that he wasn’t a stranger to hard work.

Would his hands be calloused and rough? Surely you didn’t get a build like that from a life of leisure and sex.

Lu ran his thumb along the edge of the pipe bowl, wiping away a bit of ash. The movement was innocent. His expression was anything but.

Ahh… So this was an expert’s seduction.

An artificially sweet voice came from my right, breaking the spell before it had the chance to dig too deep. “So kind of you to offer. I’d love a foot massage.”

I dragged my attention away from Luthri’s mesmerizing gaze to find Vyrain watching us, arms crossed. He and Hohem had finished with their tents. By the look of it, Yrra and Daethie were sharing one, and they’d already disappeared inside for the night.

Merda, that was close . I’d never been so grateful for an interruption.

Lu broke into a grin and disappeared his pipe with a flourish. “Of course. I live to serve.” He made to step forward, and Vyrain leapt back, raising his hands as though to ward off evil.

I rolled my eyes at their antics. “Quit it. Get some rest. We’ve got another long day tomorrow, and another one after that. If you find that you have energy to spare, put it toward something useful, like fetching water or foraging for something fresh to eat.”

Hohem clapped his brother on the shoulder. “You heard the lady,” he said brightly. “Get some rest. You can get right back to it in the morning.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Vyrain shook off his brother’s hand and met my eyes, his expression earnest. “Good night, Mar. Sleep well. Give me a shout if you need anything.”

“Yeah, thanks. Same to you.”

Luthri lingered until they’d entered their tents.

“Did you need something?” I asked as I unlatched the door flap of mine.

“Not at all,” he replied quietly. “Have a good night, Mar.”

His gaze had lost some of its intensity, but I still hesitated to look him in the eyes now that I knew the danger they posed. I would need to tread carefully. “You too.”

When he made no move to leave, I gave him an awkward wave and ducked into my tent.

Normally, I slept half-naked, but I wasn’t about to do that here.

Not when I might need to fight off bandits or amorous advances in the middle of the night.

Instead, I unrolled my little mat and blanket, fluffed my bag to serve as a pillow, and climbed into bed fully clothed.

It wasn’t ideal, but we didn’t have the luxury of baths and fresh clothes every day while on the road.

Faint rustling sounded outside—Luthri getting into his nest, most likely.

I liked to think I was good at figuring people out.

Observing others had been a large part of my training at the White House, in preparation for using my powers to gain intel for the government.

The more I could figure out about someone’s motives from their speech and mannerisms, the easier it was to pretend to be them.

Lu… He had his annoying moments, and he had his amusing ones.

Beyond that, I had nothing of substance.

Was he actually here because he wanted to sleep with me, risking his life to gain notches for his bedpost?

Or did he have another, more nefarious motive behind his actions?

Who was the man behind the winks and quips?

It would take patience, but I could crack him given time.

People were all the same, after all. At their core, they were all motivated by some self-serving force—money or power, usually.

Whatever Lu was after, he wouldn’t get it from me.

I’d been taken advantage of before, but I’d been weak.

Now, I knew better. I knew the signs. And I knew not to let my guard down, no matter how things might seem.

If bedroom eyes were his trump card, he’d have to try a lot harder.