Page 61 of The Heir's Bargain

I reached out, finding the strands connecting to Moris and Sylvia's minds. I chuckled as Sylvia's thoughts filtered into my mind.

How cute.

Meanwhile, Moris' thoughts were less sweet and more set on some woman in the bar.

I quickly released that thread.

I nodded. "However, let me tell you. Moris’ mind? It’s not a place I want to spend much time in."

Dani chuckled, the previous tension breaking. "Not surprising. Moris is a buffoon. A good soldier, but clueless at times," Dani said, shifting on her feet. She glanced over my shoulder. "Well, now that that's over. . ."

I pushed myself off the wall and stepped back, brushing my fingers through my hair. "Right. Well. . .same time next week?" I asked.

"Huh?"

"You come here every week after training, don't you? At least that's what Sylvia said."

"Oh, right," she said, nodding. "Yeah, sure. Same time next week."

"Great."

"Great."

For a moment, we stood there like that. Gazes locking and unlocking. Until Dani offered a quick nod before pushing herself off the wall and heading toward the door. A utility belt hung off her hip, and as I watched it dip as her hips swayed, I wondered how close I had been to being stabbed with one of the throwing knives strapped to it.

The door swung behind her, the bell atop the door ringing. I tracked her through the windows as she returned to the table. Sylvia smiled at Dani, slapping her playfully on the arm. When I tried to slip into Dani's thoughts, her shields were still up and reinforced with steel.

Shaking my head, I stuffed my hands in my pockets and turned away, heading down the street toward the castle. Before I had entered the tavern that night, I had told the guards not to wait up. Now, I was thankful for the foresight because the light breeze was a blessing on my heated skin.

When I licked my lips, the taste of ale and something sweet lingered there.

The kiss had lasted barely more than a second, and yet my chest tightened as I recalled the warmth of my best friend's lips on mine.

Chapter 14

DANI

"I know you said you and Fynn were courting, but until the other night, I didn't believe you."

"Why not?" I asked Sylvia as we ran down the worn path.

Three days had passed since Fynn had shown up at the tavern. For the past two days, I had been with my father at one of the military schools in the north, overseeing the cadets' training. Every year, the commander took time out of his schedule to lead at least one weekend of the training. He believed getting a first look at the cadets and seeing the potential tracks for each recruit was important. I had been tagging along for years, at first simply as a daughter, but now I went as a leader. I also wanted to know who would soon be under my wing.

During our short trip, I had expected my father to ask about my relationship with Fynn at least once, but he hadn't. While I was not completely surprised, for my father had always avoided the topic of me courting anyone, I had thought my mother would have forced him to inquire about it. Still, I was grateful for the reprieve. Two days without my faux-courtship as the focal point of the conversation was a blessing granted by the gods themselves.

The break, apparently, was short-lived.

Sylvia huffed, pushing back the auburn strands of hair that had fallen from their low bun. "You're not the courting type, Ferrios."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Sylvia waved me off. "You're so focused on your training. You've never given yourself time to court anyone. How often have I tried to set you up with one of my friends from my village?"

"Too many to count," I mumbled.

"Exactly. And every time you said you were too busy for a relationship."

"I am!"

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