Page 154 of A Dawn of Gods & Fury

“From one of the bandits.”

“You are giving me a dead thief’s clothes?” I stare up at him, appalled.

“Why not?” He shrugs. “He doesn’t need them anymore.”

“If my mother could only see this now …” Though, I imagine she’d take issue with more than ratty old garments.

“What are you two to each other?” Destry asks, her eyes still that eerie black.

“She’s my betrothed,” Tyree says while I blurt, “He abducted me.”

She studies us for a beat. “So, it is complicated.”

“You could call it that.” Tyree chuckles. “What did you do back there, with the crows?”

“I used the light to guide them. It is a handy trick of the conjurers, both for defense and for information.”

“You’re all able to do this?”

“Yes, to varying degrees. If you see a small green bird following, it means the Azyr have found us.”

A shudder runs down my spine. “I do not think I like Udrel much.”

“We will be gone from here soon.” Tyree reaches down to squeeze my shoulder as he has done before, but this time his hand lingers, his thumb stroking over the back of my neck.

Reminding me yet again that he kissed me.

That Ybarisan mongrel kissed me.

And I didn’t hate it.

Tyree opens the curtain, revealing the wooden gate ahead and the thatched roof cottage beyond, firelight glowing from within its windows. “Whose home is this?”

Destry calls out in their language and after a lengthy rambled answer from Ezra, she says, “A merchant and one of Ezra’s best customers in Garm’s Pass. He is always good for many jars.”

“I hope not too many,” Tyree grumbles. “We need as much cover as possible.”

“Speak for yourself. I cannot wait to get out of this thing. I am desperate for a hot meal, a warm bath, and a soft bed.” The day has been long, the journey cramped, but at least we’ve reached our destination with no more attacks.

“You will get none of those tonight. Ezra does not wish to risk his friend’s life by knowing too much. You two will stay in the barn with the horses and the wagon.”

My mouth gapes. “The barn?”

Tyree bursts with laughter at my reaction.

“Shut up.” I swat his thigh.

“What? It’s better than a metal net dangling twenty feet in the air.”

“Also better than the pool of life,” Destry adds, killing his mirth.

A gruff male voice sounds outside, and she puts her finger to her mouth, silencing us.

The mortals fall into jovial conversation, Ezra laughing several times, as if he didn’t kill three bandits today and doesn’t have two highly sought-after fugitives hiding in here.

I hold my breath as the canvas flaps at the back and the men shuffle crates, the glass clanking as they unload.

Tyree’s hand clamps around his dagger, but Destry scowls and waves him off as the men go about their work. Thankfully, there are still two rows of boxes when they finish and our hiding place remains secure.

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