Page 149 of A Dawn of Gods & Fury

“I thought you said it was a funny story,” Annika says.

“On second thought, I guess it wasn’t much of one. Hold this.” I hand her the end of the first braid, her fingertips grazing across mine. Using a dagger to slice off a piece of hemp string from one of the crates, I secure her hair and move on to another section.

“She could not help what happened after the madness took over.”

“I know.” And yet it shattered my young heart all the same.

Annika turns, giving me her profile. “Is that why you hate elementals?”

“Hate is a strong word. But I certainly keep my distance from them. From all casters, really. And after Gesine and Ianca conspired against Ybaris, can you blame me?” To what end, I would love to know.

“I suppose not.”

My fingers work deftly through Annika’s hair as the wagon bumps along. Little by little, she relaxes, until she leans, her shoulder blades resting against my inner thighs. Because I love testing her boundaries, I take every opportunity to skate a fingertip across her bare skin.

She doesn’t complain.

Destry stirs as I’m finishing off the last plait—a thick braid that combines all the smaller ones. She pulls herself up off the wagon floor to peer at us through squinted eyes. The wood’s grain has indented her cheeks.

“Good morning.” I smile. “How much do you remember from last night?”

“Other than the kal’ana escaping from the temple? A bit here and there.”

“At least you remember the important things.”

Destry’s face pinches. She looks likes she may vomit as she pushes past us in the tiny space, clambering through the curtain. She exchanges words with the driver in their tongue while Annika and I swap amused expressions.

Finally, she slips back, taking a seat on the crate Annika occupied—the only one available. She closes her eyes.

“What did he have to say?” I ask.

“We should reach Garm’s Pass at nightfall. There is a small village there with a place to sleep.”

“Can’t we just keep going?” Annika asks.

“If you enjoy laming horses.” Destry cracks an eyelid. “That won’t work. She is too pretty. You would be better off shearing her. Even that might not help.”

“Shearing me?” Annika’s tone is rank with indignation. “What am I, a sheep?”

Destry rubs her forehead, revealing the faded ink. She shutters her eyes once again.

Annika’s body is tense as she glares up at me in a “Why did you saddle me with this idiot?” way. “What are we supposed to do?”

“Don’t worry. I will smear dung on your face and teach you to walk with a hunch.”

She rolls her eyes, but I catch the corner of her smile as she turns back to Destry. “So, you are one of these Azyr?”

“Not anymore,” comes the croaky reply in that harsh accent.

“What can you do?”

“Sleep, drink, and pretend I was never one of them.”

“She was friendlier last night,” I mock whisper. “What do you know of our driver, Destry?”

“He is Ezra, Ledric’s brother. She is Uda, his niece.”

“Yes, that was established. What else?”

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