Page 187 of A Dawn of Gods & Fury

My anger simmers.

The fruit merchant passes me a small pouch of the berries with a nod of thanks.

“Hold this for a moment, please.” I hand it to Destry. Unsheathing a short dagger from my belt, I stroll past the guards who laugh and gnaw on their pilfered goods, using my affinity to splinter a wooden post that holds up an awning. It comes crashing down, distracting them for the split second I need to slice the leather strap securing the guard’s coin purse.

Really, the fool made it too easy.

While the guards attempt to make sense of what happened, I mosey up to the kid, pointing at the smoked sausage and holding up three fingers.

His jaw drops as I slip more than enough to cover it and what the guards stole. With a wink, I move on.

Destry scrambles to catch up with me. “You enjoy tempting fate.”

“No, I enjoy delivering fortune, both good and bad, depending on the person. Here.” I fill her pocket with coins before securing the purse inside my cloak. “May you drink all the ale your tiny body can handle and not tumble off your stool.”

She mutters something in her own language but then flashes me a toothy smile.

50

Annika

The last rays of a setting sun flood in through the window, illuminating my naked flesh beneath the water’s surface. I was not impressed with this attic room when the innkeeper’s nosy wife first led us in, with all its dust and cheap fabrics and tiny bed. But it grows on me the longer I soak in the tub. One might even call the little nook charming.

I hold the bar of soap up to my nose, trying to pinpoint the scent. Rose, definitely. Verbena maybe? And … I inhale again. Is that pepper?

Whatever the combination, the rich lather smooths onto my skin like butter to wash away the stickiness from last night’s honey. I think I’ve gotten it all off.

Fates, I cannot believe I allowed that to happen with Tyree. Of all people!

And then he spent the day not letting me forget it, not that I ever could.

I smile as I think of our time in the barn loft, how forthright he was with his compliments, how revering he was with his hands and his mouth.

If I didn’t know better, I would think the Ybarisan prince might care for me. What a wild turn of events that would be. Oh, how my brothers would disapprove. But I would quickly remind them that one of them gave up his kingdom for Tyree’s co-conspirator, and the other was courting a servant.

Not that I will get to feel my twin’s disappointment. Atticus is very likely dead, a thought that stirs my melancholy. Perhaps I should have made more of an effort with him.

The only warning I get is a clicking sound before the door suddenly swings open.

I sit up with a start, ready to lunge for my dagger in case of an attack.

In strolls Tyree, his cloak’s hood pushed back.

My shoulders sink with relief. Quickly following it is annoyance. “How did you get in? I locked that from the inside.”

He pushes the door shut and latches it. “Have you forgotten what I’m capable of?”

Right. The metal would be easy enough for him to manipulate with his affinity. “No, I am well aware.”

He flaunts that sexy, crooked smile that makes my heart skip a beat now.

“What are you hiding behind your back?” His left arm hasn’t appeared since he stepped in.

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” His eyes touch my bare shoulders, and I see the lust spark in them.

“Fine, don’t tell me.” I make a point of turning around and settling back as if having Tyree in our chamber while I’m bathing has no effect on me. “I am tired of games.”

“You are tired of games.” His deep chuckle vibrates in my chest, but I ignore it and pretend that the way the floor creaks as he approaches doesn’t affect me at all. Meanwhile, my pulse races as he moves in behind me where he surely has a prime view of my body in the tub under the waning sunlight. “You’ve unraveled your braids.”

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