Page 102 of Scourged

“Hi,” he murmured back. His brown hair was short and neat, his hands slipped too casually into his pockets. Through his shirt, she could see the lines of the warrior’s body hiding beneath his polished, studious exterior, his stance too solid to be anything other than that of a man trained to be always on alert.

Gods, he was handsome. All the men in Mariah’s Armature were attractive, but something about Sebastian tugged at Ciana’s gut in an uncomfortable, unfamiliar way. The way he was kind, but strong and smart and masculine …

Heat burned in her cheeks. What was she thinking? This was her friend.

Justher friend.

Just her kind, handsome friend with dark hair, a sweet smile, and great abs.

Ciana had been used by men all her life. She was still plagued by nightmares and mourned the loss of her childhood and innocence. Men had never made her comfortable, and she’d long resigned herself to a life on her own.

The thought of feeling anything genuine toward a man was like a silly little fantasy. Trust one of those monsters? Never.

But there she stood, smiling like an idiot up at a man she’d learned to trust over a few too many late nights while sharing the finest bottles of palace wine. A man who had listened as she shared all her dark, poisonous secrets. Who’d helped her adjust to a new life and had never once shied away from the things she shared. Had never once made her feel anything less thanher.

Not that anything more than friendship would—could—ever happen between them. Despite whatever bond they built, Sebastian was still Mariah’s. His soul was bonded to hers for eternity. He would live hundreds of years by her side, forever young and strong, while Ciana would grow old and eventually leave this earth the same way she’d entered it.

Alone.

Sebastian chuckled softly and she blinked up at him in surprise. He pushed off the door frame, straightening his shoulders.

“Ready to get that beer?”

“How,exactly, did you find this place?”

Ciana tossed her head, golden ringlets spilling around her shoulders. The sun was out and shining today, and she reveledin the warmth on her skin, her dour thoughts from earlier long suppressed behind her familiar radiant mask.

“It’s a long story. Maybe one for another day.” She shot Sebastian a glance, tossing him a wink. “Or perhaps, after I have that beer in front of me.”

A grin tugged at Sebastian’s lips. “It’s quite an interesting name. Unusual for an establishment in the golden city to be called The Silver Moon.”

Ciana nodded, somewhat absently. She’d remembered thinking the same thing the day she and Delaynie first stumbled upon this place.

So much had changed since then, and yet so much was the same. Mariah was back, and she was safe, but things still felt so uncertain. Not only with theallumeissues causing hysteria in the city, but the angry conversations she’d shared with Sebastian. About the way a wall still felt like it existed between them despite his relaxed demeanor.

She forced a bright smile. “The ale is the best in the city. The name is just a bonus.” She grabbed Sebastian’s forearm, trying not to think about the way the muscles there tensed and flexed under his skin or the way heat coursed through her from where they touched, and pulled him toward the awning and through the door.

The tavern was much the same as she’d remembered it—bright and warm,allumelights overhead illuminating the polished bar and long rows of tables. However, unlike the last time she’d been here, the tavern was packed nearly to the brim with off-duty soldiers and other city patrons alike, the loudness of their comfortable chatter wrapping around her like an old friend.

“Girl!” a female voice rang out over the din.

Beva stood behind the bar with a broad grin stretched across her warm face, four full pints of ale in her hands, and twodishtowels slung across her shoulders. The barkeep set the mugs down, pushing them toward the patrons, before waving Ciana towards the other end of the bar. Ciana followed her pointing and spotted two stools tucked neatly at the end, the last open spots.

“C’mon,” she said brightly to Sebastian, sliding her hand down his forearm and latching onto his hand. She once again tried not to think about the way her cheeks flushed and her core burned a touch hotter when his fingers curled around hers as he let her drag him through the throngs of boisterous patrons.

It only took a few moments of maneuvering before Ciana was pulling herself into one of the open stools, dropping—somewhat unwillingly—Sebastian’s hand in the process. She forced herself to fold them neatly on the bar, waiting for Beva to finish her round. Sebastian settled onto the stool beside her, his thigh brushing hers.

The silence between them was a little awkward, but just as Ciana was about to turn to Sebastian, Beva appeared.

“I was wondering when I’d see you again, blondie! Should I pour you the good gin, same as before?”

Ciana ignored the look Sebastian shot her, eyebrows raised. She smiled sweetly at the barkeep, fingers drumming on the polished wood.

“Not today, Beva. We’re here for a few pints of your coldest ale.”

Beva’s attention turned to Sebastian, surveying him with that same sharp, too-perceptive stare. “Is this him? The boy?”

This time, it was embarrassment that made Ciana’s cheeks flush with burning heat. She was sure even the tips of her ears turned scarlet and was glad they were hidden beneath her full-bodied curls.

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