Page 35 of The Last Heir of Elsewhere

The moment I’d finished eating, my exhaustion finally caught up with me. Against my better judgment, I allowed the talkative barman to lead me up to my room, with the princes trailing invisible behind us like stalking shadows.

Now, I stood in front of the door to my chamber, waiting for the barman to step aside. Instead, he remained rooted to the spot, seeming entirely unaware that I wanted nothing more than to be rid of him.

Pushing lank hair from his eyes, the man shifted on his feet. “So, where did you come from?”

“The city,” I replied vaguely, not clarifying which one. “I’m quite tired though, so if you could just…”

“Will you be staying long? If you’re spending more than one night, I could?—”

“I’m leaving early in the morning,” I cut him off. “Now, excuse me.”

Not caring much how rude I seemed, I elbowed my way past him to open the door of the room. I held it open wider than necessary, allowing the princes to slip in behind me.

“Goodnight.” The barman grinned suggestively. “Just shout if you needanything.”

Behind me, Scion made an angry sound in the back of his throat. I coughed to cover the sound, and slammed the door shut in the man’s face without so much as returning his “goodnight.” Bolting the door behind me, I slumped against the wall in exhausted relief.

“Want me to kill him, little monster?” Bael asked, striding over to the bed.

I glared at him. “I truly hope you are joking. You can’t murder every person who annoys you.”

His lips curled into a mischievous grin, and he gave me a playful wink. “I could, but I won’t as long as he stays downstairs where he belongs.”

I shook my head, and gestured down at my dirt stained and bloody clothing. I’d yet to find a mirror, but I was sure my face looked no better. “How anyone could be interested in me when I look like this is the great mystery of the age.”

“You really don’t see yourself clearly, rebel.” Scion said flatly.

I turned to look at him, where he still stood rigid by the door, but he’d averted his gaze to the floor.

Not knowing what to say to that, I instead surveyed the cramped bedroom. It was just as dilapidated as the rest of the inn and the dirty walls and creaky floorboards gave it a sense of neglect and abandonment. There was no tub, or even a basin for washing, but I had spotted a bathing room several doors down as we made our way down the hall. The real problem, then, was the small single bed pushed against the wall.

Bael sat down on the end of the bed to unlace his boots, and even sitting he looked too large to fit. I swallowed uncomfortably. Of course, it would have been impossible to ask for multiple beds, but now I wished I’d thought of a way. Would all three of us fit in such a small space? And if not, how would I choose who to leave out?

As if reading my mind, Scion cleared his throat. “It will be fine, rebel.”

My cheeks flushed with embarrassment and the room suddenly felt warmer. Suffocating.

So far, no one had commented on the hum of sexual tension hanging over all of us, and it didn’t seem as if the princes were likely to fight. But, if they were jealous over a bartender, how would it be if they got angry with each other? Or worse, with me? The world may never recover if these two truly fought, and I didn’t want to be the cause of that kind of destruction.

“I-I need to take a bath,” I stammered, hurrying toward the door.

“No,” Scion said fiercely, stepping sideways to block the door.

I stopped in my tracks, surprised by his sudden aggressiveness, and looked up at him sharply. “I must. I feel disgusting.”

“Deal with it. Over my dead fucking body are you going anywhere alone.”

“That’s ridiculous. I’m only going down the hall.”

Scion crossed his arms. “No.”

With a frustrated sigh, I turned back to Bael for help. His expression turned sour, and he avoided making eye contact with me. “He’s not wrong, little monster. That innkeeper seemed a little too curious about you, and we don’t know who else might be staying here.”

“He’s harmless, and I haven’t seen another living soul since we arrived.”

Bael fixed me with a hard stare. “I’m not willing to take that chance.

“Then one of you will have to come with me because I refuse to go to sleep covered in this.” I gestured at the blood and ash coating my skin.

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