Page 85 of Kingdom of Shadows and Wings

I blurt out the first topic that comes to mind. “Tell me what’s been happening with you. How is your family?”

At the mention of his loved ones, Royce’s face softens. “You’ll never guess what Sarah did last week.”

As he launches into a story about his youngest daughter’s antics, I start to relax. The last couple of weeks have been difficult, and it’s wonderful to forget about my problems for a bit.

“Aw, come on, sweetness, gimme a kiss, will ya?”

At the table nearest ours, a youngish man pulls a giggling serving girl onto his lap. Within seconds, they’re kissing as if they mean it and then some.

Despite Thorne’s earlier warning, he watches them as much as I do, his thigh pressing even harder against mine.

My insides warm as my thoughts run wild…showing me sliding onto Thorne’s lap, my arms around his shoulders, his palm covering my breast, our mouths welcoming each other, tongues dueling as we deepen our kiss until I don’t know where he ends and I begin.

Eyes closed, I pull in the deepest breath I can to calm myself. When I force my lids up, Thorne’s looking at me, his gaze intent, color deepened.

If I didn’t know better, I’d swear he could read my indecent thoughts.

He eases closer to me then stiffens, his gaze darting to the door.

Before I can turn, Thorne swings his legs over the seat and stands. “Excuse me.”

He joins a figure at the door who’s dressed in all black, the hooded cloak masking the stranger’s features. Based on their height and breadth of shoulders, I’m almost positive it’s a man.

They disappear into the darkness.

“If you don’t mind me asking, milady, since it’s none of my business…” Royce lifts his shoulders. “How long have you and Sterling been together?”

My face burns, but I force a laugh. “Me and Thorne? Together?” I wave my hands in front of myself. “No, you have us all wrong.”

Royce sips his ale, his eyes saying he knows I’m lying.

I should leave things at that, but I can’t. “He’s my flight instructor. To be honest, he despises me.”

Royce’s bushy gray eyebrows inch up. “Your definition of despise must be different than mine. That man watches you the way a mutt watches a roast chicken…like he wants to devour you.”

Heat floods my cheeks. I cover my eyes. “That’s…no. You’re mistaken.” Though part of me wishes he weren’t. “We annoy each other, Royce. Thorne’s bossy and loves yanking my chain.”

Poor Royce struggles not to smile. “Whatever yanking your chain is…do you like him doing that?”

Even though I do—because it proves Thorne has some feelings for me, including the mean ones at times—I’ll never admit as much.

I glance around, trying not to linger on the serving girls and men who’re making out as if they’re alone in a bedroom. “So that book you mentioned in your letter. From Peaches? Do you have it with you by chance?”

“Oh, yes, hold on.” Royce hops up, disappears behind the bar, and returns holding a book with deep blue binding. “Strangest thing. The book was sent from Flighthaven. It was addressed to Peaches, care of Royce, and had the tavern name. I figured I should let you know right away, since Leesa…you know. Any word on her whereabouts?”

I stroke the book. “Not yet, but I’m hoping this might help.” Though I’m dying to thumb through the pages in search of clues, I tuck the book into my cloak pocket.

Not a moment later, Thorne reappears at my side, pulling me off the plank seat. “Time to go. Good to meet you, Royce. Don’t worry, Axton and I will make certain your food pantry stays open, the constables and merchants don’t threaten you any longer, and everyone has enough to eat.”

Thorne hands Royce two gold coins for our drinks. It’s entirely too much money, and my heart can’t help but warm a little at the gesture. That warmth dies when he drags me out of the tavern like hellshounds are nipping at our heels and shushes me when I try to ask why.

Something clearly spooked him, but what?

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The tavern door shuts, muffling the boisterous voices within and replacing laughter with chirping crickets and the mournful hoots of a fanged owl.

I let Thorne drag me another few steps before digging my heels into the ground. “What’s the big hurry all of a sudden?”

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