Page 20 of Between Realms

Tears well in my eyes. He’s so much more understanding than I expected.

In the tavern, we each order a plate of eggs, freshly baked bread, and roasted vegetables.

I pull my money purse from my pack.

“I’m paying for this meal,” Oakes states firmly.

“I can pay,” I protest. “You have already paid for a roomanda horse because of me.”

“Had I kept a better eye on you, you wouldn’t have been injured.” Oakes grits his teeth but speaks softly. “I promised you a safe passage to Ryven, and I failed.”

I pat his arm, craving contact with him again already. Then I push two coins toward the innkeeper for the meal fee. “I appreciate your help, but I’mnotyour responsibility.”

Oakes nods, but something in his eyes shows his frustration with my claim.

The innkeeper raises an eyebrow at our interaction but leaves without comment.

A moment after our meals arrive, a male elf wanders by our table, staring daggers at me. I don’t notice the male’s attention much since I have grown up with unwanted stares until the elf mutters, “Fecking dirty humans.”

Oakes growls at the male.

The elf stops when he notes Oakes’ hostility and asks, “What’sitdoing in here?”

“Keep moving.” Oakes waves him off. “There’s no law against an establishment serving a mortal.”

Hurriedly, I shovel my food into my mouth, barely chewing. I don’t need a fight to break out over my presence. That sort of thing will seal my future with the courts. “It’s fine. I’m done. I’ll meet you outside,” I mutter to Oakes as I stand up and head to the door leading to the street.

I move so fast that Oakes watches from the opposite side of the table, confusion filling his face.

When it dawns on him I’m leaving, he calls out, “Wait.”

In two strides, the rude elf sneaks up on me and trips me from behind.

I face-plant on the floor with a loud thud. The room echoes with snickering and outright laughter.

As I try to get up, the elf kicks me in the side.

I curl up and am about to plead for him to stop, when the bully is tossed through the air. I turn to see the violet-eyed elf from the day before as the cause.

He glances down at me, then charges at the recovering elf, shoving him against the wall.

Oakes snatches me up into his arms like a doll pinned to his side and carries me outside.

“Was that your acquaintance from yesterday?” I ask, trying to peer over Oakes’ broad shoulders. “Where did he come from?”

“He walked in right as the male attacked you.”

“Oh.”

“I was too slow to realize what was happening,” Oakes growls.

“Well, in hindsight, I shouldn’t have run out like that.” My face flushes with embarrassment as Oakes parades me down the street in his arms. “I can walk.”

He ignores my claim and hurries to the stables. Without missing a beat, he sets me on a horse in one of the stalls. “We should go.”

Oakes has already saddled it, probably from when he ducked out earlier.

“I didn’t mean to cause a scene.” I rub my bruised elbows from the fall and wince with the sharp pain in my side from the kick. “You should go help your friend. Don’t worry about me. What if others attack him for helping a mortal?”

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