Page 2 of The Sword & the Stone

“Well, this wasquitethe adventure,” Merlin said too cheerfully, as if we weren’t huddled in a derelict barn while a thunderstorm raged outside. “Fleeing angry barkeeps, desperately searching for questionable shelter, and you scowling at me. It brings back memories.”

I shook my head. “Memories of you getting me into trouble, you mean.”

That was a lie, and I knew it. Sure, he was a troublemaker, but I wouldn’t pretend I didn’t get a thrill from picking pockets and swindling fools out of their coins. It was the best way we had to keep ourselves fed and clothed.

“Wasn’t it you who flirted with that poor barkeep for an hour before he finally took pity on you and poured you a free bowl of soup? I honestly pity the man.”

I inspected my nails, shrugging nonchalantly. “I don’t think I recall.”

The poor man hadn’t stood a chance, his pudgy cheeks flushing as I twirled my hair and giggled. The soup hadn’t been nearly as tasty as I’d hoped after that performance.

Merlin snorted, raking his fingers through his wet hair. “Still, it was my quick thinking that saved our skins back there.”

His “quick thinking” had involved juggling three pewter mugs with his magic, pretending it was pure skill while accidentally dousing a few surly-looking men—definitely mercenaries—in leftover ale. In the chaos that followed, we’d managed to slip away mostly unscathed. Mostly.

“You’re ridiculous, but I’ll give you that,” I conceded. “Just next time, warn me before you start enchanting the crockery. I nearly choked on my tongue when those mugs went flying.”

Merlin's eyes danced with mirth in the firelight. "Itwasclose this time, wasn’t it?"

I scowled at him, which only made him grin wider. Insufferable man.Myinsufferable man, a traitorous part of my mind whispered. I told it firmly to shut up.

A gust of wind rattled the roof, reminding me of the tempest raging outside our flimsy shelter. I sighed and tipped my head back, hoping the roof would stay intact until morning.

"Guess we're stuck here for the night. Might as well try to get some rest."

Merlin hummed in agreement, already shifting to stretch out on the hay-strewn floor beside me. His arm brushed against mine as he settled. I swallowed hard and tried to ignore the prickle of awareness skittering over my skin.

Outside, the storm raged on, the rain pounding relentlessly against the barn's leaky roof. But inside, cocooned by the crackling fire and Merlin's steady presence, I felt strangely safe.Content, even. It was a foreign feeling after years of scraping by on the streets, always looking over our shoulders.

I turned my head to study Merlin's profile, his angular features cast in dancing shadow and light. He had a smudge of dirt on his cheekbone and his dark hair curled damply against his neck and shoulders. But his eyes were vivid blue, his lips curved in that familiar crooked grin. He looked...beautiful.

Merlin caught me staring and quirked an eyebrow. "Something on my face, Wart?"

"Just a smudge of ugly," I shot back automatically, grateful for the dim light hiding my warming cheeks.

"And here I thought you kept me around for my devilish good looks."

"I keep you around because you're marginally useful. Occasionally."

"Ah,useful. Is that what we're calling it now?" He shifted onto his side to face me fully, head propped on his hand. The fire threw dancing shadows across the planes of his face. "I thought it was called sparkling wit and charming personality."

I snorted inelegantly. "In your dreams, wizard boy."

"You feature in my dreams quite often, Wart," he said, casual as can be even as my heart stuttered in my chest. "But I don't think you want to know what we get up to in those."

I swallowed hard, mouth suddenly dry. This was edging into dangerous territory, the kind we normally steered clear of. The kind I'd been trying very hard not to think about late at night, tangled in my bedroll and aching with want.

"Merlin..." It was a warning and a plea all tangled together. Something in my voice made his teasing grin soften into something more genuine, almost tender. It stole the breath from my lungs.

"Sorry, sorry," he said, not sounding sorry at all. "I'll behave. Wouldn't want to offend your delicate sensibilities."

I huffed a laugh. "I'll show you delicate, you menace."

Merlin sent me a wide-eyed, innocent look. "Promise?"

I groaned and covered my face with my hands, trying to hide the helpless grin spreading across my lips. "You're fucking impossible."

Merlin chuckled, the sound rich and warm in the drafty barn. "But you love me anyway."

---