Page 60 of A Fate so Cruel

She jabbed him with her finger and for a moment, Rion’s heart jolted. He half pulled away, expecting to see a knife protruding from his ribs, but—

“Relax, geez.” His heart wouldn’t stop thundering. “Maybe you need to do more group missions, forget that solo life for a while. Get out in the field and you’ll bed a female or two.”

Rion was certain his face had turned another color entirely. He cursed the way his heart skipped and damned the thing for pounding so hard. Rion tried clearing his throat and prayed his voice wouldn’t betray him. “I suppose you’ve bedded your share of males?” A flash of anger rose in him and she laughed, that beautiful voice carrying over the vast open field.

Rion was certain it wasn’t part of her façade as she said, “Males are always so territorial.” He bit the inside of his cheek. Selina continued. “Males, a female or two just to experiment. I’ve had my share of lovers, but none worth introducing to my family.”

“Why not?”

She scoffed. “Because my uncle has certain . . . expectations.” Not father. She wrinkled her nose. “He’s too protective, as most males are, and won’t approve of a match that is anything below his standards.”

“I’ll be sure to be on my best behavior then.”

Selina smirked. “If we succeed and you make a good show of it, perhaps I’ll put in a good word to some females back home.” She playfully nudged him with her shoulder. “Maybe land you a real date.”

A date. With a female. The thought was absurd. Anyone with him would just be another target for assassins. He was sure that would be a good conversation starter.

But no matter how ridiculous it sounded, the image of him walking the streets of Nàdair with a beautiful female at his side sounded . . . nice. To take her to dinner. Talk to her about plant life and possibly even chess if she was interested. To open doors for her. Treat her. Please her.

A fantasy. But a nice one nonetheless.

He glanced down at Selina and found her smiling back. She had her arm looped through his, her hand resting lightly against his bare forearm. The feel of her calloused palm had his heart racing all over again. Maybe, just maybe, he would be permitted something good for a change.

The only problem was that he didn’t want another female. He was happy with this. With her. “I’ll make sure my acting is sublime.”

The white pillars of the city gates reflected the sun. Intricately carved vines raced up the marble columns, a structure made to resemble the palace halls in Nàdair.

The sentries stationed at the gate appeared bored as they leaned against those very pillars, passing cards between one another. Their swords were sheathed and a few bottles rested against the marble.

It took far too long for one of them to look up, but when the male at the far end cared to glance their way, he scrambled to his feet, knocking over the bottle that had been resting againsthis knee. The contents spilled onto his companion’s boot and the male cursed at his friend before following his gaze.

At Selina’s request, Rion already had his sand up, billowing around them both in a display of power. He kept the grains from touching her though, just in case she didn’t welcome the feel of his magic.

The first guard kicked a third who was still kneeling in the dirt with a pair of dice in his hand. The male gave his companion a vulgar gesture, then followed his eyes and jerked upright. He swayed a bit on his feet and Rion noted the bottle he tried to scoot out of sight with one foot.

“M-my Lord,” the first said, his voice shaking. The male swallowed hard as Rion surveyed them, then their game, and finally the liquor that littered the ground. Far too many bottles for a single day. No wonder this place was on Selina’s list. It would be easy for a rebel faction to infiltrate it. They probably let anyone through the gates without question, or were paid to look the other way.

If he’d been here for any other reason, Rion would have reprimanded them, likely fired them, and assigned new guards. But he wasn’t here for that today.

“At ease,” Rion said, keeping his voice as calm as he could manage. Something in him demanded he protect the female at his side, even if he knew she could protect herself. “I’m here on pleasure.” None of them relaxed. Rion eyed the bottles again and they shifted nervously. “I trust I’ll not be disrupted by,” he searched for the word, “unnecessary disturbances during my visit?”

The first male nodded again. He seemed to be the only one capable of doing anything. “You have our word.” He bowed at the waist and after a moment of hesitation—or perhaps a delay in their ability to think clearly—the others did the same.

Rion forced a smile. “Good.” He made a show of looking Selina over and she offered him a smile in return. It wasn’t entirely for show when Rion’s gaze traveled to her lips, then the alluring curve of her throat before he said, “Enjoy the rest of your day then.”

Rion forced himself to walk through the gates at a leisurely pace. Selina rested her head against his shoulder and he tried to keep his heart steady. The guards said nothing, but he could feel their stares burning into his back until they were out of earshot.

“I think you’ve undersold yourself,” she whispered. “You’re quite the actor.” He didn’t mention that some things weren’t entirely an act.

They ambled down the busy street and Rion watched as Fae scrambled from his presence. Word of his arrival would spread quickly, which was what Selina hoped for. She wanted the governor to call on them. The male was first on her long list of suspects.

Fingers pointed and a few couples walked down side streets to avoid him. He clenched his jaw when they stared at Selina then whispered about the way she held him.

A warrior reached for his weapon on their left. Rion pinned him with a stare and the male froze, confusion written all over his face.

Selina patted Rion’s arm. “Now, now, we’re here for a bit of fun, remember?” She said it loud enough for those in the immediate vicinity to hear. As if she were the only one in the world who could quell the monster in their midst.

Another male reached for a weapon. Two more flinched. Rion braced himself, ready to protect Selina at any cost, but then the female was in front of him, staring into his eyes with a sweet, disarming smile. Rion’s breath hitched. He was paralyzed.Frozen in time and space as she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck.

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