Page 130 of Rogue Elves of Ardani

“Should I politely beat around the bush?” he said. “Or should I just tell you right now that you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen and that I’d kill to bed you?”

Crow raised her eyebrows. Normally, she would have happily flirted back. But lately, this game had lost its appeal.

“That sounds like an exaggeration,” she said. “You should try coming on a little less strong. It’ll make you seem more sincere.”

“Good advice,” he said, smiling. “I’m on leave from work for the next two days. I’m looking for something fun to do.”

“Something? Or someone?”

“What do you think?”

She looked away, tiring of the exchange and not knowing how to politely end it. She was less experienced with finishing conversations like this than she was with starting them.

“I’ve got a room,” he said, as if that were the most enticing prospect imaginable.

“Do you?” she said disinterestedly.

He gently took her by the chin and made her look at him. “I do. I think you’d like to join me.”

She was so taken aback and insulted by his forwardness that she didn’t react at first. “I… No, I would not.”

He frowned. “Why not?” he said, sounding genuinely surprised. He hadn’t let go of her.

Abruptly, another man appeared at the side of the table and shoved him aside—not gently.

The blonde stumbled into the table full of monks, nearly knocking it over. He whirled to face the newcomer. “What in the hells?”

“Keep moving,” growled the other one, staring him down.

The blonde shot another glance at Crow, then threw his hands up and went back to the bar.

Crow raised an eyebrow at the new man in front of her. He looked back, his face hard and unreadable.

It was like looking in a mirror. He had the same unusual dusky gold skin she did, the same hazel eyes and black hair.

He’d changed his face completely. But she would have known it was Vaara even if she hadn’t been anticipating his arrival. Even if she hadn’t known about Aruna’s glamour spell. Even if he hadn’t boasted a combination of physical features she’d never seen in anyone but herself. There was something in his expression, in the way he held himself, in the way he looked at her, that was undeniably him.

He’d taken every part of her and changed it slightly, masculinized it, until it looked like they were both members of the same imaginary race.

It made her feel something, looking at him. She hadn’t been ready for it, and she was surprised by the sudden bubbling of sadness and warmth it spawned in her heart.

He sat down across from her without saying anything.

“What was that?” she said. “You think you have the right to stop me from talking to people?”

He shrugged. “It looked like he was bothering you.” His voice remained his own. It was odd watching it come out of a stranger’s mouth.

She looked at him for a long time, mesmerized by the strange familiarity of his new face and coloring. He’d given himself back his other eye and smoothed out his scars.

“Why do you look like me?” she asked.

“I can’t very well look like myself here, can I?” he said.

Crow waited. The noise of the inn pressed in around them. Vaara’s eyes never broke contact with hers.

“I can look like whatever I want with this spell,” he said. “So I made myself look like something beautiful.”

She stared at him. Her eyes started tearing up, and a lump formed in her throat. Finally, she looked away.

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