Page 43 of Stars in Mist

Her gaze flew to thekahawapot, set over it, then to the plates of fried cakes on the ground next.

Back to his hands and feet, free of the energy bands she’d tightened herself.

‘What in Devansi hell?’

She cursed, scrabbling for her weapon. Not finding it by her side, she darted her eyes around and found it between them.

She froze.

Her eyes tracked back to his amused gaze.

He raised a brow and spoke, soft and smooth as silk. ‘Care to break your fast?’

‘How did you -?’

Her voice was a raw whisper.

‘Like I said, they were uncomfortable and may also have malfunctioned during my tossing and turning.’

His lips were upturned, the glint in his eye almost too lively.

‘Bull shit.’

His eyes met hers, and once more, she was flooded with a sense of deep familiarity.

It was overridden with annoyance at her naivete and his sheer balls.

Somehow, he’d freed himself of the manacles.

He’d have walked out on her if he’d so wished. Or worse still, put a laser beam through her skull to end her.

She knew it. He knew it.

Yet he’d stayed.

He’d made a power play, and in that instant, she realise she had no leverage with him.

She leaned over for her weapon.

His keen eyes tracked the reach with a twitch to his lips. He wasn’t scared of her.

She hadn’t thought of that.

As she sat up and eased her laser into its holster, she kept her eyes on him.

She didn’t dare relax her guard even though he smiled at her. She had to make sure he didn’t try to run. For her sake, but more so for her most precious possession.

Because Ribau was their only hope of getting back to Katáne.

He cast his eyes back at the fire and stirred the kahawa, which smelled so enticing that she groaned.

With his probing eyes gone, she sighed in relief, part in wanting more of how he’d stared at her since they’d met. It sent shivers down her spine that were alarming as well as delicious.

His intent, laser-like gaze cut through her being, her inner soul, past the high barriers and walls she’d built over the years, blitzing through her frigid hardness.

Tugging on her boots, she wondered about the reversal of their power. She hadn’t considered the possibility that he might be dangerous to her.

There was something about him in his stance’s coiled energy and stride’s drive. Also, his casual cheerfulness told her he was not quite the flawed hunter he’d portrayed himself as.

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