Page 70 of A Kingdom of Fire and Fury
“You might as well do it or risk putting up with his pouting. Or worse, the disappointed look.” Amusement sparked in Kieran’s eyes.
Heaving a sigh, I left Gareth to his browsing and wandered down a few rows. Kieran trailed behind me, my silent and confusing bodyguard. I took a minute to study the books. It was all too overwhelming, and I couldn’t concentrate with Kieran looming over me.
The more I thought about it, the more it pissed me off. Why was he acting all chummy after ignoring me for so long? I spun on my heel. “What are you doing?”
He tried to close off his expression, but I saw it—the unease that dashed across his eyes before he could will it away. “Can’t we have a nice night out?”
The nerve of this man. I clenched my jaw. “Stop with the games, Kieran.”
He levelled me with a look. “What do you want me to say, Selena?”
A thrill shot down my spine at the use of my name. “Are you going back against your word?”
He stilled. “Of course not.”
I didn’t care that we were in the middle of the bookstore and that this conversation was probably better done in private. I got the feeling if I put it offnow, Kieran would keep running away. “Then why are you avoiding me? Why are you acting like I have some sort of disease? You’re being an asshole.”
His nostrils flared. “Stop.”
“Stop running away!” I took a deep breath and lowered my tone. “That night at the tower—”
“Don’t,” he growled, and shadows twitched at his heels, threatening to overwhelm me.
My heart squeezed in my ribcage. “Kieran—”
“The deal still stands, but we don’t have to be friends. We don’t have to be anything.”
“Except allies, right?” I couldn’t control the bitterness in my tone. For whatever godsforaken reason, I wanted to be his friend. The rejection was like a knife to the gut.
“Yes.” He glanced away. “You should pick out a book, or Gareth will harass you.”
It was even harder to ignore Kieran’s chilly presence as I studied the books.Whatever.I wouldn’t chase after Kieran anymore, and I’d ignore the pang in my chest his distance brought. I wished I could smack Gareth across the face. I never should’ve gone along with his scenes. Energy itched under my skin. I needed to get out of here.
I spared one last look at the books. It’d be easier to gauge what I liked from something Gareth recommended, because there were too many options here, and I had no idea what I might like. Eventually, we went to the nonfiction section. As I ran my fingers along the spines of the books, a title stood out:100 Places to See in Lusadia.
I paused for only the briefest of seconds before continuing on until I hovered a few feet from the shopkeeper. “I’d rather have Gareth give me something secondhand. I don’t have a preference.” I could’ve picked that book and yet… something about picking a book felt sopersonal.Like I was baring my soul to him. “And if he’s still upset, he can buy me one of the books if I like it or give me his copy.”
For once, I was grateful Kieran decided on restarting the silent treatment, because I didn’t want to talk to him, didn’t want to think about the effect he had on me.
Gareth frowned when he realized I had nothing in my hands. But my excuse seemed to satisfy him, and he went to the young shopkeeper.
“I absolutely love this one,” she murmured. It was the book Gareth had shown me earlier.
“Me too. I have a thing for stupidly stubborn people lowering their defenses. Maybe I’m a masochist. They stress me out half the time, but I keep coming back for more.”
“They’re sooo frustrating,” the woman agreed with a smile. “We have a lot of the same reads. You know, I have a book club with some friends. Would you be interested in joining?”
It warmed my heart to see the delight in Gareth’s eyes. His gloved hands shook as he put the books in his satchel. Kieran and I shared a warm look as Gareth exchanged raven information with the shopkeeper. Once Gareth paid, we moved to leave, but Kieranstrode toward the shopkeeper.
With a flick of Kieran’s hand, shadows pulsed underneath his fingertips and a book appeared on the table. The book had a massive painted map of Lusadia and the title:100 Places to See in Lusadia.I inhaled. “You don’t have to—”
Kieran didn’t look back at me. “I’m going to.”
“But—”
“Gods,” Gareth muttered, and the lady giggled. “Just let the poor lady do her job. We’re holding up the line.”
“There is no line,” the lady said cheerfully, and her eyes darted between us both.
