Page 29 of Mirror of Malice
I stilled at his words. Bloody earth, maybe I needed a drink after all.
But everyone just booed, and I looked around, confused at what was happening.
“Oh no,” a woman with curly brown hair said. “We’re not working right now. This is our time. We can talk about the Huntsman tomorrow morning. One night off isn’t going to hurt anything.”
Shadow pointed at the scrolls on the table. “Brains is right. You can take those right back to your tent, Boss.”
Now this I could get behind. I wanted to know more about the Huntsman and his location, but it also delighted me far too much that no one was listening to Penn. His jaw locked as he stared at everyone, but no one touched the scrolls he’d thrown down. Finally, he gathered them up and dropped down next to me, grumbling about his disobedient thieves. Everyone eruptedin cheers and clinked their mugs together, while Penn just shook his head.
“The Boss rarely comes out with us,” Shadow whispered. “I wonder what could’ve brought him out tonight.” She stared at me like she knew exactly what had beckoned him, and I looked away.
“It sounds like he came to force you all to work.”
“Sure, work.”
I opened my mouth to make a retort, but she was now engaged in a heated discussion with another member of the academy, her gestures wild as they argued about who would win in a game of darts. No one to rescue me from the man sitting next to me.
I was trapped next to the king of thieves. I took a deep gulp of my ale as he lifted his satchel over his head and placed it next to him on the bench.
“I’m glad you decided to cut your hair so that it no longer resembles a nest,” Penn said. “You were far too noticeable.”
“I did not cut my hair.” I took a sip of my ale. “Arrow did.”
Penn looked at Arrow, who gave a wave from across the table.
I glowered at my drink. “And it seems she’s very pleased with herself.”
She took a sip from her mug. “You look like a different person.”
That was exactly the problem.
Penn reached over and brushed a lock of hair out of my eyes. “It suits you.”
A shiver ran down my spine at the unexpected contact. He’d done the same thing the night I kissed him, and it burned a trail down my skin. He stared at me, his eyes dancing with amusement. He was laughing at me. Playing some sort of game that I wanted no part in.
“Luckily, hair grows back.” I lifted the tankard, gulping the ale down. Shadow was right. If anyone needed to get drunk, it was me.
“Slow down, Lilypad,” Penn warned.
“I told you not to call me that.” I slammed down my mug, the table shaking underneath.
“But it’s just so perfect.” Penn took a sip of his own drink, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he tipped his head back. Suddenly I wondered what his hair would look like down, framing his face, if it would bring out the green in his eyes, if it would brush against that strong jaw?—
“There you go, staring again.”
I straightened, looking away. “I’m not staring. And don’t tell me what to do,” I snapped. “I can drink however much I’d like.”
He spread his hands out. “By all means, then.”
However much it took to forget this miserable existence. I raised a finger in the air, and Penn’s eyes traveled up the length of my arm.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Signaling for another drink.”
His lips quirked. “There’s no servants here, Lilypad. If you want a drink, you’ll have to get it for yourself. At the bar.”
“I’ll get it.” Hammer stood from across me, tugging at his long red beard. “You earned a drink after how hard you worked today.”
