Page 114 of I Ran Away to Evil 3
“Gerda is my friend, Slake, and we arebothapologizing. She could just as quickly askmefor a favor. And then, where would we be?” Lady Amy turned her hand over and scratched under his chin, seemingly unconcerned by the fact that he’d just consumed her blood.
I was concerned, but I didn’t really know enough about grimalcats to say anything; maybe he’d just imparted power to the elf, or maybe he ate only a tiny piece of her soul, or maybe he was just a cat whose eyes glowed.
Grimalcat lore wasn’t a focus in myDungeon Delves and Debutantesplaythroughs.
“You would be two powerful Nilheim elite who owe each other a favor.” Slake stood up, balancing on Amy’s lap perfectly. His tail flicked once before he jumped down. Looking over his shoulder at the pair of us, he licked a paw. “Think on it.”
With that, the door opened for him, and Slake walked out, not looking back.
“You know,” I stated, “it wouldn’t be the end of the world if you asked me for a favor.”
Amy’s eyes snapped to mine as she straightened in her chair and rushed to say, “Really? Then, could you use the Foretell Fate perk you used on Cassandra to tell me whomyfated mate is?”
Those bright, shining eyes stabbed at me as my own hubris proved my undoing.
CHAPTER 64
To Actually Kiss Her
Julian
“Your Grace.”
Visha appeared in the hallway beside Julian. She was her usual professional self, though he noticed she looked him up and down in a not-so-subtle side-eye.
She must have heard he was attacked.
“Is it that time?” Julian looked back at the door he’d just come from and sighed. “You can finish up for the rest of the evening. I think we’re done for tonight.”
Visha nodded curtly. “Then, if there is nothing else, I will see you tomorrow.”
She walked off down the hallway toward the ball. Julian had half expected the elf to go to bed, but instead, she marched toward the music with a purpose.
“Hm.” He wondered where she was headed. After another look at the door to Lady Amy’s room, Julian decided that moving wouldn’t hurt as long as he was in sight of the door. He casually followed behind his second-in-command.
While she entered the hall, Julian stopped to lean against the frame of the doorway.
Visha walked straight over to the food table, where Sir Tully was eating pinpin fruit from a small plate he was holding. The fruits were pink, small, and round, and popped with a single bite. Visha slapped Sir Tully on the back, causing the human to startle and pop juice on his chin. He turned on the elf, wiping his face with his sleeve. Tully said something that made Visha chuckle, and then the elf reached out and stole one of the pinpin fruit off the paladin’s plate, plopping it in her mouth.
Tully put his plate down and dragged the seemingly unwilling Visha onto the dance floor for a song.
“Hm,” he hummed again, pushing off the wall and walking back up the hallway. That was unexpected … or maybe it wasn’t. Julian wasn’t a romantic. Every member of his party could’ve been in love, and he wouldn’t have noticed a longing glance or heated look if it had happened right in front of his face … until now.
Now, it was all he could think about. Every small action, kind gesture, or physical touch had him second-guessing himself. He’d even sent Visha to set up and guard the resting room tonight. He’d madeGeneral Visha Hemsworth, one of his most trusted allies, prepare infused water and homemade poison-free treats on thechancethat Miss Gerda would like a break from the ball.
Something was wrong with him.
Julian returned to Lady Amy’s room and waited. He didn’t care about the assassin, he was more worried about his bridge troll. He’d already activated [Guard] on Gerda a second time, and Julian stopped bothering to pretend like he only did all of these things because he felt guilty.
He just wanted to do things for the troll.
“Julian?” Gerda opened the door, interrupting his thoughts. She hurried to close it behind her.
“Are you finished?” he asked, pitching his voice so only she could hear.
“I am.” Gerda glanced over her shoulder at the door and sighed. “I think she’ll be fine. Though I had to get a bit … creative.”
“How so?” Julian pushed aside his inner turmoil. Listening to her was more interesting than his own indecision.
