Page 151 of Ruthless Scoundrel
“Yes.”
My brow ticks at his abbreviated response. He’s normally so much chattier.
“What things?”
“Things.”
I glance over my shoulder at him. He’s wearing a devilish smile.
“Back to your old ways so soon?”
His brow furrows. “What do you mean?”
I push up on my toes until my lips hover an inch from his. “Keeping secrets.”
He smiles wider, more brilliantly. There’s so much joy in his expression it softens the ire in my heart from past hurts.
“You’re going to like this secret, and I won’t be keeping it for long,” he says, then seals his lips over mine before I can say anything to the contrary.
I close my eyes as his tender affection steals my breath. When he pulls away, my heart is fluttering, and all past transgressions are forgiven.
“I’ll see you soon. Be good,” he says, pecking my temple before releasing me.
I watch him go, disappearing with Scarlett and Zane into the back of the tavern. I have half a mind to follow them and see if I can find out what they’re up to.
“Don’t,” Alyse says behind me, and I start again.
“Fucking hells, will people stop creeping up on me?”
She chuckles. “Don’t spoil it.”
“I won’t,” I grouse.
She threads her fingers into mine and grins widely. “And we won’t spoilyoursurprise. No one will tell him what we’re doing tonight in Lily’s room.”
I return her smile. “Think she’s slept off enough of that ale yet?”
Alyse pulls me toward Kazimir and Adrik. “I’m sure the best potion master in the Underbelly has something to help with that if she hasn’t.”
“Help with what?” Adrik asks, dark hair fanning his forehead as his attention snaps to her.
“Lily’s got some work to do tonight—it must be tonight,” Alyse emphasizes. “And she’s a little too drunk to perform permanent body modification.”
“Ah, yes, I can certainly get her a tonic.” Adrik sets his drink down and waves us toward the door. “Come, let us show the littlest princess the Nest and get her familiar with her new home.”
Home.
I sigh, my heart light.
Finally.
The Nest is a hulking black building, warded and armed to the teeth, guarded by no less than ten Spiders—Zane and Scarlett’s soldiers—at any time. The inside is much warmer and inviting. Unpolished wood floors that are clean, but scuffed from traffic.Magus crystals on the walls light sparse paintings of landscapes and magical creatures.
The main hallway leads to an antechamber with several doors that Adrik points to in quick secession. “Kitchens and dining, accounting, meetings, stairs to the rooms, stairs to the dungeon.”
I nod along as he walks toward the stairs to the dungeon. He takes us down two levels and opens a heavily warded door to an absolutely stocked apothecary. I can’t help but whistle.
Adrik walks toward the carefully labeled shelves stocked with potions and powders. He pulls down a bottle of something creamy blue, and another bottle of something black, then mumbles to himself in Seterian.
