Page 90 of Ruthless Scoundrel
I take a massive bite and shake my head, humming a “nuh-uh” as I consider finding this widow and warding her off before she can collect. Maybe trade something else for it, but the audacity of her just to ask for a dance frommy hus—
“You’re jealous.” He beams.
“Am not,” I say, my mouth half full.
“You are,” he says with a smug puff of his chest.
The closest thing is the map, so I throw it. The parchment flutters toward him but hits the ground before reaching its destination.
He chuckles. “You don’t like the thought of me dancing with someone else!”
I growl, throwing a water skein. But he’s ready for it and bats the attack away. I reach for the next thing with abandon.
He surges forward, capturing my wrist and jerking me close. His smile is so brilliant it makes my blood boil and my heart melt at the same time. My cheeks are so hot with indignation I might burn myself.
“I traded a pearl,” he says.
I yank my arm free and sit back on my heels. “I said I don’t care.”
“Sure you don’t.” He takes a bite of his sandwich.
“I don’t. It’s not as if we’rereallyhusband and wife,” I retort.
“That doesn’t stop you from feeling jealous, though. I like it.”
My heart zigzags in my chest at his words. He’s just playing with me. He only wants me to be jealous because it’s amusing to him.
I shove the rest of the sandwich in my mouth and grab my boots.
“Going somewhere?” he taunts.
“Yes,” I say, throwing open the tent flap. I hop into my boots as I speed away from him.
The center of camp is still just as lively as the other night, with two musicians and a large bonfire. Dusk is rolling in, but there’s more than enough sunlight left to walk by. I’m not quite sure where I’m going, but I need to do something about this heat under my skin.
Jasper runs up behind me, quietly following. Night birds and crickets sing, and bugs land on my humid skin. I slap them away as I tromp through the steadily growing brush. Why hasn’t he turned back? Why hasn’t he said something?
I whirl around at the edge of the forest. “You’re going to watch me take care of my business, then?”
The light in his eyes dances with amusement. “That’s not what you’re doing.”
“Well, you’re about to be very unhappy with your decision to follow me,” I say as I turn back for the woods.
The trees are tall and vibrant, even in the dim light. Their leaves are all shades of green and many of the branches have flowering fruit. If not for the annoying bugs—Jasper included—this place would be paradise.
Finally, I find what I’m looking for: a small clearing with a large boulder. The perfect target for my rage. It won’t start a forest fire, and I can let loose on it.
I stop a good way back and Jasper stops a few feet behind me. I lift my arm and open my palm, focusing on my power. My eyes train on a pockmark on the side of the boulder. It’s chipped in a way that looks like someone else used it for target practice.
Blue magic culminates in my palm but inks out in bits and spurts without control. I grit my teeth and clamp down on keeping it inside. I’m sogoodat keeping it in, but letting it out on command, that’s always been a problem.
I redouble my focus, but I can feel Jasper’s judgmental eyes on my back. His eyes don’t matter. There are always going to be people watching me, judging me. I’m going to be the queen of Fynren; I’ll have to perform under scrutiny.
My heart thunders in my ear as the pressure in my palm grows. I open the floodgate, and all at once, blue fire bursts out in a wide cone. I cut off the fire with a curse and stomp on the singed grass that was in its path.
I sense Jasper’s presence get closer behind me. He puts a hand on my shoulder and I shrug him off with a glare.
“Stop being a brat and let me help you,” he says sternly.
