Page 11 of To Sway a Bard
Neo’s grin grew wider and he pressed a hand against his chest in mock pain. “You wound me with your words. I’m nothing if not the epitome of trustworthiness.”
Zula pursed her lips. “I recall running into you in the jungle, and you claimed you were lost.”
Neo’s face went red.
“If that’s not trickery, I don’t know what is. You speak of trust when you were tied up in troll territory, but you were the one who went to warn them about me.”
Neo moved closer, his leg against hers, mischief dancing in those intoxicating eyes, shades of green shifting. Zula was suddenly aware of how hot it was in the carriage. They swayed back and forth, and when Neo spoke, she almost missed it.
“You’re quite beautiful when you’re angry.”
Her heart hammered in her chest. “Are you flirting with me?”
She meant the words to act like a dagger, to make him lean back, move away from her, and reconsider his actions. It had the opposite effect. Neo didn’tmove. The grin slipped from his face, revealing glimmers of raw desire.
“What if I am?” he said, low.
Zula desperately wished she had her ukulele to play a song to send him to sleep. Except that wouldn’t work either. Licking her dry lips, she narrowed her eyes at him. “You shouldn’t.”
“Does it make you uncomfortable?”
“It does.”
“But you like it.”
“I don’t . . . ” Her voice cracked. “It’s . . . you’re the sheriff.”
The implications of what that might mean did not seem to resonate with him, although swift disappointment crossed his face. “That’s all you see, isn’t it? All you’ll ever see.”
Unsure how to respond, Zula turned her attention to the window, where palm trees waved in the breeze as her heart squeezed.
A shout came and the road dipped, jostling her roughly. She lost her seating and was unable to catchherself with her wrists bound. Her foot jarred against the side of the carriage and she let out a cry.
Neo was there in a moment, arms around her waist, pulling her securely against him. Concern covered his face, concern she didn’t think he should have for her when he was taking her to the palace for her sentencing. But just for a moment, she saw something else flicker behind his eyes, and she recalled that moonlit night, the people dancing on the beach, the taste of ale in her mouth, the feeling that she was invincible, and the almost-kiss.
Her life was over anyway. Would it be so bad to find out if the sheriff was a good kisser? His breath was hot against her cheek. He smelled like coconuts. She should hate him. She should shove him out the carriage door while he was distracted. Instead she was lost, and it was Neo who pulled away first, his voice an urgent whisper of yearning.
“Damn it, Zula, why did you have to steal from the trolls?”
11
NEO
Neo could not get out of the carriage fast enough. The two days with Zula had been nothing but pure torture, especially because her upcoming sentencing had made her mellow. There was still that fire that so compelled him, but there was also a softer side to her he’d never seen.
As soon as they arrived at the palace grounds, he excused himself from the carriage before he did something truly disgraceful and kissed her while his men looked on.
The palace rose above the jungle. Built on a hilltop, it had beautiful views of the fauna and flora, the flower gardens and the smaller waterfalls that fed the streams that passed through. It was lush withvegetation, an idyllic paradise. Unlike other structures, the palace had been built around the jungle. Vines hung off balconies, trees grew inside, and it was impossible to tell whether the bamboo walls belonged to the palace or the jungle. Even the marble columns and thick stone walls blended in with the vibrant colors of the jungle. It was like stumbling upon a hidden relic and discovering it was a place where people dwelled.
Neo relaxed as he walked toward the columns. Putting his hands in his pockets, he took a deep breath of the lotus-scented air, instantly feeling better.
“You’re back!” Thune, one of the guards, stepped away from his post and saluted Neo.
Neo grinned. “I am, and I was successful. When does the queen want to see her?”
“About that.” Thune sobered. “Her Majesty gave specific orders that you are not to attend.”
Neo froze. “I’m not to attend?”
