Page 51 of Riftborne
I could barely hear her over my own heartbeat.
“Hmm?” I mumbled.
“Fia. He either wants to kill you or bed you. And there’s absolutely no in between,” she squealed as the General closed in on us. I shook my head and attempted to look unbothered. Nerves crept up my shoulders and prickled the back of my neck.
He stepped in front of us–the look on his face drowned out all the sounds around me. His eyes slid down my entire body before coming back to meet mine once again.
Instantly, I felt naked. Something about the narrowed nature of his gaze had me shifting in my dress.
Whywashe looking at me like that?
Osta cleared her throat. The General blinked as we broke from our trance. The sounds of the room tumbled back in like a war horn, dragging me back to reality.
The General’s face softened, but his mischievous smile returned. He looked over at Osta.
“You must be the reason Fia looks so presentable tonight,” he quipped. Osta giggled like a damned schoolgirl.
My eyes couldn’t roll fast enough.
“It’s so lovely to meet you, General Ashford. Truly, I’m honored to have been invited tonight. I can’t thank you enough for the opportunity,” Osta gushed, fluttering her eyelashes and curtseying. She was usually bubbly, but this was taking it to a whole new level.
The General was eating it up. He wore an expression of insufferable amusement and a smile drenched in satisfaction.
I made a gagging noise.
The General laughed, but Osta shot me a scowl.
“The pleasure is all mine, truly.” He took her hand and brought it to his lips. His eyes shot back to me as he kissed it, and I scoffed.
“You’re quite the ray of sunshine. I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure what to expect after getting to know your friend here.”
Osta giggled.Giggled.
“So what’s the plan?” I interrupted before Osta could start frothing at the mouth.
I guess the dartboard suggestion was off the table.
“Well, I suppose it would be best to make some introductions before everyone gets too carried away with the open bar.” He smiled. “Osta, shall we?” He held out his elbow. Her eyes shifted between the two of us reluctantly.
“Well, I mean… Fia can come with us right?” she questioned.
The General laughed. “I’m afraid her scowl will scare away any potential clients, but it’s up to you.”
“You two go on. I’m going to… how did you put it? Get carried away with the open bar.” I started moving past them. I didn’t love the thought of my dearest friend sauntering off into the depths of the Keep with a murderer, but my objection might have turnedherinto a murderer.
I couldn’t imagine the General pulling something in this environment anyway. It would be a shame for Riftborne blood to spill and ruin the mood. Those acts were usually saved for the shadows.
Besides, Osta deserved to make those decisions for herself.
“Mercer! Come keep Fia company please,” the General shouted from behind me.
Oh great.
I looked in the direction of his request, eyeing a guard in the same black attire, who stepped away from a well-dressed man nearly half his size and began making his way over. He had inky black hair that was cropped short and bronzed skin. He was as tall as the General, but broader. As he got closer, he gave us a slight smile and I noticed the flecks of amber in his eyes.
“You must be Fia.” He nodded in my direction.
“Sorry to pull you away from Halloway but I’m sure you’re past the honeymoon phase by now. I’ll only be a moment. Keep an eye on her. She has this habit of finding herself in precarious situations,” the General chided as he turned to pull Osta into the crowd. “Don’t be too difficult on Callum, Fia. Behave.”
