Page 47 of Across the Sapphire Sea
Jemma took her spot. “Throw the pointy end at the barrel, yeah? Anything else I need to know?”
“You’ve got the right of it.” Elias took her shoulders and squared them up. “Just look where you’re aiming and let it fly.”
Hand poised in the air, arrow clenched between thumb and fingers, Jemma concentrated, then threw.
The arrow hit with a solidthwackdamn near center of the barrel, earning her a round of shocked cheers from the gathered men.
“Well fuck me running,” said Ralphie.
Jemma’s grin was wide as whales. “I did it!”
“And better than any of us,” said Elias, handing her the next arrow. “Have another go.”
Jemma threw the whole slew of arrows. None hit the ground or the wall, and one stuck near to the center. “You were right. It’s not hard.”
Being sober probably helped. Not that it had helped him, but it seemed to do wonders for Jemma. Or perhaps she was a natural. In any case, the game of arrows was the most fun he’d had in ages.
“I’d better get this lot their refills.” Jemma turned her winning smile on Elias. “Thanks for this.” She wrapped him in a hug and smacked a kiss on his cheek.
Elias had to stand still and grit his teeth to bear it. Not that he didn’t welcome a hug and kiss from Jemma—he did—but he could smell the luscious scent of her blood when they were this close, thrumming below her skin, and though he’d fed once already this evening, the allure was difficult to resist.
Valeri’s hard grip at his elbow knocked the sense back into him as he was yanked from Jemma’s arms.
“He’s all yours,” said Jemma to Valeri with a hint of a defensive edge to her voice. They’d been there before, and Valeri wasn’t shy about their relationship. She knew Elias and Valeri were a couple. “I was just leaving.”
“What was that about?” whispered Valeri against his ear, his tone harsh.
“Ease up on my arm. Everything’s fine,” said Elias, and the pinch of Valeri’s fingers relented. “The men taught me to play arrows, and then I showed Jemma. Turns out she’s better than all of us.”
Valeri scowled. “Since when do you know the serving lass by name?”
Elias’s eyes went wide. Was this jealousy? Over a woman? He was tempted to laugh, but Valeri’s dark mood made him think twice. “Since tonight, Valeri. Are you all right?”
“Fine. Let’s get out of here.” Valeri made to drag Elias from the room.
Elias shrugged out of his grip. “My cloak.” He had to cross in front of the group of players to grab his cloak from the hook on the wall. One of them made a clicking sound with his tongue.
“In trouble with your fellow?”
Elias hadn’t thought to be embarrassed until that moment. Then he realized what they’d just seen, and what they must think. Not that he cared for their opinions, but he’d been having fun, and now he wasn’t. And Valeri was to blame.
Elias glowered at the man. “Mind your business.” He threw the cloak over his shoulders and exited the tavern with Valeri at his heels.
“What did you do that for?” Elias hissed. “You embarrassed me.”
“I could ask you the same. I leave you alone for not even half of an hour and find you in the arms of a bar wench?”
They tromped through the snow in the direction of their underground home. The road wasn’t busy at this hour, but nor was it vacant. Elias kept his voice down. “Jemma was happy to have gotten the better of the men. The hug was in thanks because I invited her to the game. That’s all.”
“Oh, that’s all.” Valeri sneered.
“Yes, Valeri. What did you think? That I was flirting with her? Do you think I want Jemma?”
“Do you?” asked Valeri through clenched teeth.
“Of course not!” Elias said too loudly, then reined himself in. “You are being ridiculous. Jemma only wanted to join the game—”
“Oh, shut up.”
