Page 18 of Savage Princess

“I’ve had drinks before,” I tell him archly, and Levin snorts.

“Wine at dinner, I’m guessing. This is a bit stronger than that.”

When the drinks and a pitcher of water come, he orders a cheesy bread that comes with a side of honey for dipping, pushing the plate towards me. “This should help soak up some of the alcohol,” he says with a laugh. “And like I said—”

“Don’t drink too fast. I get it.” I take a sip of the drink, and I feel my eyes go wide. It’s sweet and strongly lime-flavored—and delicious. “This is amazing.”

“It’s what I usually get when I’m here.” Levin takes a sip of his, plucking one of the balls of bread out of the basket.

There’s a moment of silence, as we both nibble at the food and sip at the drinks. “Tell me about Boston,” I blurt out finally, taking another drink. “What’s it like?”

“Like most big cities.” Levin shrugs. “It’s freezing in the winter and humid in the summer, it’s big and noisy, and there’s a lot of history there if you’re into that sort of thing. It’s not my favorite city.”

“What is?”

He pauses, and I see that tensing in his jaw that tells me that the question I’ve just asked hews a little too close to something painful. Another tic of his that I’ve picked up. “I don’t know anymore,” he admits. “New York is nice enough. It’s where I spend most of my time now. I can get any food I want there, any drink, and meet anyone I might want to meet. It does the job.”

I feel a flicker of jealousy that I know I have no right to when he saysmeet anyone I might want to meet, and I do my best to stuff it down. “I can’t wait until I’ve seen enough places to have a favorite city. This is the first time I’ve ever traveled.” I take another drink, polishing it off, and the waitress chooses that moment to appear, just in time for me to order another one.

Levin casts me a warning look. “I’ll have another as well,” he says calmly. “And the seafood stew.”

“I’ll have—” I scan the menu quickly—I’d been so busy talking that I hadn’t really had a chance to decide. I point at what looks like a dish of braised meat and beans over rice with vegetables, and the waitress nods, scooping up the menus.

Levin pushes the bread basket back towards me. “Eat,” he says firmly, narrowing his eyes. “And drink some water.”

“Just because you’re twenty years older than me doesn’t mean you have to act like it,” I tell him cheekily. “I can handle myself just fine.”

“Mhmm.” Levin gives me a dark look. “My job—”

“Is to protect me. I know. From fun too, apparently.”

Levin lets out a sharp sigh. “Elena, this isn’t a date. This isn’t a fun night out on the town. We’re getting food, and I took you here because I thought it would be nicer than eating greasy takeout chicken in that musty hotel room, and the danger seemed minimal. That doesn’t mean you don’t need to take this seriously.”

I frown at him, taking the drink that the waitress brings me directly out of her hand. “Iknowit’s serious,” I tell him, taking a sip of it. “I know this is dangerous, and scary, and all of that. I know we need to be careful. Butseriously—why not enjoy what we can while we’re here? Being upset about the situation constantly isn’t going to make it better.”

Levin eyes me for a moment. “Letting our guard down isn’t going to make it better either.”

“You’re plenty on guard for the both of us,” I tell him archly. I can tell he’s about to respond, and then the waitress appears with our food.

It’s fucking delicious. I don’t know if it’s how much time I spent eating MRE rations and that the only real food I’ve had in weeks is the takeout chicken that Levin got us that first night in the hotel, but it tastes like the best meal I’ve ever had. I end up dipping some of the sweet cheesy bread in it, trying not to eat too fast, and when the waitress comes back to check on us, I order a third drink.

“Elena—” Levin lets out a sigh. “No more for me, thanks,” he tells the waitress, who lingers a second too long before walking away. “I’m cutting you off after this,” he tells me flatly. “Besides, we’re a little low on cash.”

I feel a touch embarrassed at that—I’ve gone my whole life without ever thinking about money, and I’d momentarily forgotten that it was something we needed to worry about.

“What about my sister?” I ask him after the waitress brings me my drink. “Have you met her?”

“A few times.” Levin cocks his head slightly, looking at me. “You’re very different, the two of you.”

I look at him curiously. “How so?”

He shrugs. “She’s more fiery than you are. She’d never have listened to me through any of this. She didn’t make it easy on Niall when he was helping her, that’s for certain.”

“But they’re happy now?”

He nods, laughing a little. “Oh, disgustingly so. They’re very happy. And there’s plenty of room in their home for you—you’ll love it, I’m sure. It’s no Santiago mansion, but I don’t really think you need that to be happy.”

“No, I don’t.” Something warms inside of me at the idea that he realizes that detail about me. “I’m glad I’m going to get to see her again.”

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