Page 65 of Heartless Enemy

Eve did too. “Good luck.”

Derek gave both of us a nod. Then he turned his horse around and quickly rode away along the path to the coast. For a minute, Eve and I just watched him go.

“It really was the best option,” she said eventually. “There’s no way White would ever believe that we let a healer leave just like that.”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “He’ll think that we have Derek stashed away somewhere in the city, so he won’t even try to search for him outside.”

“Which means that Derek will get away safely.”

“And White will bring his army down to Malgrave.”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah.”

We turned and looked at each other. Amusement pulled at my lips, and I could see it swirling in Eve’s eyes too.

“This plan is insane, right?” she said, shaking her head in disbelief at our craziness.

I chuckled. “Without a doubt.”

She shrugged and then flashed me a grin while urging her horse forward. “Good thing we’re a bit insane too then.”

I followed, riding up next to her. “Indeed.”

The sound of a rattling wagon filled the air as we caught up with a small caravan. We moved into single file as we passed them. Then I moved back up so that I was next to her once more.

Winds swept across the grasslands again, tugging at our clothes and making Eve’s long curls ripple. She pushed a few loose strands out of her face before turning to me.

“Oh, by the way,” she began. “I’ve figured out another thing that I want now that I’m moving to the south side.”

“Name it.”

“My father’s tavern.”

I raised my eyebrows.

“I want something that’s mine.” She shot me a knowing look while a smirk slid across her lips. “You’ll spend a lot of time ruling the south side, and I’m not just going to trail after you like some puppy.”

“Aw, and here I was, looking forward to making you…” I raked a deliberate look over her body, “lie down and roll over.”

She snorted, but her eyes twinkled with amusement as she huffed, “Asshole.”

“Yes, I was thinking we could get to that part soon as well.”

She choked.

I grinned.

When she noticed the teasing smirk on my mouth, she rolled her eyes and muttered another curse. “Anyway, as I was saying, I want my father’s tavern. I want to preserve his legacy and once again make it a place where dark mages can meet without interference or fear of being eavesdropped on by spies from the north side.”

“That can be arranged.”

“But the problem is, someone else owns it now. Any chance you could persuade them to sell?”

With that sly smile once again on my lips, I shot her a knowing look. “Do you really think people say no when the King of Metal shows up on their doorstep?”

She shot me a smug look back. “Idid.”

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