expected from Blond Boy.
“How many times have you been through the mountain?”
“This will be my third journey.”
“Third? And each time you’ve survived those spiders?”
“We usually go through the pass at night when the spiders sleep. The ice spiders use their natural coloring to hunt during the day. With Lucy on our tracks, we had no choice.”
I wondered if Lucy survived the ice spiders. Somehow, I didn’t think they would stop her.
“There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.” He glared at me, and I thought he looked a little angry. “What are your intentions with Raven?”
I was mid-slurp when he asked and almost choked. When I cleared my throat, I put my soup down. “My intentions?”
“Yes. A gentleman would treat her like a lady.”
“I always treat her like a lady, except when she’s walloping me during one of our training sessions.”
“Avikar.”
I sighed. “I understand your concern, but you don’t have to worry about Raven. I would never hurt her.”
“Will you marry her?”
“Marry?” These questions should come from my mother, not one of Raven’s childhood friends. I stood. “Is there somewhere I can relieve myself?” I needed to get away from him.
Cael stood, trying to use his height to intimidate me, but that doesn’t work when Garn Desdar is your father.
“Outside the entrance to the right, but stay behind the waterfall or you’ll be past the ward.”
I nodded and turned away.
Cael grabbed my arm. “She’s the most important person in my life.”
My chest heaved with anger. I wanted to punch Blond Boy, but I held back because he was helping Raven. She was my girl, not his. “And I love her more than anyone else.”
His eyes widened.
I ripped my arm from his grip. “Guess I’m not the only one.”
The silence that followed proved I was right.
eslyn walked through the harbor, arms full of carrots and cabbage. I crossed the street, heading her off, and stopped just outside her shop, pretending to peruse the goods on display in the window.
“May I help you?”
“Ahh, good morrow, miss. I’m looking for a gift for my mother.”
“Of course, please, come in.” She reached for the door, juggling her armload of vegetables, but I opened it for her.
“Thank you.”
I gave a slight bow and followed her inside. Her hips swayed as she walked, reminding me of her feminine nature. She placed the bundle on the counter, and the sunlight shining in from the window touched her face, highlighting the soft freckles on the bridge of her nose. I had forgotten how captivating her light blue eyes were, and how sensual her rosy cheeks became when she smiled.
I must remember my purpose.
“You’ve a lovely store.” I walked about the different cases filled with an absurd amount of jewelry.
“Please, look around. I’ll be right back,” she said, before disappearing through a back door.
Look around? Has she no sense? How does she know I’m not a thief?
I browsed the wares of bracelets, feigning interest. I had yet to decide how to reveal myself or if I even would.
“Have you found anything you like?” she said upon returning.
“Not sure, miss. I don’t have much.” I pushed the words out in a gritty accent, disguising my fine voice.
She smiled, with no recognition of my true self. If she had, she would be a bit angry—I did try to kill her brother. She placed her hand on my back, escorting me to one of the smaller cases. Her touch brought back the memory of our kiss and I stepped away from her.
“These lupa bracelets are my favorite.” She lifted a pinkish white shell bracelet and held it out on her palm.
“It’s very nice.”
“And inexpensive. The shells are common around the harbor.”
I ran a finger across the delicate bracelet. “I think my mother would like this.”
“Wonderful. I have the perfect little bag.”
She rummaged through boxes, then pulled out a white pouch with gold threading, and put the bracelet
“How many times have you been through the mountain?”
“This will be my third journey.”
“Third? And each time you’ve survived those spiders?”
“We usually go through the pass at night when the spiders sleep. The ice spiders use their natural coloring to hunt during the day. With Lucy on our tracks, we had no choice.”
I wondered if Lucy survived the ice spiders. Somehow, I didn’t think they would stop her.
“There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.” He glared at me, and I thought he looked a little angry. “What are your intentions with Raven?”
I was mid-slurp when he asked and almost choked. When I cleared my throat, I put my soup down. “My intentions?”
“Yes. A gentleman would treat her like a lady.”
“I always treat her like a lady, except when she’s walloping me during one of our training sessions.”
“Avikar.”
I sighed. “I understand your concern, but you don’t have to worry about Raven. I would never hurt her.”
“Will you marry her?”
“Marry?” These questions should come from my mother, not one of Raven’s childhood friends. I stood. “Is there somewhere I can relieve myself?” I needed to get away from him.
Cael stood, trying to use his height to intimidate me, but that doesn’t work when Garn Desdar is your father.
“Outside the entrance to the right, but stay behind the waterfall or you’ll be past the ward.”
I nodded and turned away.
Cael grabbed my arm. “She’s the most important person in my life.”
My chest heaved with anger. I wanted to punch Blond Boy, but I held back because he was helping Raven. She was my girl, not his. “And I love her more than anyone else.”
His eyes widened.
I ripped my arm from his grip. “Guess I’m not the only one.”
The silence that followed proved I was right.
eslyn walked through the harbor, arms full of carrots and cabbage. I crossed the street, heading her off, and stopped just outside her shop, pretending to peruse the goods on display in the window.
“May I help you?”
“Ahh, good morrow, miss. I’m looking for a gift for my mother.”
“Of course, please, come in.” She reached for the door, juggling her armload of vegetables, but I opened it for her.
“Thank you.”
I gave a slight bow and followed her inside. Her hips swayed as she walked, reminding me of her feminine nature. She placed the bundle on the counter, and the sunlight shining in from the window touched her face, highlighting the soft freckles on the bridge of her nose. I had forgotten how captivating her light blue eyes were, and how sensual her rosy cheeks became when she smiled.
I must remember my purpose.
“You’ve a lovely store.” I walked about the different cases filled with an absurd amount of jewelry.
“Please, look around. I’ll be right back,” she said, before disappearing through a back door.
Look around? Has she no sense? How does she know I’m not a thief?
I browsed the wares of bracelets, feigning interest. I had yet to decide how to reveal myself or if I even would.
“Have you found anything you like?” she said upon returning.
“Not sure, miss. I don’t have much.” I pushed the words out in a gritty accent, disguising my fine voice.
She smiled, with no recognition of my true self. If she had, she would be a bit angry—I did try to kill her brother. She placed her hand on my back, escorting me to one of the smaller cases. Her touch brought back the memory of our kiss and I stepped away from her.
“These lupa bracelets are my favorite.” She lifted a pinkish white shell bracelet and held it out on her palm.
“It’s very nice.”
“And inexpensive. The shells are common around the harbor.”
I ran a finger across the delicate bracelet. “I think my mother would like this.”
“Wonderful. I have the perfect little bag.”
She rummaged through boxes, then pulled out a white pouch with gold threading, and put the bracelet
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