“Fine,” I say, my voice cold. “Then I choose Mathis to share with me.”
His face hardens, and I see the flash of anger in his eyes. He says nothing, just turns and storms out, slamming the door behind him.
A minute later, there’s a knock. I open the door to find Mathis standing there, looking awkward. I sigh and step aside to let him in. He settles on the armchair, his long legs stretching out in front of him as he folds his arms over his chest. He flashes a grin and shakes his head before closing his eyes as his head leans back.
“You sure have a knack for pushing Rylan’s buttons. It’s the most entertainment we’ve had in years,” he adds, and then is asleep before I can reply.
After a brief but much-needed rest, we all head downstairs for dinner. The common room is even more crowded now, filled with a rising hum of conversation and the savoury smell of roasting meats and simmering stews. I deliberately choose the seat as far from Rylan as possible, sliding into a chair between Mathis and Yosef, ignoring the way he glares at me from the head of the table.
As soon as we’re all seated, a serving girl brings bowls of stew and cups of ale and water, and I dig in, the prospect of another full meal wrapping me in comfort. Mathis cracks a joke, something about a wayward goat and a fence, and I can’t help but laugh. The other guards relax too, their laughter mingling with mine. The residual tension from the attack melts away as they share their stories, and I listen with eager interest. For a moment, I almost forget where I am and who I’m with.
As soon as my cup is empty, the serving girl appears at my side to fill it. The same happens the second I lick the last of the stew off my spoon. I don’t question it, just hoping my stomach holds out for more food than I’ve had in years.
I’m about to dig into my third bowl of stew when a man from a nearby table approaches, his gaze locked on me. He’s tall, with an easy smile that probably works on most women. “Mind if I join you?” he asks, his voice smooth as he pulls up a chair without waiting for an answer.
I glance at Mathis, who rolls his eyes good-naturedly, then back at the man. “I’m afraid you’re a little late,” I say with a playful smile, “This table’s already full, and I’ve already been claimed for the evening.”
The man chuckles, leaning in closer. “Well, I’m sure you can make some room for me. I promise, I’m worth it.”
I tilt my head, pretending to consider his offer. “Oh, I don’t doubt that,” I reply, “But this tavern has a strict ‘one charming rogue per table’ policy, and as you can see”—I gesture to the four men sitting at the table with me—“we’re already breaking the rules. We wouldn't want you to get in trouble with the owners.”
He laughs, taking the rejection in stride. “Fair enough,” he says, standing up. “Maybe next time, then?”
“Consider your seat saved,” I say, winking at him. He grins and saunters back to his table, his pride intact.
I resume eating, feeling eight eyes on me and look up frommy bowl, returning their looks with a grin. I’ve long learned that the best way to defuse unwanted male attention is to present a way for them to leave with their ego inflated rather than shattered. I don’t have a chance to explain that when another man approaches our table with that confident swagger that tells me he’s used to getting what he wants.
Just as he’s about to say something, I put on a mock-serious expression and say, “Oh no, please, kind sir, I’m going to need you to take pity on me and step away from the table as soon as possible. I have a severe heart problem.”
He blinks, momentarily thrown off. “Heart problem?”
I nod solemnly, letting my gaze sweep over him as I continue, “Yes, you see, you look like someone who could shatter my heart with a single smile, and I’m afraid my weak constitution just couldn’t take it. I couldn’t possibly risk spending even a minute in your charming presence. You wouldn’t want my death on your hands, would you?”
The man stares at me for a moment, then chuckles, clearly amused. “Well, we can’t have that now, can we?” He sets the drink he obviously brought over for me down on the table, still grinning. “But are you sure you don’t want to take the risk? I promise I can be gentle.”
I let out a soft laugh, shaking my head. “Oh, I have no doubt, but I’m just trying to look out for you. You’re much too handsome for the king’s dungeons, and I’m afraid that’s exactly where you’d end up if I were to give in to your advances.”
He laughs, shaking his head. “You’re quick, I’ll give you that. And utterly charming. I could take down a few measly guards in exchange for a drink with you, darlin’.”
I pretend to fan myself and then grab at my chest. “Oh my, and you’re brave, too. But I can already feel my heart palpitating. I’m afraid you’re going to have to make a hasty escape.”
He straightens up, laughing harder, giving me one last lookbefore heading back to his table. “That’s too bad. I think I would’ve risked the dungeons to get to know you a little better. If you ever decide you want to live a little dangerously, you know where to find me.”
As he walks away, leaving me with the drink and a grin on my face, Mathis nudges me with his elbow, smirking. “Heart problem, huh?”
I shrug, taking a sip of the drink. “It works every time.”
A sideways glance shows me Rylan’s hands gripping the table, white-knuckled as he glares over the rim of his glass. I throw him a charming smile while the others fling good-natured taunts at me, dubbing me The Heartbreaker. I simply lift my glass in a toast and down it with a grin. As I place my empty glass on the table, I glance up just in time to see Rylan catch the serving girl’s eye and flick his hand in my direction.
It’s him.
It’s been him the whole night making sure my bowl and glass were always filled. When he glances back down the table at me, I’m still watching him. He doesn't look away, holding my gaze for a moment, his inscrutable face harder than ever, telling me nothing.
The man is fucking infuriating.
Half an hour later, when we’re all leaning back, rubbing our full stomachs, another man swaggers up to the table, flashing me a grin as he nods toward the guards. “What’s a lovely girl like you doing with a miserable-looking lot like this?”
I lean back, letting out an exaggerated sigh, and wave a dismissive hand at them. “Oh, them? They’re just my ex-husbands. Cursed. Eternally doomed to follow me around the realms, heartbroken, once I was done with them.”
