Page 10 of Tarnished Crown
Kirill and the boy named Igor barked out a laugh while the others stared.
“Ah, I see you have taken to learning Socairan for the truly important things, just not for when your life was on the line,” Evander said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Well, I have to keep my cliché middle-royal-child priorities in line, after all.”
If I hadn’t known any better, I might have thought he was biting back a smile. But that was impossible. To possess a sense of humor, he would have had to possess an actual soul.
I ignored the niggling part of my brain that reminded me that he hadn’t actually hurt me, that he had armed me when I was in danger. It didn’t matter because I wouldn’t have been in danger to begin with if it weren’t for him.
Hestoleme, my life, my future, my relationship, and I refused to give him the benefit of the doubt after that.
Evander ushered us from the stables to the inn next door, and I could swear that the collective hearts within the building stopped beating as soon as he lowered his hood.
All conversation ceased, leaving no sound but the crackling fire in the hearth, beckoning me like a warm and toasty beacon.
But sadly, none of us moved. It was as if everyone in the main room was afraid to speak in his presence.Or just too captivated…Several of the women gawked at Evander and his perfectly symmetrical features.
The rest of the patrons stared at him with pure, unadulterated fear. Between the rumors and what I had witnessed of his skills in battle, I could understand why.
“We only have five rooms left for the night, Sir,” an elderly man said as he entered the room. His accent reminded me of Kirill’s.
“Perfect. We will take them all,” Evander said, turning to face his men. “You can draw straws for who sleeps in the rooms and who sleeps with the horses.”
The elderly man dipped his head in respect, handing over several keys.
“Rest up men, and even if you’re in the stables, know that I most certainly have already drawn the shortest straw,” Evander handed one key to Kirill, tilting his head significantly in my direction.
Kirill nodded, and we followed a member of the staff up a set of rickety stairs and into a room with the number four carved unevenly into the door.
I had roughly two seconds to feel relief at finally being away from Evander and able to sink into a bed when my brain and eyes caught up to one another.
There were two beds.
Everyone was sharing rooms and Evander said he had drawn the shortest straw.
Son of an aalio.
CHAPTER9
Ipaced the small room, trying to calm my temper. It only seemed to make it worse.
My nightgown wasn’t helping. The frilly, high-necked monstrosity practically choked me with every step. Though if it had been Mila’s thinner, more comfortable gown, that would have presented a different sort of problem.
At least a servant had come to help me change and deliver food, so I didn’t have to rely on Evander for that. Still, that did nothing to quell my aggravation. Everything I did and ate was completely in his control
My heartbeat was thundering erratically in my chest by the time he strode into the room, cradling a bowl of soup in one hand and using the other to close the door. It looked sonormalfor someone who was such a complete and utter bastard, that it momentarily rendered me speechless.
He gave me—and my outfit—a disdainful once over, and I resisted the urge to flush.
“And here I thought touching me was the furthest thing from your mind.” I echoed the words he had used while we were dancing at the Summit.
His fingers went to massage the bridge of his nose, and he took a deep breath. “I’m not here for...that. Storms, even I’m not that much of a monster.”
I stiffened at the disgust in his tone, narrowing my eyes at him. “Says the man who stole me and called me hispet.”
“Rightfully claimed, you mean,” Evander countered. “And you and I havewildlydifferent ideas of the word pet.”
“Then why are you sharing my room?” I demanded.