Page 48 of Tarnished Crown
Theo and Davin wore twin expressions of indignation, and even a few of my friends among Evander’s guard were struggling to conceal the disapproval in their eyes.
But I could play his games for now, if there was even a chance of him letting me go tomorrow.
Arès himself handed me a skewer, also shooting Evander an exasperated look. “Like a child with a toy, that one,” he muttered under his breath.
I snorted, and he smiled openly.
“You know, I thought Mila had a knack for getting into trouble, but I do believe you rival her.”
“One does what one can,” I said wryly, making my way back to Evander.
I thrust his skewer at him and sank onto the log beside him. Davin wasted no time coming to sit next to me, practically scowling at Evander the entire time. Theo took a seat on the log to Davin’s left, though he looked decidedly irritable about it.
I examined the meat on my skewer, then looked over at Theo. “So, is there a special fork for this? Or is it okay to just sort of...go for it?”
He flashed me a dazzlingly handsome smile. “No. No forks for these. But I’m sure you’ll find your own way to do it, regardless.”
I laughed then, and Evander stiffened beside me.
“I’m sure I will,” I replied, ignoring the obnoxious man to my right.
Theo went back to his food, and I couldn’t help but watch him. It was like finally exhaling after holding my breath for too long, like putting on a cloak when I hadn’t even realized how cold it was outside. Unexpected warmth and comfort from the elements around us.
I had missed him, and it had been easier not to dwell on how much until he was here again. My smile faded when I realized that what I suspected about his brother would hurt him deeply.
Davin and I exchanged a look, but said nothing.
After a few minutes of mostly quiet eating, listening to the hum of conversation around us, Evander upended the wooden mug in his hand to show that he was out of medovukha. He opened his mouth, likely to tell me to refill it, and I twisted to glare at him.
I have played your games already today,I tried to convey in that single look.
He held my gaze in a silent contest of wills.
When I quirked an eyebrow, he closed his mouth and shrugged. The barest edge of his lips tugged up before he rose to refill the drink himself.
“I don’t like the way he treats you.” Theo leaned over and spoke in a low tone once Evander was out of earshot. “Like he owns you.”
“Well, technically...” Davin chimed in. “Thanks to your little trip to the Summit, he sort of does.” He gave him a derisive salute before getting up to get more food.
I bit back a laugh at Theo’s long-suffering expression as he moved over to occupy Davin’s vacant seat. He reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, and I melted into his touch, heat flooding through me at the contact.
His hand trailed down my shoulder, to my wrist and the bracelet resting there.
“Do you remember why I gave this to you?” he asked in a low voice.
“Hmm.” I pretended to think. “Something about rare, complex, difficult to keep alive.”
He shot me a crooked grin. “And all of those things are still true. But you forgot beautiful.”
“You never said beautiful.” I raised my eyebrows for emphasis.
“Well, I was definitely thinking it. I’m thinking it now, too.” The firelight danced in Theo’s eyes as he looked into mine.
For a moment, everyone else faded away and it was just the two of us. It took everything in me not to lean in and kiss him right then.
Then I felt the force of Evander’s glare before I even saw it, his gray eyes alit with something like a warning. Gritting my teeth, I whispered to Theo.
“Go to bed early tonight. I’ll come to your tent.”