With Thane’s hand clamped around hers, Layala let him pull her through the crowds. She watched every person she passed with suspicion. How many spies did Tenebris have? Would she be recognized? Would Thane? Their only possible lead on the All Seeing Stone was a friend of Thane’s and risky or not, this is where they must be.
Thane pulled Layala toward a cedar wood building with a hanging white painted sign that read: The Salty Gnome. It was the only business on the street that wasn’t painted a bright lively color. Instead, large reddish-brown logs lined the walls. Grass grew out of the roof with sprays of tiny lavender flowers. Smoke roiled out a chimney that faintly smelled of pine.
Thane abruptly halted, and Layala bumped into him. Two men in dirty brown leathers, and shaggy hair stumbled out the swinging doors in front of them. One fell onto his side and rolled over onto his back, laughing up at the sky. He was either drunk or wasn’t entirely right in the mind. It was then she noticed curling black horns coming out of the crown of his head and a long, skinny tail covered in tawny fur with a tuft of black hair on the end. He flicked it like a cat would. She couldn’t help but stare, having never seen anything like him before. She’d heard rumors that people like him existed but didn’t believe it.
A burly man with a barrel chest crossed his arms in the doorway. “And stay out, you filthy dogs.” A streak of gray went through the center of the doorman’s full, dark beard. He turned brown eyes on Thane and then spied Layala behind him. “Not sure you want to bring a lady elf in here, sir. Been lots of trouble today. Something in the air.”
“She can hold her own. We’re here to see Kail.”
With a grunt he shrugged. “As you wish.” He held the door open to a billow of smoke and loud chatter. The rambunctious atmosphere and low lighting were a stark contrast to the sunny day outside. Nearly every table was full of elves, humans, a table of dwarves with beards that reached their belly buttons, and a pair of those horned men with antlers any prized elk would have. Sprites buzzed around swirling the clouds of smoke, carrying drinks and small baskets of food. A lady elf in a floor-length scarlet dress sang on a stage to the right. Her voice was smooth as red wine and haunting like a deserted forest. Layala spotted a table full of females in extravagant yet revealing gowns. One elf with beautiful golden-brown hair held a thin black cigarette holder between her fingers. She took a deep pull of smoke and blew it out without ever taking her lavender eyes off Layala. She couldn’t decide if the lady wanted to attack her or ask Layala to join them.
Layala fidgeted with her hands, remembering how filthy her dress was and that her hair must look like a tangled wet mop. Thane slipped his arm around her waist and leaned down to her ear. “He’ll be at the corner booth.”
Before Thane could pull them inside further, she asked, “Did you know that old witch?”
“No, but it was obvious she knew who you were. I didn’t like it.”
“And you. But it was odd though. She looked blind.”
He grunted. “Some human witches have the gift of the other sight. To see and know the truth. Perhaps she did.”
“What do you think she meant about the spirits? And do you think she works for your father?”
He lifted a shoulder. “She could be deranged for all we know. She certainly looked it. As far as working for my father, I doubt it. He might work with the dragon and Mathekis for his own gain, but some old human woman? Not likely.”
They started moving around the tables. “We’re going to get some drinks,” Leif announced, and they made an escape for the bar top.
As Thane and Layala wound around the patrons and through the trails of smoke, many turned to stare as they passed, as if sensing something about them. She leaned in and said quietly, “And what are those horned men with tails?”
Thane smiled, tightening his hold on her. “They call themselves fae. There aren’t many in Adalon. From what I’ve heard they come from across the seas. A land they call Delfaria, I believe. Since they’ve never caused much trouble, I haven’t worried about them.”
They came upon the corner booth to a male elf sitting alone with a black top hat, and charcoal suit with a purple undervest perfectly tailored to his body. On the table before him was a stack of papers, an ink bottle with a quill, and a glass mug of amber liquid. He lifted his head and a big grin spread across his handsome face. “Well, I’ll be damned. You’re not dead. The Maker has blessed us. Sit down, friend.” He shifted his attention to Layala. “You too, lovely.”
Thane slid into the red leather seat and patted the spot next to him. With a little reluctance she scooted in beside him. Thane tilted his head toward her. “Kail, this is Laya. Laya, Kail.”
“It’s a pleasure,” he said with a smile. “I assume you two need a room and something to eat.”
“Yes, a few rooms, for some friends, and she needs fresh clothes.”
“And I’d like a bath.” Layala was still self-conscious that she smelled like goat turds.
Kail lifted a hand and curled his finger. “Of course. I’ll have Alisara assist you. She has impeccable taste.” Layala didn’t even have to turn to know exactly who Alisara was.
The brunette appeared at the table a few moments later, blowing a stream of sweet-smelling smoke at Layala. She arched a sleek eyebrow, looking from Layala, to Thane and then Kail. “Yes?” she said in a slow, melodic voice.
“Sister, Laya here needs some new attire. Would you be a peach and get her a few changes of clothes?” He turned back to Thane and Layala. “Will that be enough? How long do you plan to stay?”
“Not long. Perhaps for the night,” Thane answered. “But a week’s worth of clothes would be appreciated. Traveling attire preferably.”
“Of course.” She dipped her head. “Anything for you, Highness.” Layala didn’t like the way her seductive gaze lingered on Thane. But Alisara held out her arm to gesture for her to follow, and Layala stood. She needed that bath.
Thane grasped her wrist, offered a brief smile, and kissed her knuckles. “I’ll be right here.”
She nodded as a nervous pull tugged at her insides. Parting with him so soon even if it wasn’t for long, reminded her of their mate bond being torn apart, leaving her with a gaping hole that still ached. Her stomach knotted the moment he dropped her hand.
Thane turned back to Kail. “Remember that thing I asked you to find me? Did you?”
“I did,” Kail’s voice drifted away as Layala followed behind Alisara. What did he ask him to find? She glanced back once more, trying to ignore that incessant feeling not to leave Thane. His bright-green eyes watched her with predatory awareness. With a deep breath Layala pulled her gaze away focusing on where she walked. The tables full of leering males made her skin crawl.
“Don’t worry, most of them are harmless,” Alisara said over her shoulder, blowing another puff of smoke. “But you are fresh meat so don’t begrudge them for looking.”
“I’m afraid I’m not much to look at at the moment.” She gestured to her dirty dress.
Alisara dragged her lavender gaze up and down Layala and she turned without a word.
Before she got to the other side of the hall, Thane appeared at her side. “I’m walking you to the room.”
The relief that washed over her was like warm summer rain. She slipped her hand into his and bumped her cheek into his shoulder.
Alisara turned slightly but kept walking. “This is your mate, isn’t it? The one you always told me you waited for.”
“Yes,” Thane answered. Layala absently touched her wrist where the mate mark had been all her life—gone now. She glanced between the two of them. Did Alisara have feelings for Thane? They had some sort of past if he’d told Alisara about her.
A not-so-genuine smile pulled up the corners of Alisara’s mouth. “Congratulations.”
They marched up a set of creaky wooden stairs with crooked frames hanging on the walls, passed several doors on either side of the long hallway, and ended up at the last room on the right. A gold key ring jingled from her pocket, and she stuck a thick silver key into the lock. It clicked and she pushed through the door. It was a small, plain room holding a narrow bed with red velvet covers. What appeared to be a large silver trough with a metal pump of some kind sat in the corner with a small arched brick fireplace behind it.
“Pull the lever a few times and hot water will run. There should be some soap and oils on the tray next to the tub. I’ll be back with some clothes in a little while.” She hovered near the door. “You and I look to be about the same size so it shouldn’t be difficult.”
“Running water?” Layala asked, stepping across the room. She touched the metal handle and inspected the spout.
“Yes. My brother’s invention. He’ll have to speak with you about installing it in the castle.”
Thane plopped down on the bed, sliding his hand over the top of the velvet blanket. “Perhaps when I’m not a wanted fugitive.”
“I’d heard there was a bounty on your head. Be careful, Thane.” She rested a hand on the door handle, popping out one of her hips. “Money corrupts and the amount your father is offering would be enough to make even the most loyal consider turning on you.”
“And where does that leave us then?” Thane asked, giving her a hard stare Layala had only seen him use a few times. Usually right before he was going to kill someone. The coldness of it sent a chill down Layala’s back and it wasn’t even directed at her.
She raised her chin slightly. “You know I have plenty of money, Your Highness.”
“And yet you’re never satisfied.”
So these two did have a past. It’s not that Layala believed Thane didn’t have a life before her, but the tension between these two left her with a lot of questions. They clearly knew each other on a deeper basis than mere acquaintances.
“You’ve always been able to trust my brother and me.” She closed the door gently behind her.
Layala walked to the metal trough and tugged on the waterspout handle a few times. Water indeed rushed out of the spout. Her fingers glided through the hot water, and she smiled. It would feel wondrous on her grimy skin and hair. She peeked over her shoulder at Thane, debating on asking him about his relationship with Alisara.
As the tub filled, she pushed at the fabric covering her shoulders but then stopped. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t seen every inch of her bare skin, but a nervous twinge in her gut made her turn. It had been weeks since they bared it all in the ruins and explored each other’s bodies for the first time. “Do you think we are safe here?”
Thane’s eyes pinned on her revealed shoulder. The heat in his stare made her heart beat faster. “For now. Even if she betrayed us, Tenebris couldn’t get enough soldiers here tonight to deal with us.”
“Can she and her brother be trusted?”
He looked toward the small window that let in a ray of sunshine. “I don’t trust anyone anymore.” His throat bobbed. “Not after what Aldrich did.”
She felt sick about Aldrich’s betrayal, and she wasn’t nearly as close to him as Thane. How disgusted he must be was a whole other level. She closed the distance between them and placed a gentle hand on his scruffy cheek. “You can trust me.”
A half smile lifted his cheek, and he kissed her palm. “I do.” He pointed behind her. “Your bath is going to spill over soon.”
She whirled around and dashed across the floor to turn the water off. A few lagging drops of water splashed into the full tub. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Thane watching her and her heart raced. They were very much alone, and the heat of his gaze intensified. Her thoughts trailed to his hands gliding over her body, to his lips pressing to intimate parts. He’d brought her pleasure she’d never known before, and she craved that again.
She didn’t know why she was more nervous about being with him at this moment than the first time. Maybe it was because a great deal transpired between then and now. Their newfound relationship was still fresh when they’d been torn apart. She’d only begun to discover who Thane was and what his touch did to her.
He stood and stretched his arms overhead. “Your gnome has been awfully quiet,” he said, filling in the tense silence. “I almost forgot she was with us.” He tugged at the strings holding his cloak on and gently set it on the bed. He smirked, moving a fold of fabric aside. “She’s asleep. I swear the creature wouldn’t wake even through a hurricane.”
Layala half smiled until his bright-green eyes found hers, and the muscles in his jaw rippled. After they stared for a moment, Layala’s heart began to thunder. She couldn’t feel his emotions through the mate bond anymore, but it didn’t make the room any less charged with longing. Almost like a tension line went taut between them. Warmth and desire pooled in her core trailing lower. Maker above, he was beautiful.
There was something intimate simply in the way he stared. “Do you want me to leave you alone to bathe?” he asked quietly, never breaking eye contact. She knew that wasn’t what he wanted. She smelt the sweet tinge of his arousal in the air, and heard his desire in his rapid heartbeat. Even his pupils dilated with his excitement. The fact that she knew he craved her too made her want him all the more.
She swallowed down the nervous lump in her throat, feeling breathless. “I’d much rather you stayed… and bathed with me.”
He smiled, and prowled toward her. “I hoped you’d say that.”
