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“Advantage? You act like I’m powerless. If I should be worried about anyone it’s you.Youtook advantage of me already.” I reach forward, jaw locked as I try to snatch the keys from him.
“That’s the deal, take it or leave it.”
Glaring hard, I feel power welling in my fingertips, but I push it down. “You owe me this. I won’t stay with you and I could very well freeze during the blackout.”
“I don’t know them. I don’t rent rooms to people I’m not familiar with. As is, your presence here could lead to the king’s guards knocking on my door. I’m taking a risk by letting you stay.” Something about the way he smirks tells me he knows exactly what he’s doing. And the idea of staying in a room with him has danger written all over it. “You used to pray for a night alone with me,” he adds. “Even went to great lengths to get one, once upon a time. Now you have the chance. I’m not asking you to sleep with me, though I’m not opposed. I just want one night.”
“No.” I expected my voice to come out with a little moreoomphbehind it, not a whisper, definitely not weak.
“Is it because of him?” He up-nods toward where Loric has been standing since I sat down. I don’t answer. “Are you together? Is that why he’s been staring daggers at us?”
A smile pulls at my lips as an idea forms in my head. “In fact… I didn’t want to have to do this, but you seem to have given me no choice.” I spin on the barstool, letting the swivel seat glideme until I face Loric. Crooking a finger, I give him a come hither motion.
Loric’s face falls, the color draining from it. It makes me wonder just how well he can hear and if he knows what I’m up to. Scratching his nose, he makes his way across the bar, after leaving his cape with Mira.
“Gael, I’d like you to meet my big, scary boyfriend.”
Loric’s spine goes rigid, too straight to be natural, as he doubletakes me. “Um…” He swallows thickly, eyes wide. “Lor, nice to meet you.”
“Lor? Since when have you gone by Lor?” I scrunch my brows, wrapping my arm around his and threading our fingers together. He’s so warm… I could melt into the man. Curling against his side, I give Gael the biggest grin of my life before looking up at Loric, my eyes round and twinkling like I’m his star-crossed lover.
“My friends call me Lor,sweetheart.”
“Hmm…” I try the shortened version of his name on my tongue.“Lor… I like it.”
“I said, myfriends.” Lethal slits with a hint of silver peer down at me. If I could feel my face, I’d be worried that I poked the bear, but… No turning back now.
“Are we not friends?” I stroke my fingertips up his forearms, admiring the raised veins.
Loric must think better of disagreeing with me, or maybe he’s picked up that this little act is the only saving grace for getting those rooms without me spreading my legs for someone I’d rather put in the ground.
He clicks his tongue, his jaw grinding, but he continues with the act nonetheless. “I just prefer you to call me by your loving nicknames.” He glues his eyes to the back of the bar as he speaks, like he’s looking over the shelves of amber bottles and rows of clean glasses. Stoic as ever.
Taking another sip of the fairy wine, I drain my glass. “And what might those be?”
“Asshole, for one.” He tilts his head. His lips twitch. “Hobgoblin was pretty original.”
I snort, trapping the laugh that threatens to leave me behind my teeth. “Indeed.” I slide the glass across the bartop, nodding to Gael to pour me more.
“You really shouldn’t.” Concern lines Gael’s brow, but he pours another small glass anyway. As he scoots the glass into my hand, his fingers linger on mine a moment and I feel Loric’s chest expand until his lungs can’t hold any more, though he stays otherwise still. “I’ll give you two a moment to talk about it, but my offer stands.”
As soon as Gael is far enough down the bar that he won’t hear us, I turn to Loric. “I need you to use your…” I trail off, wiggling my fingers in front of my mouth in a vain attempt to draw a picture or act out the signal for chloroform breath.
“You want me tospiton him?” Loric’s eyebrows nearly reach his hairline.
“No.Breathe.”I wack him in the arm, which seems to amuse him more than anything.“I want you to breathe on him so I can steal the keys.”
“That’s a stupid plan.” Loric turns to face me, taking his hand back from my death grip. Honestly, I forgot I was holding it.
“Well, I don’t see you coming up with anything, Mr. Send-the-Socially-Deprived-Woman-into-Battle. Go on, then. Let’s hear your plan since it’s so much better.” I cross my arms, pursing my lips.
“What you’re suggesting is temporary. We’ll be here for a couple days. He’ll kick us out or call the guard as soon as he wakes up. As for my plan, I already told you.” Loric steps behind me, planting his hands on the bartop so his arms are on eitherside of my body. He leans in close. “Just lure him outside. You don’t have to see anything. I’ll take care of it.”
“There has to be another way.” I gulp, trying to ignore the urge to rest my back against his chest. “I’m not a murderer. At least, I don’t want to be.”
He pushes away, only to settle against the bar beside me with his arms crossed firmly over his chest. The entire persona he’s wearing screams unmoving, but his face seems to soften a bit as he scrutinizes me.
I take the opportunity to further my case. “Gael can’t call the guard. He’s an escaped convict for fates sake.” I take another gulp, feeling power buzzing in my fingertips, and hoping the wine will help my magic simmer down. Besides, this stuff is phenomenal, like berries and sweet dreams and whimsy in a bottle.
