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Saints. Had he even gone to bed?
"You can come along, you know," I said, my voice quiet. "Your Gram could handle things while you're gone."
He'd already started shaking his head before I could finish. "This village is my responsibility. I ran away for long enough. And look what happened last time. I just can't risk it."
As if it were his fault that his parents died while he was away. He was just so damn stubborn!
Forcing my frustration away, I took a long sip of my koffee.
It was his life. He could do what he wanted.
"We'll be fine."
Liam gritted his teeth and nodded. "If I don't hear from you in a week's time, I'll send out a search party."
"You can't afford to do that, and you know it." I sat my koffee down and met his eyes. "If she and I don't come back by then, we aren't coming back at all."
"Fuck!" Liam said, voice rough as he ran a hand through his short black hair.
I patted him on the shoulder and smiled. "I'll keep her safe, though. Aside from Karemi, I like to think I've done a good job of it over the last two years. This will be no different."
He swallowed hard, then nodded and grabbed a basket on the table. "My aunt said it's for you and Kaiya."
I cocked a brow, then peeked inside and let out a long whistle. Fresh breads, fruit pastries, cheese, and nuts.
Liam's lips twitched as I popped a cheese roll in my mouth, the salty, rich flavor enough to make me groan. "I swear to all the saints, I'd steal Mrs. Harlsted and make her my queen if your uncle wouldn't kick my ass first."
He chuckled, reaching out to pluck a wrapped lemon loaf from the basket just as Kaiya let out a loud snore.
Startled, I turned to face the sleeping woman. She slept so soundly …
Hmm — perhaps I could get some revenge for that little stunt she'd pulled on the boat and re-establish space between us in the process.
Grinning back at Liam, I turned and crept to Kaiya's side. Bending, I tied the ends of the ribbons holding her pale hair in place to the arms of the chair behind her.
Liam let out a soft huff then stalked out of the room. I heard the door click closed as he stepped out.
Taking a breath, I propped my hip against the wall and then cleared my throat. Loudly.
Kaiya sat straight up. Bleary eyes wide. "Wh — what?"
She looked at the blanket across her lap, then over at the steaming koffee by her side, then back at me.
"This is … nice." Her hazel eyes narrowed. "Too nice. What are you up to?"
I shrugged.
She leaned forward, reaching for the koffee, yelping as her hair ribbon tugged at the arm of the chair.
"Seriously?" She spluttered. "You tied my hair to the chair?" She reached behind herself and untied the ribbons. "I swear you're nothing but an overgrown child!"
My grin spread into a smug smile. "It's not as bad as a dagger to your cock, trust me."
Her face blanked, then her lips quirked, and she stood to her feet. "Fine. That's fair. But we're even now."
My mind blanked as the sunlight streamed through her very see-through white gown.
Saints alive.
