“That’s a good idea,” Brax adds.
“Yeah, let’s do that. Except make it three bags, not two.” Indy frowns at me. “I want you to have one too.”
“Penny—“
“No.” I hold up my hand to silence him. “We might technically be courting but it’s important to me that you feel as included as Ry and Brax, okay? I want you to know that I care for you.” I swallow as his eyes turn heated. He steps closer and lifts one hand to my cheek.
“Okay, you two, break it up. We have to fix Penny’s hands and get these coins put away.” Ryker claps his hands, causing me to jump.
“Yes, sir!” I joke as Indy produces two more bags from somewhere and the three of them start splitting up the coins.
“The cream is in my room. Penny, I can escort you upstairs, and the other three can meet us up there when they’re done,” Silver suggests.
“Sure,” I say, jumping off the barstool.
“We’ll get some food and be up in a couple minutes, Sugar. Don’t worry, I know Silver, he’s a good guy,” Indy tells me with a smile. I appreciate him telling me that. I don’t know Silver, but Ihave a really good vibe from him so far. In fact, if anything, I find his presence reassuring, sort of like the way Ryker’s energy feels. But where Ryker was more hyper and fun, Silver was laid back and calming.
As we climb the stairs side by side, Silver speaks. “So, Penny, how exactly did you fall down a mountain? I’m dying to know.”
“Oh, that’s rather embarrassing. I was just standing at the edge and the ground gave way underneath me.”
“Wow, it’s incredible you aren’t hurt anymore than you are.” He stops as he reaches the stop of the stairs, looking me up and down with a frown. “Youaren’thurt anywhere else, are you?”
I shake my head. “No. My butt was a little sore, but it’s mostly my hands.”
His eyes dart to my behind before returning to my face, and I can see him trying to hold in a smile. “I’m glad.”
We enter the room and I take a moment to look around this time. I notice several small wooden objects on the window sill, and move to look at them closely. They are tiny figurines, carved in wood. One looks like a pirate ship, one could be a worm… or snake, and the last is a couple, their faces are blank though, like they haven’t been carved yet.
“These are beautiful,” I say, bending down to look closer.
“You like those?”
“Yeah, who made them?”
“I did.”
I look at him in surprise. “You carved these by hand?” He nods and I turn back to them. “You’re very talented.”
“Thank you, Penny.” His voice is quiet and when I glance over, he clears his throat. “Why don’t you take a seat on the bed, I’ve got the cream here.” He holds up a small tin as I take a seat.
He opens the tin and carefully takes one of my hands and starts applying the cream to my palm.
“Tell me, Penny, what were you doing on the mountainanyway?” he asks after a moment of silence. His hands are rough but gentle, and the feeling of his skin on mine causes goosebumps to rise on my skin.Why was I reacting this way to him?
Was he handsome? Yes.
Was he interesting and charming? Also yes.
Did I feel a pull to him like I did the others? I was afraid of the answer to that question. Certainly three mates was enough?
I pull myself back to the question at hand. “After the skyreacher dropped me and Ry at the top, we met Brax when a giant… uh, what did he call it? Oh, right, when a giant snowprowler tried to attack us. Brax saved us. Then they said they’d help me find my friend who’s missing, so we headed down the mountain. An avalanche trapped us inside an underground cave and when we finally made it out, well, that’s when I fell down the side. After a near mishap with a caledon, Indy saved me. Then there were the bandits, and?—”
“What bandits?” Brax asks angrily from the doorway.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
BRAXTON
