“You see, imp,” Rhyn murmured against Aida’s temple as he let her slide down his body until she could support her weight. His arm loosened its hold, though he kept Aida close as he nuzzled her cheek and continued in a low voice, “She thinks she’s better than the likes of me. Makes the charms that keep my men protected, gives us the spells. Eats the bread bought with stolen gold all the same, but Miyenth of Oscara puts her pretty little nose in the air. Know why, imp?”
Aida gave a slow shake of her head, her brows knitting as she glanced at the crimson stain spreading across Miyenth’s cheeks.
“Answer’s right there in her name. Thinks she’s something special because she claims to come from the old kingdom. Never mind no one’s survived up in that valley near on twenty years now.” Sliding a hand up to Aida’s cheek, he tipped her head back so he could look down into her eyes with a slanted smile. Rhyn’s voice dropped to a soothing rumble as he traced the curve of Aida’s cheek, Miyenth and her home fading into the background. Easy and dangerous, he swiped his thumb over Aida’s lips. “Now, a fine lady such as you, you’re not scared of me at all, are you, imp?”
“N-No,” Aida said, lips slanting to the side at her admission.
“Where do you call home, imp? I’ll have to avoid that place if they have such fearless women.”
“I don’t have a home. We came from Logoria, in Aeslomor. He said that-that he stole me and—”
“Shh, imp. No tears now.” Rhyn stroked her cheek in a slow pattern, his smile dazzling in its warmth.
“Please don’t take it off, though. You saw what happened before he put it on me.”
“Afraid I didn’t, imp. Just saw him jump on top of you and put it over your head. Now, why’d he do that?”
“I made them all sleep, and I don’t know how. He… he said I took his power, and I must have done it again somehow. I don’t know, but the light stopped when he put it on me.”
“Ask her what light,” Miyenth whispered.
“What light was that, imp? I didn’t see any.”
Aida pursed her lips, glancing from Miyenth to the crowded room that seemed to come back into focus. Turning her starry gaze back to Rhyn, her brow furrowed. “How did you not see it?”
“You’re losing her, you oaf,” Miyenth hissed as sweet-smelling smoke wafted over Aida’s face. “I told you, you’re not half as charming as you think.”
“He can be when he wants, I think,” Aida said, waving her hand in front of her face to clear away the pungent aroma of smoldering herbs. “What is that?”
“Nothing to worry about, imp. Why not tell me more about that light?” Rhyn asked, a deep resonance vibrating from his chest.
It sought to calm and soothe Aida. That much was certain, though not why he would make such a sound at her. It wasn’t the same powerful growl that Er’it had used with her. She knew that for sure. As much as Rhyn continued to touch her and keep her close, whatever interest he might have once had in her body seemed washed away by his curiosity.
“It was a blue light, like the moon,” Aida said, deciding to answer before she waved at the smoke and gave a hearty sneeze. “It lit up the whole trail. How did you and your men not see it?”
“Blue’s a healer. Ask her if—”
“She’s not under anymore, Miyenth. Ask her yourself.” Rhyn’s smile twitched, a true grin making a fleeting appearance as he righted Aida and let her stand on her own. Head canted, he regarded her with intense scrutiny. “How did you do that, imp?”
“Do what?”
“She’s not a mage,” Miyenth squawked. Slamming the urn of burning herbs onto a crate to wave her hands, she gestured at Aida with a sneering curl of her lip. “It’s the necklace. Take it off her and she’ll be under within a heartbeat.”
“The great Miyenth is offended,” Rhyn murmured, tapping the end of Aida’s nose.
“She’s a mage?” Aida asked in a plaintive whine, shuffling to hide in Rhyn’s shadow from the muttered curses Miyenth flung at the crates she rummaged through. Fingers twitching at her side, Aida stared with longing at the blade Rhyn kept at his hip. Perhaps she could snatch it free and plunge it into her chest before either reacted.
“I amnota blood mage,” Miyenth snarled, adding a stomp of her foot to further punctuate her distaste. “Whatever that bastard wanted with you, I’ve no use for it. Now, tell me how you stopped my spell. Did he give you a charm? Some potion? Do you have some miserably weak talent of your own that manifests when being questioned?”
“Calm down, woman. You’re scaring her,” Rhyn said, chuckling the entire time he tugged Aida to his side. Taking hold of her wrist, he squeezed hard even as he smiled down at her. “I told you I wouldn’t hurt you unless you gave me cause, imp. Taking my knife would be on that list.”
“But she’s not a mage, Rhyn! She shouldn’t be able to do that.”
“I’m sorry.” Aida worried at her lower lip, bunching the folds of her skirt with the fingers of her free hand.
“Ah, she’s apologizing,” Rhyn crowed, letting loose a laugh at the ceiling as he swept Aida up into his arms. Dancing in a tight circle, he twirled around so fast her skirt drifted up. Crashing to a stop, he grinned down at Aida, a heat she understood all too well flaring in his deep blue eyes. “Now I want to keep you all for myself, imp. You’re too perfect.”
“Rhyn, you don’t understand,” Miyenth began, ending in an abrupt growl when Rhyn held his palm up to her.
