The entrance gave way to a room beside it. Pictures lined the walls. Most of them were of food—a few were painted to look like the forest.
A few fae looked up as we entered. It wasn’t long before they settled back into their conversations.
Fyn gestured to a round barrel that held a slender slab of wood on top in the corner of the room. Mismatched chairs were tucked beneath the slab. I slid into one carved from a light wood, grateful for a seat that wasn’t moving.
His jade eyes glimmer as he pressed his palms into thetable. “So the meat pie is phenomenal. I definitely recommend it. Want one?”
He had also recommended the stew.
I was hesitant to say yes, but still I nodded. “I’m truly thirsty.” I eyed the amber bottles that lined the high shelves. No one had offered me anything beyond water and tea in the Heart. I was grateful they didn’t serve just tea here.
“I’ll get you water.”
“We’re in a tavern. Surely there’s something stronger.” I needed it.
The muscles in his arms bulged as he leaned closer to me across the edge of the table. “I don’t suppose you drink ale?”
“I prefer wine.” I was craving it.
“There will be no wine for you.” He was far too serious the moment he said it. “Just water.”
“Fyn. I can handle a glass of wine. I promise.” I was unlikely to be altered after one glass.
“You can drink human wine, sure, but this isn’t that. It’s fae wine. It’s too strong for you.” He shook his head until his waves tumbled onto his forehead.
I rolled my eyes at him, too exhausted to fight back.
How the fae determined anything was too much for humans, I didn’t know. Other than the newly established trade route and the wars between realms, the fae and the humans had interacted little in decades.
“Think of it as an experiment. If I can drink it, then I disprove your theory.” I enjoyed taunting him. “And if I’m wrong, there are beds upstairs. Hopefully more than one this time.”
“As fun as that sounds for absolutely no one, I will not be responsible for getting you drunk. You are enough to handle sober.”
“Fine.” I exaggerated the end of the word, emphasizingmy disappointment. I was truly looking forward to trying it. “You are absolutely no fun.”
“There are plenty of people that think I’m very fun, thank you.”
“Fyn rarely brings company with him.” A low voice sang behind me. I turned to see a fae male dressed in a pressed tunic. “Seems he’s not here for work this time.”
“No. I’m taking a break from my usual work right now, and whatever problem you’re coming to me with… I want nothing to do with it.” Fyn leaned back in his chair.
I peered up into the stranger’s flickering blue eyes.
“Luckily for you, today was a day off for me. I’m here for purely social reasons. You’ll have to excuse the Lord Chancellor. He’s completely remiss in his manners. The name is Jayln. And yours?” Jayln swung his midnight braid over his shoulder as he sat beside me.
“She’s not falling for your charm,” Fyn said.
“Surely, you can let the lady speak for herself.” Jayln looked to me.
As my lips pursed, I suddenly didn’t want to say my name. For the night I wanted to be someone else entirely. “Ash.”
Fyn nodded, his head tilting toward me in approval.
“An unusual name for such a beautiful lady.” He gripped the handle of his mug. “He hasn’t mentioned you.”
“I wouldn’t assume he would.” It would have been more surprising if he said Fyn had.
“That’s quite enough. You can go delight yourself in far too much alcohol. She isn’t interested in getting to know you, Jayln.” Fyn gripped the edge of the table.
