“Not at all,” Thom replied, amused. “I simply can’t fathom what it looks like for Auden Calder to have caught feelings.”
She drew back, her trim figure muscular like any Warrior’s would be, but somehow still petite. Her unembellished dress bore almost a military cut with a square neckline that matched her no-nonsense expression. Its deep color reminded Thom of the reddest wine, setting off her light brown skin. She was attractive in a foreboding manner, one that suggested no man should dare to approach her, as they could never hope to match her superiority. Thom had to admit he was impressed that Auden had plucked up the courage to make a move, though he couldn’t fault his taste.
As Thom finished his assessment of her, it seemed she also completed her evaluation of him. A slow smile spread across her lips. “I don’t think we’ve officially met,” she said, holding out her hand. “I’m Breata Lohen. You can call me Brea.”
“Thom Deckard,” he said, not surprised by the unusual strength of her handshake.
Drawing back, Brea returned to the previous conversation. “Auden doesn’t have feelings for me. He has ambitions for himself.”
“Well, he does havesomefeelings for you,” Vayden interjected. “He likes you well enough; it’s just not in a romantic way.”
Brea lifted her glass. “How flattering.”
“He desires to save Maura,” Isla added. “It’s a noble pursuit.”
“I don’t have any interest in being part of anyone’s noble pursuit.” Brea turned to Vayden once more. “If I’m going to travel with this group, I need you to tell him that he’s picked the wrong Warrior.”
Vayden gave her an apologetic shrug. “Alma’s already promised to Grey. Unless we find another female Warrior, Auden doesn’t have other choices.”
“What an honor, being a last resort.”
Thom let out an amused huff just as the storeroom’s door opened. Ilain strode out of the room, head held high, and Ethenn stood in the doorway, a look of pure confusion on his face. Thom scanned Ilain for any sign of mussing, but every bit of her scarlet dress and fiery hair was in place. Evidently, she’d not shared her true feelings with Ethenn.
When Ilain joined Auden and his friends, Ethenn ambled uncertainly into the tavern. He glanced at Thom’s table before bypassing it to sit with Rafferty at the front of the room. It appeared that Thom had more apologies to make.
He glanced down into his empty tankard, then caught Imelda’s eye and gestured for her to bring another.
“Isn’t that your third?” Brea asked.
Thom turned back to her, surprised. “Are you counting my drinks?”
“I count everyone’s drinks,” she said.
“Why?”
“Because drinking makes people ridiculous,” she said with a pointed look in Ilain’s direction. “And I like to be prepared in case I need to intervene.”
Thom tipped his chin toward the whiskey tumbler in her hand. “I don’t imagine that’ll aid your endeavor.”
The corner of her mouth twitched. “I can’t get drunk.”
“Lucky,” Vayden muttered.
“It’s a side effect of being a Warrior,” Brea explained at Thom’s baffled expression. “The more I drink, the more my magic rises to counteract the alcohol’s effects.”
Thom shook his head. “That doesn’t make sense,” he said. “I guarantee you, I’ve seen both Evylin and Ethenn get drunk.”
“They’re both young, rather inexperienced Warriors. The greater your connection with your magic, the less the alcohol affects you.”
“Doesn’t that take the point out of drinking?” Thom asked.
“Not if you actually enjoy whatever it is you’re drinking,” Vayden said, lifting the glass of wine in front of him. “Being drunk is a distraction from the drink in your hand.”
Thom grinned. “You’d make a poor drinking buddy,” he said, then thanked Imelda as she set his new tankard in front of him.
Turning back to Brea, Thom tipped his head toward Auden and Ilain near the front. “I have a potential solution to your problem,” he said.
“Do you?” she asked.
