A palpable awkwardness permeated the air, worsened by shuffling papers and delicately cleared throats. Outsidethe tent, the sounds of training reached them, and Sean longed to join in. It would take his mind off everything.
Like he’d called to her, the tent flap opened, and Anna poked her head in, blue eyes shining. “Mind if I pop in for a moment?”
Sean straightened, smiling as a strange treacly sensation warmed his insides. “Hey, you.”
Anna bowed to Bowenn and Kywyn, and each of them kissed her temple.
“Hello, Anna,” Kywyn said, while Bowenn Signed,Tribe eternal.
Everybody was obsessed with this woman, the only pixie with mortal blood in the realm—other than himself and Kywyn. She was proof that pixies didn’talwaysstay with pixies, like they said. It made her a curiosity, a fascination, a deviation from the norm.
Everyone—even the warrior chieftain of the Selgovae clan—knew of Anna Ainslan. She was adored by all.
Sean couldn’t blame them. She made it so easy.
David’s gaze swung lazily her way, eyeing the sweat and mud still clinging to her skin from training. “You are very dirty.”
She shot him a sassy stare.
“You might want to consider bathing,” he said, casually setting his list aside. “I could help, if you’d like.”
Ignoring him, Anna stepped further into the tent and took stock of the map. She raised a brow at Sean. “Wow. You’ve been busy.”
“It would really be no trouble,” David continued before he could answer. “I think we’d both?—”
Anna cupped a hand over his mouth to shush him. Green eyes glinted up at her, mocking and amused.
“We still have a ways to go,” Sean said, “but we’re almost ready to start work in Viterra.”
Anna’s shoulders fell, and she released David to lean over the table. “Ugh. But I miss you.”
Sean ignored the small pang of longing the sight of her fresh from training inspired. He missed her, too. More than he’d admit. Heonly wanted a few hours away from this tent. Was that too much to ask?
“Cathaire is punishing me for your absence,” she added.
David lit up. “Are you a bad girl, Anna?”
She sighed. “You just can’t help yourself, can you?”
“I lack self-control.”
A snort ripped through her nose. “I thought control was your superpower?”
Mouth pulled into its usual smirk, he said, “Maybe. Before I met you.”
She smacked the back of his head. “Dear Mother, you are obnoxious.”
Sean couldn’t help but snicker. “I like this version of David. He weaponizes flirting.”
“I call itflirtillery,” David deadpanned.
Bowenn let out a chuffing sound that Sean would definitely deem laughter, though he was certain the pixie would deny it to his dying breath.
Chuckling, Anna sank into Sean’s empty chair and pressed a quick kiss to David’s temple. “Why did I even come in here? I knew what I was getting myself into.”
David leaned close to her ear and whispered something that made her cheeks glow. Shaking herself, she turned toward Sean. “When are they going to let you come out to play?”
Sean glanced at Bowenn, who grunted out a nonanswer.
