Page 52 of Forged in Fading

“You know nothing about her.” Pyry’s voice was pure venom.

“Wouldn’t you love to find out what I know?” Boden stalked toward them with the fluid and graceful movements of a predator. Without even knowing his association with King Einar, anyone could tell he had ways of making others bleed. “Alvara can choose to go with you of her own free will, but it seems clear to me that she has no desire to leave. She may be too kind to throw you out into the street, but I have no such reservations.”

Pyry’s grip loosened, but he didn’t release her.

“Please, Pyry,” Alvara whispered.

His hand dropped away from her arm. “If you hurt her, it will be the last thing you ever do.”

Boden snorted. Of course he did. “Your intimidation tactics could really use some finessing.” He slung the various bags of her supplies over his shoulder and gripped her spear in his hand. “Ready?”

Her eyes lingered on Pyry. If she never saw him again…she should say something. She opened her mouth to do just that when Boden shouldered past Pyry, smacking him in the side with the shaft of her spear.

“Lovely to meet you, Pyry. Hope we never have to do this again.”

Alvara pinched the bridge of her nose. “Let’s go, Boden.”

“As my lady commands,” he said with a smug smile, and she stormed out of the house through the snow.

“What in the nine realms was that?” Alvara snapped.

“I’m sorry but turning him as red as a tomato was a very cathartic experience for me. I may have to come back once a week to do it again.”

Alvara snatched her spear from his hands and trudged toward the inn.

“Is he always like that?” Boden asked.

“Are you always like that?”

“Alvara.” The way he said her name, with such gentleness—her feet stopped.

There wasn’t enough time in the world to explain everything that had transpired between her and Pyry since they had met. “He wasn’t. Not always. After his father passed, he changed. And when my family passed…it’s for the best.”

“You deserve better.”

Alvara didn’t have the heart to tell him that the gods sure didn’t seem to agree.

Chapter Twenty

They spent the rest of the day asking around Vorianta for news of the humans who had attacked over the past few weeks, though Alvara made sure to cover her gray hair with a hood. Their efforts proved fruitless, either because Alvara’s people weren’t willing to divulge the information they held, or because the queen had kept it hidden within the palace walls.

Alvara readied herself for what would no doubt be another horrible night of sleep and slipped into her cotton nightgown with her back turned to Boden’s—an unspoken agreement they had settled on the first night.

As usual, the bed was stifling from Boden’s scorching body heat. He might as well have been covered in flames. No wonder he slept poorly.

“You really can take some clothes off, Boden. I’m not going to faint from seeing you shirtless.”

“Now, now. Let’s not make promises we can’t keep.”

Alvara ignored him and rolled to her side. If he wanted to stay uncomfortable, it was none of her business.

Boden rustled under the covers and loosed a sigh. Maybe he would have been more comfortable sleeping on the cold floor. She turned to say as much, but the words caught in her throat.

Countless layers of raised scars marred his back, where a large white tattoo had been torn into indecipherable pieces. A small gasp escaped her lips, and Boden’s muscles twitched. How many times had he been whipped?

“Too tempting? I can put the shirt back on.”

“Your back,” was all Alvara managed to get out. She couldn’t tear her eyes away. The agony he had endured…