Page 122 of Crown of the Courtesan

I stand up, placing my hands on my hips. “The poor thing…”

“I’ll honor his sacrifice by enjoying every bite,” Rett says with a crooked grin as he looks me over. “And so will you.” He drops his items near his bedroll. “But first, I need to do something.”

Fast as lightning, he grabs me by my waist and throws me into the water in one fell swoop. The icy darkness envelops me, and the lush undergrowth at the bottom tickles my feet. Disliking the black depths, I push to the top. Rett hurls himself in, sending rolling waves crashing over me and onto the mossy embankment. My lungs burn, and my clothes hang down like an anchor, making it impossible to stay afloat.

Cursing, I pull myself out of the pool. “Why did you do that?!”

He swims gracefully around, doing a backstroke for a minute. “Because you were miserable and unwilling to do anything about it.”

“Yes,” I hiss, “but now my dress is wet.”

“Or is it freshly washed?” He laughs before climbing out and sitting beside me. For a second, I fear he might be naked, but thankfully he still wears his underthings. He bumps my shoulder, almost knocking me over. “Don’t be mad. Admit it. You feel better now that you’re a little less stinky.”

My teeth chatter in response as I stand up and shuffle toward the trees. My hands shake as I try to unlace the back of my dress.

Rett strides over and shoos my fingers. “Let me,” he says, pulling on the laces until the fabric hangs limp on my shoulders.

Uncertain about fully undressing in front of him, I give him a suspicious look.

“We’ve just spent weeks together on the road. Why are you embarrassed?” He throws his hands upward and laughs.

Heat floods my body, and the shivers stop. “That was different. You were always off doing something when I was changing my clothes,” I grumble, “and I get nervous when people are watching me.”

“I don’t want this to sound rude, but aren’t Lady Courtesans accustomed to people gawking at them?”

“It was something I got used to because it was a requirement, but I’ve never liked it, not really,” I explain, taking a deep breath. I could elaborate further but decide not to. It would be too difficult to explain how the further I get away from my courtesan life, the more sensitive I become to the things I once found acceptable.

My mind wanders to Ashland—he’s seen me bare, but that was different.

Wasn’t it?

Annoyed with myself, I tug at my gown, step out, and then remove my petticoat. Immediate relief floods me as my wet shift and stays cling to my form, keeping me cool but not dragging me down. At least we aren’t fully naked. I hang my gown and petticoat to dry on a boulder and ignore the stabbing remembrance of my last night with⁠—

But I’m not supposed to think about him, so I content myself with watching Rett build the fire and skin the rabbit instead. “Tell me more about your home. I want to be prepared before we get there,” I say.

His eyes flick up as his hands work deftly. “We’re an empire governed by my mother, Empress Erah. She worked hard to create what it is today. The arts, the culture, the goodwill between beastfolk. It’s all because of her.”

“She sounds like an amazing woman.”

“Don’t let her reputation fool you. She can be damn difficult. She allows no one to take advantage of her.”

“Should I be intimidated?”

“She’d prefer you to be, but she’s human, the same as you.” He positions the skinned rabbit on a roasting stick over the crackling flames.

“And there’s no emperor?” I regret my question almost immediately.

His tusks protrude farther beneath his bottom lip than usual. He hesitates before saying, “He died many years ago.”

“I’m sorry. It was stupid of me to ask.” Self-conscious of my blunder, I ramble, “I should have known that, but I’ve learned very little history in my education and even less so about neighboring kingdoms and their rulers. I was planning on hiring a private tutor before I was forced to leave Alexandria. But I guess I’ll have to learn as I go.”

“You’re open to learning, and that’s all that matters.” His smile returns, kindness flooding his gaze.

The conversation drifts as he turns the meat. The aroma makes my mouth water and my stomach growl.

“Just about done,” he says over the flames. Behind him, the pink dusky evening rays shine off the hoop earrings lining the cartilage of his ears. “Plus, I have a surprise.”

“Rabbit dinner and a surprise? I must be a lucky girl tonight.”