Page 25 of Badmouths & Bards

Tala scowled, readying to flick her weapon against his perfect, clean-shaven chin—

“Hmm, did I miss out on the foreplay?”

Shuffling from the bedroom door, Crop Top was topless.

Because of course he was.

It didn’t help that his pants were hanging dangerously low around his waist, clinging desperately to his hips as he wiped the sleep from his eyes. The material barely held it together as he shuffled to Face’s side.

“Not at all,” Casimine smiled, eyes still trained on hers. “I believe we’re still in the process of it.”

“Cool,” No-top said, slinging an arm around his shoulders.

“No, no, not cool!” Tala exploded. “I am your bodyguard—”

“You can guard my body—”

“Bodyguard,” Tala hissed as she aimed the end of her weapon at Ameriden’s face. “Which means I’m supposed to keep you safe. I’m not here to entertain you! How many times do I have to say it before you two get it?”

The pair shared a glance.

“Well—”

“Shut the fuck up!” Tala barked, eyes alight with fury. “You’re two of the most irritating men I have ever met. Let me do my fucking job before I beat the shit out of both of you.”

“I love it when she teases like that,” Ameriden mock-whispered.

“I know,” Casimine replied. “It’s so cute.”

CUTE?!

Tala was hot enough to boil water. Her wrists were already turning, preparing to take both her batons out so she could slam them against the side of their necks. If she struck true enough, it would knock their thick skulls together, and maybe she would know peace and fucking quiet for once! She was about to follow through, fingers touching her second baton when a shot of clarity rang through her head.

Or rather, a memory from the High Priestess.

‘We are all our own worse enemies. Some fight insecurity, others bitterness or doubt. Your enemy is your anger, Taldesa. It’s unique compared to the students who share this enemy, for your anger appears to have no origin. There is no singular wound that is responsible for this anger, which is what makes it so dangerous. We have tried our best to focus that anger toward the fight, but it only appears to hinder you. I worry you’ll lash out at the ones who could grow to love you—’

Tala twisted her wrist and slid her baton back into her belt and mumbled, “Whatever.”

She turned back to the rose thorns. Poison was out of the question, as Tala was sure the effects would have hit her by then, healing magic or not. There wasn’t any powdery substance on the rose petals either, which meant—

“Don’t even think about touching the basket,” she said.

Somehow focusing on the flowers had brought her senses back from the brink of anger and by doing so, her ears had picked up on their movement. The basket was slowly lowered back down.

“Room service should be here soon,” Face said. “You can wait until then.”

“But I really wanted to share,” No-top replied.

You can share my knees on your throats if you don’t stop being so gods damn annoying!

“You can share with me.”

“I love sharing with you, Casi.”

Tala frowned.

Was it her imagination or were they flirting? Or were they talking about something else? No, that was ridiculous. They were just being their usual rich asshole selves. Preening and posturing was their whole bardic thing. If there was one thing Tala had learned about them in the short three days she had been subjected to their company, it was that they were always talking. It was a trait Tala was beginning to think was required when going to bard college.