AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“All right, look.” I sigh heavily in frustration and pick up my spoon. “Let’s just eat and we can go to our room.”
He nods and then turns his attention to his soup. His nostrils flare and he wrinkles his nose in disgust. “What isthis?”
I’ll admit, it looks far from pleasing, but we don’t really have any other options here. “It’s food. Now, eat it.”
He straightens and pushes the bowl away from him. “I refuse to eat this slop. It’s not even fit for swine.”
I roll my eyes. “You need to eat.”
Aurdyn crosses his arms over his chest. “I will hunt tomorrow.”
I could argue, but it’s not worth it. It would only serve to draw more attention to us than we’re already getting. I swear every time someone even looks our way, Aurdyn shoots them an evil look, practically baring his teeth in aggression.
“Humans do not do that,” I tell him.
“Do what?” He snarls at another patron, and I watch as the Dwarf’s face pales and he lowers his eyes to the table.
“Bare their teeth like that to others.” His head whips back to me, irritation shifting into his gaze. “Could you at least try to act a bit more human?”
“Fine,” he grumbles. “But I refuse to smile at anyone.”
I doubt he could smile if he wanted to, anyway.
I force myself to take a few spoonfuls of soup to keep my hunger at bay, downing each one with a drink of my mead, which is surprisingly good. I’m careful not to drink too much, however. I’ve seen the effects of honeyed mead on others, and I’d rather not get drunk.
Besides, I am starting to get a bit uncomfortable by the amount of attention we are receiving from some very inebriated Dwarves.
CHAPTER18
AURDYN
It is difficult to be around all these insufferable Dwarves. The way they keep eyeing my mate, makes my blood boil in my veins. And the more they drink, the bolder they become with their lusty stares.
Freyja chastised me for baring my teeth and growling, so I narrow my eyes at the closest one, hoping he can read the murderous intent in my gaze if he does not look away from my wife.
He quickly averts his eyes, and a satisfied smirk curls my lips.
“Aurdyn?” Freyja’s voice draws my attention back to her as she stands from the table. “I’m going to speak with the innkeeper about having a bath prepared for our room.”
I stand too. “I will—”
She holds out her hand, cutting me off. “I’ll do it. You just wait here,” she says pointedly. “And try not to glare at everyone, all right?”
I cross my arms over my chest and huff out a frustrated breath. “Fine.”
She turns and I watch as she weaves through the crowd. It’s much busier in here than it was when we first arrived. It seems this is the place where most of the miners come after their shift. Many of them still wearing their dust-covered clothes as they sit around the tables with their friends, indulging in mead and beer.
Several scantily dressed Dwarf men and women move among the patrons. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as one of them leans in and whispers to one of the miners before they both stand and then make their way upstairs to one of the rooms.
I grit my teeth in disgust. Dwarves are rather lusty creatures and I hate that I’ve brought my T’kara here, but we had no choice. It was either this, or another night in a cave.
When we reach my home, I will make sure she has everything she could possibly want for her comfort. The finest clothes, the softest bedding, the tastiest food…
I keep my gaze fixed on her as she walks toward the bar. Off to her left, a Dwarf turns his gaze toward her, watching her like a fox that has just seen a hare. He slides off his bench and slithers toward her like a snake as she leans on the bar, raising her arm to get the innkeeper’s attention.
Primal possessiveness burns in my chest. I know she told me to wait here, but I do not like the way he is studying her.
I’m ten steps away when he reaches for her. He grasps her backside with his grubby hand, and unbridled rage floods my veins. I’ll kill him where he stands.
