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Her eyes snapped to mine. “What?”
“How long have you been in love with him?”
She sucked in a breath, and her eyes grew distant. “For so long, I barely ‘member a time when I wasn’t.”
“Oh, Esme…” My heart went out to her as her long lashes swept her cheeks. “Does he know?”
“I don’t think so. We’re best friends. I’m terrified of ruinin’ it.”
I glanced back at the dirt ring, where both Sahlyn and Brec were sneaking glances at us, eyes bright.
It took two attempts before I could swallow, pushing thoughts of Sahlyn looking at me likethatwhile shirtless from my mind. Right now, it was not about me and the mess of my own emotions.
“Tell him. Show him. To live with such longing isn’t good for anyone, Esme. If he rejects you, take the hit to your heart, and find another. You are a beautiful, strong, incredible woman. Finding a ma—dwarf worthy of you will be difficult but possible.”
Her eyes shined bright with a shimmer of liquid as they met mine. “You think so?”
“You are lovely and exceptional, or you should go for it?”
She laughed, the sound like music lilting across the pit. It snapped something in Brec as he sauntered over to us, a smile already gracing his face.
No, I didn’t think Esme would have any issue getting Brec to see her as more than a friend. I felt they were both too nervous about mucking things up to act on their desires. They may need some help, and a faint smile curled my lips.
Sahlyn noted it as he walked up behind Brec, his eyes sparkling on mine, and he cocked his head. My grin deepened.
“Brec, Sahlyn, I was just telling Esme how stunning she looks in this black dress. Don’t you think? It compliments her hair and those pretty eyes.”
Esme’s eyes snapped to me in horror, but my smile softened her a little. She shook her head,
“You are both lookingverylovely tonight,” Sahlyn’s voice was gravelly and soft, and his eyes swept over Esme with a smile. When they swept over me; his slow, lazy, languid appraisal heated every inch of my body.
Esme sent him a grateful smile. I had known an answer like that would come from him; he was always honorable toward women. Except when he was murdering them—but that thought I pushed from my mind. I knewthatwasn’t the Sahlyn that was here tonight. This was not the murderous Queen’s Huntsman. This was just Sahlyn Asher, and that man was honorable and respectful of all women.
Brec cleared his throat as his eyes roamed Esme. “Aye. Very lovely.”
Esme’s eyes were wide as they assessed his roaming glance. Heat stained her pretty cheeks, and her eyes grazed mine. I gave her a knowing, sassy grin. A quirk of her lips showed she understood my ploy before her attention went back to Brec, looking uncomfortable, but his eyes still gathered across Esme with heat.
“Sahlyn and I have somewhere—”
“Oi! Ye tall ones. I ‘ave need of ye.”
Sahlyn rolled his eyes skyward and gestured with his head to me.
I shocked Esme by enveloping her in a hug and covertly whispering in her ear. “Go get him. Be fierce. He wants you as much as you want him.”
Her eyes widened again as I backed up, but a sly smile quirked her lips, and she dipped her chin.
Esme’s eyes settled on Brec, and he straightened. “Brec, let’s get you…cleaned up, shall we?”
His eyes hooded with something primal as Esme’s eyes glanced over his bared, muscled upper body. He seemed to puff out his chest and walk with a little more swagger as he followed her.
“Aye, my lady.”
I grinned like an idiot.
Sahlyn elbowed me gently. “Playing matchmaker, Snow?”
“Never.” But my grin spread as I looked him over, snagging on his pectoral muscles and bulging biceps. He had a shirt slung over his shoulder but hadn’t donned it yet. Thank the Goddess of the Beyond I could ogle him just a little longer.
