Page 76 of A Sanctuary from Shadow
“Aye. What of it?” Pete asked, eyeing me.
“Nothing.” I cleared my throat, regaining my Britishness. “I—I just had a lot of human friends once.”Last week, actually.“And I just miss them, I guess. Sorry.”
Something flickered through Pete’s gaze, but it happened so fast I couldn’t pinpoint it. Regardless, he eased back into congeniality and leaned down again. His nostrils flared. “What’s that alluring scent you’re wearing?”
I snorted. “I call it eau demud and sweat.”
“That’s not it.” He breathed me in. My heart played hopscotch until he straightened, serene as anyone who’d just inhaled ambrosia. “You smell of pears. And morning dew.”
“Wrong on both counts. I never wear perfume.”
“Hm. Then I must detect your natural scent.”
Flustered by his intensity, I stumbled back into the Dwarf’s abandoned stool. Pete grabbed it before it slammed to the floor, nudged it under my bottom. I yipped and grabbed the bar when he dragged me toward him, the stool scraping the floor. We wound up bumping knees, his hand finding my thigh. The touch burned straight through the layers of my dress.
I should’ve smacked him. Gregarious though he was, he was still a stranger and shouldn’t feel free to fondle me.
Right?
And then there was Briar to consider.Where the hellishe?
Sionna saved me from having to oust Pete from my bubble, rearing up to rest her paws on his leg. Not one to be forgotten, I mused. Shifting back, Pete scratched her floppy ears. To her great enjoyment. She basked in his attention, her tongue lolling.
My insides went gooey as Pete murmured endearments. Daddy always said you could judge the heart of a man by how much he loved his animals. “You have a beautiful dog, Pete.”
He chuckled down at Sionna. “Aye, and she knows it.”
Moments later, a brawny fellow with a blonde-dusted, domed head dropped two wooden trenchers of stew and bread hunks before us. He barely glanced at me before rumbling to Pete, “I’m surprised you’ve darkened our doorstep before concluding your business.”
Pete shrugged. “Business brought me here, Reed. Hunters must follow their game.”
Reed searched for meaning in Pete’s comment until understanding dawned—an understanding well beyond me. His blue eyes swiveled my way for a heartbeat, then back to Pete. “Mother save us,” the sturdy feyr uttered before stalking away.
Brushing Sionna off him, Pete rose. “Don’t forget our ales!”
Waving in allayment, Reed disappeared into an archway. Sionna scampered after the sullen fellow.
“What’s his deal?” I asked, bemused.
Pete settled back onto his stool. “He’s a mite touchy about my profession. He’ll be fine in a lick.”
He grabbed his spoon and dug into his steaming stew, meat hunks and strange fae vegetables swimming in a bath of shimmery gravy. I almost drooled at its aroma—Thanksgiving in a bowl. Without taste-testing, I started scarfing, not caring at all if Pete thought me unladylike.
“Mm!” I grunted around a mouthful seasoned with something like thyme, wiping my overflowing lips on my cloak. “So good!”
Pete raised his spoon in salute. “Wise choice then, darlin’.”
Laughter was tough after I’d gobbled another spoonful, but I managed. “What do you hunt?”
Pete dunked his bread. “Animals, mostly.”
I rolled my eyes. “Duh.”
His brows drew together. “Sounds like you’ve familiarized yourself with black-market vernacular right well. Expecting the powers that be to open the portals, are you? I’d wager you’ll be holding your breath for a while.” He took a mammoth chomp out of his bread. Goddess, his mouth was huge. “They spare no thoughts for the common folk.”
I stilled for a second. Wasn’t I the powers that be? Or would be if I chose that path.
Emerging from momentary mystification, I found Pete’s gaze on me again. “Enlighten me,Rose—” He truly wouldn’t believe that was my name. “What’s a beyn like you doing out on a bleak night like this? By your lonesome, it seems.”
