Page 75 of A Sanctuary from Shadow
“How’s the mead tonight?”
“Absolute shite.”
“Hm.” He stroked the hair at his chin. “That won’t do.” I could’ve jumped out of my skin when he nudged me—a bit rougher than he’d meant to, I guessed. “What are you having, darlin’?”
Blushing for sure, I set my hand over my pitiful pumpkin seed. “I—I’m not—”
“She’s having an ale and a trencher of Reed’s fleecer stew,” Jade interrupted, smiling at Pete. “Sound appetizing?”
Pete took a seat. “Sounds perfect, Jade.” He settled a benign look on me. “Add the lady’s meal to my tab, would you?”
Jade grinned as I goggled. “As you say.” She winked at me before waddling away.
Humbled, I stuffed my pumpkin seed back in my pocket. “You didn’t have to do that but thank you.”
I couldn’t bring myself to meet the gaze surveying me. I sensed interest, but surely not the kind I wanted. I just looked like a street urchin, and he felt sorry for me.
“Think nothing of it.” He paused, his gaze grazing my mouth. “Looks as if you’ve had a rotten day.”
I scratched my unkempt head. “You don’t know the half of it, bud.”
“No, not bud. Pete.” He extended his massive hand. “Happy to meet you.”
Finally, I faced him, smiling. “Me too.” I shook his warm, rough hand, transfixed by how his healthy tan made my skin gleam like pearl.
He waited. Expecting something from me?
I snapped my fingers, remembering myself. And to know to lie. “I’m Rose.”
Pete seemed nice, but anonymity was imperative—as I was alone, unprotected. I needed to be cautious and wily.
“Rose, huh?” He withdrew his hand, smirking. “Sounds like an alias to me.”
So much for being wily.
Pete rested an elbow on the bar. “I’d think you’d grace a man who’s buying you supper with the blessing of your true name,Rose.”
Though he was calling me out, his kind eyes disarmed me, and my thoughts tumbled from my mouth without permission. “Maybe. But I’d think a man who’s simply adding my supper to his ever-expounding debt would settle for whatever name I choose to give him.”
Pete’s thick brows jumped up.
Whoa, there, sassy pants. Where the hell did that come from?
“That was a joke.” I knew I’d sounded like an ass. “I wasn’t really being ungrateful.”
A full grin lit his whole rugged face. “Well, your joke just earned you a second ale.”
I bit down on a grin of my own. “Sure you’re not breaking some ridiculous law against buying beyns drinks in taverns?”
He leaned in and whispered, “Even if it is, I won’t tell if you won’t, darlin’.”
His charm was effortless, spellbinding, and I nearly missed something he’d said. Had he called himself aman? Not a feyr? My eyes darted to his ears—as round as his cheekbones.
“Holy crap! You’re human!” My voice carried above the troubadours’ drumbeat, drawing criticism.
Grumbling, the Dwarf to my left hopped off his stool and tottered away with his tankard. I was too excited to care. At last, I’d found something familiar in this foreign world. I wanted to hug it.
I didn’t, of course.
