Page 39 of A Lick of Flame

“Keep an eye on the bastard, will you, Jack?” Ethan yells.

“Yes, sir,” he shouts.

“If he uses his magic, cut off the fingers from one hand.”

“Oh! Okay, boss. All of them?” Jack asks.

“Three will do. You pick which ones.”

“Yes, boss,” Jack says, sounding a little too excited for my liking.

“Let’s go,” Ethan says. Then they head off, mounting up and riding out into the darkness.

“You’re together?” I ask. “You and Ethan?” I sound shocked, even though I knew there was something there…that kiss was something else. They look serious, even though they hardly know one another.

She nods, biting down on her lower lip. “It was love at first sight.”

“You’re already sharing a tent?” I whisper. “You’re not even wed. I mean, you’re not…wed, that is?” I stammer, feeling like a fool.

Olivia laughs. She shakes her head and rolls her eyes. “A man and a woman can share a bed without being wed.”

“But Mother Trinity—”

“Mother Trinity is old and one of Kakara’s ladies. Mother Trinity knows nothing of what happens between a man and a woman when they are in love.” She giggles. “People have sex, Maya. More often than you think. They don’t have to be wed or even in love, for that matter.”

“Oh! Okay. If you say so.” I know it’s true. The whore house in our village is always bustling. I’ve heard the young ladies talking, even if I don’t partake in the conversations.

“I do say so. You’re such a prude.” She lightly slaps my arm. It’s meant to be teasing and playful. “It’s not like I still had my maidenhead or anything,” she whispers under her breath. “Not like you,” she snorts. “I like sex. It can be really good. Ethan is a little too eager, but I will train him on how to please me.” She shrugs. “I had only just trained Scotty Emerson when those fae grabbed me.”

“Scotty Emerson? You and Scotty Emerson?” My eyes go wide.

“Yes.” She laughs. “How do you think I got the first pick of the dresses? And the shoes he donated.”

“I suppose it makes sense. I never really thought about it. Scotty Emerson is much too old for you.”

“It wasn’t like I planned on marrying him or anything. Ethan could be the one, though.”

“He seems…nice.” I take another big mouthful of the stew, trying to get it down more than anything else.

“He’s going places. I guess I always figured that I’d eventually end up with Xander.”

“The farmer?” I frown. “Were the two of you—?”

Olivia shakes her head. “No, no! I had hoped. Figured we’d be married, and I’d live on his farm…get him to upgrade the cabin, but, in hindsight, that isn’t the life for me. I want more for myself. I’m not meant to be a farmer’s wife. I want…grandeur and a title.”

“And Ethan might be able to give that to you?”

She nods. “He’s a natural leader and knows when to take an opportunity. He’s going places. I like that in a man.” It’s funny how she doesn’t talk of attraction, or love or kindness.

“Well, good for you. I take it you aren’t going back to the orphanage anytime soon?”

“No, it was never going to be for me in the long run. I’ve always seen myself as being made for better things…for finer things. I wasn’t raised to plant vegetable gardens or to cook and clean.” She makes a face. “Not like you, Maya. I just wouldn’t be happy if I stayed.”

“And you are now? Happy, I mean.”

“I think I could be.” She shrugs.

“You’ve only known Ethan a few days, though, Olivia. Do you really think you can trust him?”

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