Page 2 of Empire of Flame and Thorns

A loud clattering noise explodes across the street.

I whip my head around.

To my left, Jeiman has leaped to his feet, knocking over the pile of copper pots in his haste. Panic is written all over his face. His gaze darts down to the metal pots, which are still bouncing and rolling across the cobblestones. Then he casts a panicked glance at the patrol that has turned to stare at him from farther up the street.

Don’t, I beg silently in my mind while trying to catch Jeiman’s eye.Please, don’t?—

He bolts into the tavern.

Fuck.

The dragon shifters lurch into motion as well. With one hand on their swords, they pick up the pace and stalk after him. Suspicion swirls in their eyes.

I have to suppress the urge to growl in frustration. Jeiman might as well have put up a bloody sign that says:suspicious shit is happening in here. Why did they have to assign such a rookie as my lookout partner?

Quickly wiping off my knife, I hide it in my clothes and then dunk my hands into the bucket of water to clean off any traces of fish guts. Then I slip away from my place on the stool and disappear in through the side door while the soldiers aren’t looking. I need to find a way to stall them inside the tavern so that our leaders can get out unseen.

Warm air hits me like a vibrating wall as I sneak into the packed tavern. After the long hours gutting fish in the crisp air outside, the warmth is almost suffocating.

I flick a quick glance around the room. As always, most people are already deep in their cups despite it only being afternoon. A fire burns in the hearth by the opposite wall, bathing the room both with golden light and warmth. At the bar, the tavern keeper is pouring drinks as if nothing is wrong.

My stomach flips when I notice that there is a small gap in the door that leads to the stairwell and the secret back door. Through it, I spot someone in a cloak and mask shoving Jeiman up against the wall in what is no doubt rage and panic. Behind them, the other leaders of the resistance are still sprinting down the steps, trying to escape before the patrol barges in. I need to?—

The front door of the tavern is yanked open.

Dread pulses through my chest as the soldiers in their blood red leather armor stalk into the room.

Dead silence spreads like a wet blanket across the whole tavern. The fae who were drinking close to the door shrink back and lower their gazes, trying not to draw attention even though they’re just normal civilians. By Mabona, if they only knew that they are not the ones who need to hide right now.

A man with blond hair, who appears to be the captain and leader of the patrol, sweeps his hard gray eyes over the room. “What’s going on here?”

No one even dares to breathe.

From this angle, I can still see our leaders quietly running down the stairs and out the back door. It’s not visible from where the patrol is, because the door is thankfully blocking the view from that angle. But if they move a little closer, they will see it. And then, we will be well and truly fucked.

I need to do something.

The captain takes a step forward.

Snatching up a glass of liquor, I adopt a drunk expression and walk straight towards the soldiers.

Since everyone else is sitting still and quiet, my movements draw their attention immediately. I make sure to keep my steps a little wobbly and my hips swaying a lot more than necessary. The captain narrows his eyes at me.

“Wow,” I say, coming to a halt in front of him. I make my voice breathless as I tilt my head back to look up into his stern face. “You’re hot.”

Shock pulses across his features, and he jerks back a little. Whatever he had been expecting me to say, that had apparently not been it. Clearing his throat, he draws his eyebrows back down in a scowl.

“I said,” he begins, his voice once more filled with menace. “What’s going on in here? And where’s the guy who rushed in here?”

I make a disappointed noise. “Oh, you’re into guys? That’s such a shame.”

One of the soldiers chokes on his breath.

The captain’s cheeks flush bright red, and he splutters out, “No, that’s not what I?—”

“Because you have such a handsome face,” I continue, interrupting him.

“Well, I…” He seems to be unsure of how to react because he simply trails off and stares at me as if I’ve grown a second head.

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