Page 15 of The Rebel's Prize

"In the morning, then," he said.

She nodded.

"Where are you staying?"

There wasn't much point trying not to tell him. After all, Samuel had told him she was in town and looking for a caravan. She had no doubt that Lucien could get the name of the inn from him as well. "At the Copper Fish."

"Is it nearby?"

"Yes. A few blocks back toward the town square."

"Not the most salubrious part of Jinkara."

"It's a seaport. The salubrious parts are limited and expensive."

"We are staying at the Crown and Tree."

Unsurprising that he would choose the most expensive inn in town. When she'd arrived, she'd inquired about the available accommodations. It hadn't taken long to discover that not only was the Crown and Tree unsuited to her budget, but it was also a likely stopping point for rich travelers moving through Jinkara. In other words, Illvyans who might recognize her. She'd avoided it ever since.

Perhaps she should have had Octarus watching it. She might have had advance warning that Lucien had arrived and been able to leave ahead of him.

Though now that she was back in the same room as him, at least some of the ache of missing him alleviated, she couldn't be entirely sorry that she hadn't. Not that she was going to tell him that. She didn't know what he wanted from her. Or what she wanted from him. Kiss or no kiss.

"I have secured you a room there as well," Lucien continued.

"Feeling confident, weren't you?"

"Confident that you would either be accompanying me north or returning to Lumia. And that either way, it would be sensible to have you stay somewhere I can keep an eye on you."

Her back stiffened. Was she a child in need of supervision? "I've already paid for my room at the Copper Fish. I may as well stay there one more night."

"I'm sure the innkeeper will be happy enough to be able to rent your room out a second time. You have no need to request a refund of whatever you've paid."

Meaning he would be footing the bill from now on.

Which she should be grateful for. And really, she could spare the few coins she'd paid for the night if Lucien was funding the rest of the journey. But he was in full arrogant aristo mood right now, expecting the world and everyone in it to comply with his wishes. And the situation was complicated enough without allowing him to get away with thinking she was going to jump if he snapped his fingers.

"You and Silya could always move to the Copper Fish," she said, mostly to be contrary. "The innkeeper there would benefit more from your patronage than whoever owns the Crown and Tree."

"Perhaps. But I imagine the security at the Crown and Tree is better," Lucien said, his jaw tightening. "And King Mikvel will not thank me if any harm comes to his seer."

Damn. She hadn't thought of that. Lucien had more than her safety to worry about, and he was right about the Crown and Tree being more secure. Though she was certain Silya could defend herself if necessary.

She suddenly lacked the energy to keep arguing with him.

"Very well, my lord," she agreed. "Then we may as well get to it so we can be well rested for the morning."

CHAPTER4

Chloe was glad of the sounds of Jinkara at night as they walked to the Copper Fish. Without those, the complete silence between the three of them would have felt even more awkward. Silya made no effort to start any kind of conversation, and Lucien walked behind them. From the wary glances of the people passing from the opposite direction, she could only imagine his expression was grim.

Sa Ghislani, the innkeeper, looked up from behind the wooden table in the entryway as they entered. Dressed in leafy green linen, her eyes painted in gold that made them stand out against her light brown skin, she looked imposing.

"Sa Castaigne," she said, lifting an eyebrow. "Noguestsin your room." She inclined her head ever so slightly toward Lucien, making the copper beads that decorated her braided gray hair clink softly.

Chloe's cheek went hot. Sa Ghislani had been very clear about her rules when Chloe had first inquired about a room, clearly suspicious about a woman traveling alone. In the end, she had managed to convince the innkeeper that she was respectable. But Sa Ghislani's expression suggested she was reconsidering her opinion.

"My wife is merely here to collect her things," Lucien said, stepping forward before Chloe could offer any reassurance herself. "She will be leaving your fine establishment this evening."

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