Page 146 of Kingdom of Embers and Ruin

“What was that for?” Maude hissed.

“You look like you're about to launch yourself across the table at Herrick,” Liv pointed out. “I was going to suggest you head up to one of the rooms we booked.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Maude brushed off, glancing at Herrick, who was also glancing at her as he spoke with Gunnar.

“Maude, have you not learned yet that there is no time to waste?” Liv asked harshly.

“I just—”

“He’s crazy about you, and you’ve been avoiding him after what happened between you two in Ljosa,” Liv cut her off. “It’s time you stopped hiding before it’s too late. Stop being a coward.”

Liv’s eyes glistened as she looked at Hakon pointedly before returning to Maude. She deflated a bit.Gods, she’s right.

After a slight hesitation, she nodded to Liv once before her face heated. She couldn’t believe she was agreeing to this.

“Follow my lead,” Liv whispered before sitting straight and poking Hakon in the chest, and speaking in a slightly louder voice. “Okay, it’s time for His Highness to lay down. Maude, help me carry him upstairs.”

Gunnar and Herrick shushed her before waving them on. Maude, confused as to what Liv was doing, followed her and wrapped one of Hakon’s arms around her shoulders as Liv gripped his waist. They began to haul him up towards the stairs in the back of the room when Maude looked over her shoulder at Herrick one more time, his eyes burning into the back of her neck.

They locked eyes again, and heat enveloped Maude as she saw the intention sitting plainly in his gaze. He was going to follow her up to the room, and she did not doubt that. What she would say or do when he did, she didn’t know, but there was no hiding from him now.

Herrick’s muscles burned with the need to follow Maude up the stairs as she carried his brother’s unconscious form up to the rooms they rented with Liv, but by pure force of will, he remained where he sat with Gunnar.

“How much longer are you going to avoid each other, Herrick?”

Gunnar’s voice cut through his thoughts of Maude, making Herrick turn to face his friend. Gunnar looked at him and then the stairs expectantly.

“I’m— what?”

“Boy, go after that woman and tell her how you feel once and for all. I’m sick of seeing the two of you staring at each other,” Gunnar said, wavingone hand at him dismissively before he took the last bottle of whiskey and poured himself another glass.

Unsure of what to say or do, Herrick stayed rooted to the seat he sat in.

“But the treaty,” Herrick began to say before Gunnar cut him off.

“To Hel with the treaty, you’re in love with the girl. Go tell her,” Gunnar said, sipping on his whiskey as he motioned for another bottle.

When Herrick still didn’t move, Gunnar shoved him on the shoulder just in time for Liv to reappear and sit down in front of them.

“She’s waiting for you,” Liv said, reaching for the bottle Gunnar held out to her.

“She said that?” Herrick asked, getting to his feet when Gunnar wouldn’t stop pushing him.

“Of course not,” Liv chuckled. “She didn’t have to, though. It's written all over both of your faces. I’m sick of it.”

“Hear, hear,” Gunnar said, clinking his glass against Liv’s.

“You two are insufferable,” Herrick muttered and began walking toward the stairs.

“Funny, I was going to say the same about you two,” Gunnar laughed before winking at Herrick and turning to Liv.

Herrick shook his head, a half-smile appearing on his face as he made his way up the narrow stairs. When he got to the top floor, the nerves began to set in.

On this floor, there were only the two rooms they had rented, the last two available because they were generally smaller than the rest of the inn, but they suited their needs fine now.

Herrick had not imagined this moment with Maude would arrive so soon after he had decided on this path, choosing to stray from the one he had always believed was his.

He also just realized he had no idea which room Maude was in.

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