Page 57 of Blood Weaver
“Hm … that’s true.” When he placed the tray on my bed, I started picking at the food. “You were gone this morning when I woke up.”
“Yes, I had some things to do, but I left Henry in my stead.” He ruffled Henry’s hair affectionately. My little informant stood at the foot of my bed and shyly lowered his head with a small smile on his face. “Go on, Henry. There’s a whole feast going on outside. Go join them.”
Henry lifted his head and his eyes widened, then a wide smile stretched from ear to ear. “Yes sir!” Without a backward glance, he rushed out of the tent as fast as his short legs could take him.
I chuckled at the boy’s exuberance, then puzzled over what Ronan said. “There’s a feast going on out there?”
Ronan nodded.
“Why aren’t you with them, then?” I asked hesitantly.
“Because I wanted to be with you.”
His honest answer and the seriousness of his gaze made me squirm and I bit my lower lip. “You don’t have to be so straightforward all the time, you know,” I mumbled before turning my attention to the tray of food as if it was the most interesting thing I’d seen all day.
Ronan laughed. “Oh, don’t tell me you’re suddenly shy. That’s not in your nature.”
I snapped my attention back to him and fought the smile that threatened. “And what isthatsupposed to mean?”
He snorted and gave me a knowing look. “You’re the one who took down three Crimson Clan warriors the first time we met. In a drunken stupor, you were able to fight bandits in the street, and you had the gall to show up in the mountains and place yourself between me and Caelan’s army. You’re definitely not shy, Leila.”
I rolled my eyes. “That makes me brave, but I’m still a woman.”
He sized me up and down. “Yes. I’m well aware.”
I laughed and threw a chicken bone at him, but with his quick reflexes, he easily caught it before it hit his chest.
“I must say, your aim is impressive even with non-lethal weapons,” Ronan teased, holding the bone between his fingers.
“You better be glad it’s just a bone,” I retorted. This playful banter, light and free of the heavy burdens of a looming war and complex allegiances, was a refreshing escape.
Ronan’s smile mirrored my own as we stared at one another. His crimson gaze dropped down to my lips for a split second before meeting my eyes again. The temptation was there. We both wanted it. But he held back for reasons he still hadn’t divulged.
He cleared his throat. “Are you … are you feeling better? You look better.” He asked for the second time since he arrived.
I grinned. “Yes, I do feel better. I’d say I’m at roughly seventy percent. Just a few more days and I’ll be good to go.”
His smile faltered. “Go? Do you plan on going somewhere?”
I tensed. It was merely a turn of words, but they held so much meaning. Meaning he wasn’t aware of yet. “Oh, I didn’t mean it like that,” I blustered. “I just meant I’ll be back to my normal self.”
He frowned for a moment before he nodded in understanding. “I don’t want you going anywhere, Leila. You’re safest here in camp. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I do.” I wanted to promise I wouldn’t go anywhere, but that was a lie. I’d already struck a deal with Silas.
“Good. If you need anything, just let me know and I’ll get it for you.”
I smiled. His expression wasn’t one of joy. If anything, he looked suspicious. But I’d been hiding my identity for ten years already, which meant I was an excellent pretender.
“You know what I want?” I looked into his eyes. “Wine.”
His suspicion cleared and he laughed. “Of course you want wine. Unfortunately, I can’t get your favorite ‘A Thousand Roses’ from the Rose Petal, but could I offer you some Drunken Mead from the Grasslands?”
I sighed. “I guess …”
He rolled his eyes. “I’ll get you some wine tomorrow. How about that?”
I perked up. “Thank you!” I hated tricking him, but I needed him out of the camp tomorrow so I could meet with the witch doctor Silas promised. So far, everything was going according to plan.
