Page 99 of Sweetling
Yes. I don’t wish her to walk in the dark.
Bellarand’s great hooves clattered on the cobblestones through the city. Although not everywhere was as well lit as the castle and main thoroughfares, they needed no lights to guide them.
The city was lively at night, light and patrons spilling from various drinking establishments. However, it wasn’t so busy in the part of the city where Brom’s tavern sat. A few neighbors milled about in the pools of light burning from the tavern windows, and about a dozen patrons had packed inside, but nothing like the previous night.
When Allarion swung the door open, the space inside was far calmer. Molly was bringing two tankards from the bar to a pair of patrons, and she looked up with a smile when she saw the door opening.
That smile faltered, and Allarionhatedit. Now that he knew what her true smile was, he never wanted to see the forced one again.
Rather than take a table as he had before, Allarion remained in the doorway, his message clear. They were leaving.
It may have been unfair, even callous of him, but he wanted his mate.
Molly noted his rigid stance, and he watched her sigh and turn back to the bar. Unknotting the apron from her waist, she placed it on the steps leading upstairs.
“I’m headed out,” she called to her uncle.
“It’s early yet,” Brom argued. “And there are still customers. Don’t make me get one of the girls.”
Molly turned a spitting glare on her uncle. “Don’t you dare wake the girls.”
“Someone’s got to—”
A thrust of magic boomed through the tavern, snuffing all the candles and lifting the blanket of dust off every surface. Several hats were knocked off heads, and Allarion’s own cloak fluttered in the artificial gust.
“Leave,” he growled.
The patrons stared through the dim before, as one, they slapped down coins and hurried past him out the door.
When the tavern was cleared out, Allarion held his hand out for Molly.
Her lips twitched. “An early night would do everyone good,” she told her uncle as she strode to take Allarion’s hand.
Together, they left the tavern. He helped Molly mount Bellarand before swinging up behind her. As the unicorn turned toward the castle, Molly leaned her body back into Allarion’s.
He buried his nose in her hair and took a long, deep breath. His arms came around to hold her tighter to him, for the tighter he held, the looser the knot in his chest.
“I missed you,” he breathed. “I don’t like being parted from you.”
“I know,” she said quietly, her hands coming to lay over his. “I missed you, too.”
The words pricked holes in his inflated anger, and Allarion sighed into her hair, most of the heat of his ire escaping him. Goddesses, the effort of staying irritated with her and the situation at the tavern had so little value next to having her.
Still, “I don’t want you staying there so late. I worry about you.”
“I don’t want to serve there again, but I worry about the girls. If there’s any money left, he’s keeping it for himself.”
Molly had told him, even through her exhaustion last night, of how Brom had squandered the money. Allarion burned with indignation to think of a father depriving his own children when it was in his power to change it. His own father had been aloof, but he always provided for all his children. Maxim’s sacrifice for Ravenna was true fatherhood, and men like Brom Dunne cheapened it.
“I can provide for the girls, sweetling. That isn’t a problem.”
Molly rubbed the backs of his hands. “You’re a good man, Allarion. But more money won’t solve this—he’ll just find a way to take it from them.”
“Then what is to be done?” Dropping his mouth to her neck, he kissed the curve where her shoulder met her spine. “I won’t give you back to him.”
“I…I think I’m going to see the mayor tomorrow. He’s intervened before, maybe he can help.”
That means more time here, doesn’t it?Bellarand grumped.
