Page 25 of The Warrior Priest
Not only was he definitely drunk, but his unprovoked denial meant he was worried about Master Tomaj. And that must make him concerned about his own future in the order, and whether leaving was a good idea.
He suddenly grinned. “I can beat him. I do one hundred and fourteen. Want to see?”
I smiled, too, relieved to see he was back to being the carefree Rhys I loved. His dimples were two of my favorite things.
He got up, pushing his chair back so hard that it fell. He went to stop it but stumbled, only to right himself before falling completely. “I’m fine,” he called out. “I think I should go home. Jac, help me. You can be my crotch.”
“I think you mean crutch.”
He tried to click his fingers but couldn’t manage it. “I knew it wasn’t crotch.” He threw an arm around my shoulders and leaned a little of his weight on me. “Where’s my sword?”
“Where it always is, in its scabbard at your left hip.” Merdu and Hailia, he’d become very drunk very quickly.
“Need help, Jac?” Vizah asked.
“He’s fine,” Rhys answered before I could. He ruffled my hair. “He’s a good lad. Come on, Jac. I’ll take you home.”
“I’ll takeyouhome,” I said, circling my arm around his waist and steering him toward the door.
“He looks too heavy for you,” one of the serving women said as we passed her. “Take him to my room.” She winked. “You can stay, too, if you like.”
I felt Rhys tense. “Absolutelynot. Jac is?—”
“Too young,” I said before he could say something that might expose my disguise. “Come on, you big oaf. Let’s go before anyone else propositions you.” I glanced at Giselle as we passed her table.
She was even more alluring up close. Her long, fine fingers lightly stroked her tankard. The languid, mesmerizing movement was in contrast to the humor shining in her dark eyes as she watched us.
No, not us. Me. She watchedme.
She rose to her feet and picked up the black hat she’d placed on the table. She approached me, her painted red lips curved with her smile. It was a nice smile, and I found myself smiling back.
She leaned down. The scent of orange blossoms enveloped me as she whispered in my ear. “Never trust a man who denies his natural urges. He’ll break your heart.” She slipped away through the crowd of patrons near the door before I’d had a chance to respond.
I stared in the direction she’d gone. Did she see through my disguise and know I was a woman? Could she tell I had feelings for Rhys? Was she jealous?
“What did she say?” Rhys growled, proving he wasn’t so drunk that he hadn’t noticed his beautiful lover. Or was she hisformerlover?
“Nothing.”
We followed Giselle out of the tavern, but there was no sign of her. Not even the faint scent of orange blossoms lingered in the air.
“She’s very beautiful,” I said. “Mysterious, too, and brave. It’s no wonder you love her.”
For a moment, I thought I’d overstepped, perhaps offended him by alluding to his broken vow. Instead, he laughed. “Hailia and Merdu…you’re jealous, Jac.”
I went to pull away from him but the arm around my shoulder tightened. “I, uh…”
“You are.You’rejealous ofGiselle. Now I understand.”
“Understand what?” I felt his gaze on me and dared a sideways glance at him.
He was watching me. He wasn’t even trying to hide it. “You thought I was doing it for her. I wasn’t, Jac. I wasn’t going to leave the order for her. That was for you.”
The ground beneath me seemed to shift violently.
I replayed the previous night’s conversation with Rhys in my head. By the end, I needed his support as much as he needed mine. I’d been so consumed by jealousy of Giselle, that I’d not listened properly. He hadn’t said he was leaving the order for her. Not once.
He was tempted to leave the order forme, to protect me from my uncle by marrying me. I’d dismissed his idea without quite realizing what his idea was. Indeed, I’d shot it down rather spectacularly. He’d been upset by my dismissal, and now I knew why. He had feelings for me.
