Page 13 of Lightlark
Though he was one of the most powerful rulers, and she didn’t haveanypower, in the islanders’ eyes, they were both villains. Isla knew how important this was. Though, if they were successful, the rulers would decide which of them would die to fulfill part of the prophecy, the islanders’ opinions and actions could shift the course of the Centennial. Their help—or lack of it—could mean the difference between life or death, especially for Isla, who didn’t have any of her own people on the island. They were also typically invited to witness all six demonstrations.
Grim didn’t seem to notice the way they all looked at him. Or, if he did, he didn’t seem to care, unnervingly willing to play into the villainous role.
Though maybe he wasn’t playing at all.
“Two of everything,” he said lazily, pulling a handful of coin from his pocket and not bothering to count it. He set it on the counter and didn’t wait for a reply, didn’t look the man in the eye as he found a seat.
It was laughably small. His knees bumped against the top of the table. Isla slipped slowly into the chair across from him. “That’s a lot of chocolate.”
He shrugged. “You said you could eat your weight in it. I’m taking that at face value.”
Soon, the owner of the shop placed a monstrous silver tray on the table. He bowed quickly, once at Isla, then at Grim, before hurriedly joining the rest of the staff in the back room.
Isla raised an eyebrow. “Did you set fire to the agora the last time you were here?”
Grim’s knee bumped into her own, and she pulled her legs back so quickly, he grinned. “Let’s just say the islanders’ memories are long.”
Before she could ask for clarification, he plucked a truffle between two enormous fingers. “Try this one first.”
She tentatively took it, chewed it—and her eyes bulged.
“Divine, isn’t it?”
Isla sank into her chair, her head lolling back. She shouldn’t be wasting precious time on a chocolate tasting. But getting to know the Nightshade—perhaps getting him to trust her—could be useful. She closed her eyes, caramel on her tongue. “Wake me up when all of this is over.”
A chuckle. Eyes still closed, she felt something rough against her lips.
“Open.”
She did, and Grim dropped another truffle against her tongue. This one had a berry cream filling. A hard outer shell.
Isla tried every single one he offered. The fudge, the mint thins, a banana butter bar. Everything except for the chili pepper-powder praline.
“It’s not that spicy,” Grim said, throwing one carelessly into his mouth. He shrugged. “A hint of heat, nothing more.”
“I like my tonguefunctioning,thank you.”
Grim strung his long fingers together and rested his chin on the bridge they made. “So, you’ll devour hearts and blood, but not a chili-dusted chocolate?”
A joke, but dangerously close to the truth. “Fine,” she said, mumbling something else under her breath that made him grin wickedly.
Isla put the chocolate in her mouth and instantly regretted it. Her eyes watered, her mouth burned, her tongue immediately swelled. She spit it out, forgetting every manner, not even caring that the shop owner was peering at them through the kitchen window. Her nostrils flared."You,”she said between deep gulps of water that made the pain even worse.
Grim laughed and laughed and laughed, that stupid dimple bright on his face. He tried to say something, then laughed some more, not stopping even when he got up, even when he used his Nightshade abilities to walkthroughthe counter as if it was nothing and helped himself to a jug of milk. Not even when he placed a glass of it in front of Isla and said, “Drink.”
She stared daggers at him the entire time she gulped it down, so desperately it dripped down her chin and the front of her dress. Villain indeed.
“Demon,” she said meanly.
He raised an eyebrow at her. “Not quite.” He frowned at her dress. “We’ll have to replace that. You’re headed to the tailor now?”
“And you know that how ... ?”
He only answered once they were out of the store. “I was also offered a consultation with the Lightlark tailor.”
“I’m guessing your wardrobe doesn’t have much range.”
Grim frowned down at his black shirt, black pants, black boots, and black cape. “I told them I’m capable of dressing myself.”
