“Oh, stop.” I wiggled on the seat to get comfortable and clutched my satchel. It had become a sort of security blanket during the trip. “Callum is just a friend.”
“If you say so.” Rowan sat at an angle and kicked one leg up on the seat. He shut his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall.
“Where did you sleep last night?”
One lid cracked open. “Worried I didn’t sleep alone?”
“Um. No.” Heat prickled at my scalp. “Whoever you do or don’t sleep with is your business, not mine.”
“Liar.” Rowan faintly smiled and closed his eyes again. “Fret not, little treasure. I debated on visiting the brothel to distract myself from you, but alas, no one even comes close to you. It would’ve been a waste of time and coin. So, I downed several tankards of ale from the tavern, then used one of the vacant rooms in the inn. Free of charge, of course.”
Meaning he’d slipped into the room using the shadows and stayed without paying. Which reminded me of something.
“You never told me how shadow traveling works,” I said. “Can you go anywhere in the world in the blink of an eye?”
“No.” He tucked his hands behind his head. “My traveling distance is limited. I have to be able to see the location I want to go.”
“Oh.” I looked out the window.
“You seem disappointed. Am I not powerful enough for you?”
“That’s not it.” I got the feeling that was a touchy subject for him, not being as strong as he wanted. “I was just wondering… hoping, I guess, if you could go back and forth between here and Bremloc.”
“To check on Specs and your captain?”
His nickname for Briar made me smile. “Yeah. Something like that.”
“More experienced shadow wielders can travel anywhere,” he said, relaxing again. “I’ve never been taught how to use my magic. Everything I know, I figured out on my own. While it’s gotten me by so far, I want to be more powerful. And I will. Someday. Don’t worry about your men though. Specs has intelligence on his side, and the captain is a brute who’s decent with a sword. Skilled enough to not get himself killed. I’m surethey’re fine.” A short pause. “When they’re not crying over you anyway. The lovesick fools.”
He was trying to comfort me.
“Thanks for that.” I smiled over at him. He didn’t return the smile, but his eyes softened just a smidge. “Can you take someone with you when you travel?”
“Why?” He arched a brow. “You want to try it?”
“No.” I shifted on the seat. “Maybe.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He moved the tip of his boot in slow circles as it sat crossed over his other ankle. “One day, I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”
“How romantic.”
Rowan scoffed. “Hate to disappoint you, but I’m not like those heartthrob heroes in your little romance novels. Instead of flowers, I’d give you the head of your enemy.”
“I mean… that could still be romantic. It shows you care.”
“Dear god.” He lightly laughed. “That mouth is a weapon. Every time it opens, I feel a knock in my chest.”
“You may want to have Briar check that for you. Could be your heart.”
His smile faded. “My heart stopped beating years ago. Nothing can touch it now.”
Rowan avoided emotional intimacy. I’d been that way too, once. Growing up like I did, never feeling like I belonged anywhere and constantly being tossed aside, neglected, or made to feel like I didn’t matter, I’d been reluctant to open my heart to anyone. But then I’d woken up one day in a grassy field and looked into the bluest eyes.
I grabbed my necklace and moved my thumb along the leather band it hung from. My men had brought me back to life.
The carriage continued down the road, the wheels rattling each time they went over rocks or found small holes. Nervestwisted in my belly with every forward motion that brought us closer to the next town.
“You look like a sad toad again.”
