The Dragon Mistress [Book 1] by R. A. Steffan

Author:R. A. Steffan [Steffan, R. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-10-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9: Haven

ARISTEDE LIFTED AN EYEBROW, his gray gaze flickering over first me, and then Nyx. He was wearing his long hair tied back in a tight plait at the nape of his neck, the white streak sweeping back from the left side of his forehead. It was a good look on him.

“A problem, my young barbarian friend? Goodness… you do shock me.” His voice was the smooth drawl I remembered, tinged with teasing and a hint of irony. Honey for the ears.

I resisted the urge to stick my tongue out at him, since that would be undignified. Hey, I was the adopted daughter of a tribal chieftain and a high priest—I was all about dignity.

“Then you can be shocked in your room,” I told him. “Can we go now, please?”

Aristede gave an easy shrug and aimed a devastating smile at the annoyed serving girl. I realized that she’d probably expected to be the one invited to Aristede’s room, and my unworthy little flash of irritation returned.

I quashed it again.

“Forgive me, my dear,” he told her, “but it appears I have other business this morning. Perhaps another time. Would you be so good as to send up some bread and cheese for us when the cook gets here?”

I risked a glance at the girl’s face. Her mouth was twisted in annoyance, and she made a little hmph-ing noise before giving Aristede a tight nod, and me a brief death stare. When she was gone, I turned back to the man in the chair.

“So sorry to interrupt,” I said sweetly.

The teasing amusement hadn’t left Aristede’s face. Neither had the irony. “Think nothing of it. I have the distinct feeling that my morning has just become considerably more interesting.

“Yeah…” I rubbed a hand over the back of my neck. “You don’t know the half of it. But that’s a conversation for your room—not here. Aristede, this is my new friend Nyx. Nyx, Aristede.”

“Hello,” Nyx said in that too-soft voice.

Aristede rose and let his gaze play over Nyx more slowly. “A pleasure to meet you, Nyx,” he said in a light tone, extending a hand.

Nyx had stepped up to stand at my shoulder after the girl left, but at Aristede’s gesture, he… cringed back. There was no other word for it. I frowned, looking up at him and trying to catch his eye, but he wouldn’t look at me.

Aristede blinked, and smoothly transformed the gesture of greeting into a sweeping indication toward the staircase along the far wall. “Come with me, both of you,” he said pleasantly, his voice giving no indication that Nyx’s reaction had bothered him. “The rooms are on the second floor. Breakfast may not be served yet, but I can at least offer you a drink.”

I forced a smile and followed him, cataloguing the odd exchange for some future time when things weren’t quite so unsettled. Still, I couldn’t help noticing the way Nyx followed behind me, using my presence as a buffer between himself and Aristede.

Aristede led us about halfway along the hall to a door on the right and ushered us inside.

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