A Darkness at the Door by Intisar Khanani

Author:Intisar Khanani
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781952667800
Publisher: Snowy Wings Publishing

I’m still sitting in my chair, the ladle beside me, when Bren steps in and shuts the door behind him.

He leans against the doorjamb. “Tell me I don’t need to go after that mage.”

I snort. “God, no, Bren. He’s an ally.” I rise and lift my satchel.

He looks away with a disbelieving smile. “Of course he is. What was I thinking?” His gaze comes back to me, measuring. “Is that why you didn’t tell us you’d been here before? That it was this town, this Speaker who helped you on your way to Lirelei?”

“No! I would have told you. I don’t even know the name of this town; I thought it was farther upriver. I didn’t recognize where we were till I looked out the window. I was coming to find one of you when Lui walked in.”

His shoulders sag. “Then you’ll tell me, next time, if something isn’t right?”

His words, his patent relief, make me want to reach out to him—not that I would dare. “I’ll tell you.”

“I lied to you, played you against yourself,” he says, an edge to his voice. “I can’t imagine you’ve forgiven that already.”

“I haven’t,” I admit, gripping the strap of my satchel. “I don’t think I’ll be able to forgive you until I know you won’t lie to me again. I understand if you can’t tell me something—I have things I can’t tell you. But I need to know you won’t knowingly deceive me.”

He crosses the room in long, swift strides, coming to a stop so close he’s all I see, broad shoulders and unwavering gaze. “I won’t deceive you again,” he says, his voice low and fierce. “I swear it.” Catching my good hand, he lifts it and brushes a kiss across my knuckles.

His touch, the intensity of his voice, his words root me to the spot. I can’t quite breathe, my chest suddenly tight. His expression shifts as he watches me, his gaze darkening as his lips quirk, and he brushes another kiss over my skin, slow and searing.

He’s teasing me. I jerk back a step, my legs knocking into the chair. My hand is still caught in his, my cheeks on fire. I can barely think. “Y-you’re not allowed to act like that if you’re not courting me.”

The words sound strangely like a plea.

He releases my hand gently. “No, of course not,” he says with just a hint of rue. “But you believe me? I won’t deceive you again.”

“I believe you,” I say, still a little shaky.

He nods and moves away, taking a seat in the chair facing mine. He’s giving me a moment to gather myself. I sink down into my chair, pulling my satchel onto my lap. I can still feel the touch of his lips burning against my skin. I should brush it off, clear my mind, but I don’t want him to know how much he’s affected me.

He doesn’t speak, his gaze resting on the table. The quiet draws out. Then he looks up, a quick flick of a glance, amusement crinkling the corners of his eyes.

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