I expected to be jumped before we reached the house.

  I wasn’t sure if I was surprised, happy, or disappointed that the Elves didn’t try to attack us again.While I was hoping that I might be able to give the Ager another demonstration of why it was a bad idea to attack us, Starna looked exhausted and I doubted that that a fight would have helped her demeanor.

  “Copper for your thoughts?” I sat down on one of the leather couches in the main room. Unlike a normal house that had a kitchen, eating area, and main room, the main floor to this house was a large main room with two smaller rooms, that I assumed were for an office or meeting area. The stairs were on the opposite wall from the smaller rooms. There was only one bedroom that had been fixed up. Our hosts knew that we wouldn’t be staying long and put in minimal effort to accommodate us. The door on the basement floor was locked, so I wasn’t sure what was down there, but considering the city was built in layers, I wouldn’t be surprised if it led to another living quarters on the actual Dwarf layer.

  Starna bit her lip as she glanced at the stairs, then back at me.

  “Was that a date?”

  I smirked. “Those four words cover a very wide range of activities.” I leaned back and patted the spot next to me. “It could be considered one. Or it could have just been two friends killing some time together.”

  Starna came over and sat down next to me, though she was sitting the furthest from me that she could while still sitting on the same couch.

  “Look.” I half turned so that I could face her. I brought my left leg up under me and sat on it so it wouldn’t be crossing over onto her side of the couch. “I can tell this freaks you out a little.”

  She rolled her eyes.

  “See? That’s what you should be doing more of.” I pointed at her and grinned. “Where’s the attitude of the mage that isn’t afraid to smart off and order around a Camadt?”

  The brunette laughed. “I guess most mages wouldn’t have the guts to yell at Vin.”

  “Exactly!” I spread my arms. “I’m not going anywhere, so let’s take this slow and see if there’s something here. I’m not going to do anything until you’re ready.”

  “Does that mean you’re ready?”

  Vin’s response here would be to say that I’m always ready. While that worked well for him with the port women, it was a line to use when all you wanted was one night.

  “If I’m not, then I’ll get that way.” I wiped the smirk off my face to show I was serious. “Because you’re worth it.”

  I’d seen enough women swoon to know that her heart had just sped up. Considering she’d basically been locked up with my cousin, that was probably the first time a man other than her father had told her that she was special in a loving way. I had also been with enough women to know that she was about to start acting on impulse, so I needed to dial it back to where her brain would be after she came down from the high. There was a chance she wouldn’t regret anything, but why gamble on a chance when waiting would make sure she didn’t regret anything. That might have been a little presumptuous on my part, but there was definitely a spark between us and I wasn’t going to mess that up.

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  “Hey.” I snapped my fingers to pull her out of whatever far away fantasy her brain was starting to paint. “Stay here. In the now.”

  “I’m here.” She started playing with her hair.

  “Good. Because right now there are two Dwarves outside that door.” I jerked my thumb towards the front door.

  Blue filled her cheeks as she blushed. I still found it breathtaking how when a woman blushed, their face started to turn the color of their blood. Vin and I would play a game in ports to see if we could guess what color a race’s blood was, then try to make one of the women blush to see who was right. He was a lot better of a guesser than I was, but I had a feeling there was something in their blood that he could smell and that’s how he was right so often.

  “That pouch.” I pointed at the bag that I’d bought her. “Have you tried putting your moonstone in it?”

  She blinked twice. Somehow I doubted that was anywhere close to what she’d been dreaming about what I’d say.

  “Why would I put it in there?” Her face contorted as she reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out the egg-shaped stone. “It’s not attuned or anything.”

  “You might want to get on that.” I nodded at the stone. “We’re about to be traveling through Camadt territory. Every bump and touch is going to drain you of magic. If one of the inspectors grabs your arm, think about what would happen.”

  There was shock on her face, but not fear as I pointed out something she hadn’t thought of.

  “After I drain him…” I shook my head.

  “I wouldn’t have much magic left.” Starna swallowed. “But my magic isn’t going to help us out much in a Camadt city.”

  “True, but we aren’t going to be staying in a Camadt city. It’s a big island and something tells me that if something is strong enough to block master Krav, it’s not going to be close to where other people are.”

  I pointed at the stone. “How much magic do you think you can store in it?”

  “Unattuned?” The pretty Elf looked up at the ceiling to count. “Enough to power my biggest spell?”

  “Good enough.” I nodded at the bag. “I know mages will start getting weak and sick if they get too low on magic.” I left out how I knew that particular fact. Vin found that hugging mages until they started vomiting was very motivating to get them to talk when we were needing answers. “That bag should be insulated enough that you can store the moonstone in it so you can take the edge off if you get low.”

  “That’s…” Starna looked at the pouch in her left hand and the moonstone in her right. “So thoughtful. Thank you!” She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around me in a hug.

  I hugged her back and enjoyed the warmth of the embrace. When I let go, she only pulled back a little, her arms still around my neck and our faces so close that our noses were almost touching.

  “You need to go to bed.” I kissed her forehead, then leaned back, slipping out of her arms. “I’ll stay down here in case the Elves manage to get past our guards.”

  She looked disappointed, but also relieved. I wasn’t sure how someone could simultaneously display conflicting emotions, but she had apparently mastered it.

  “Are you sure you’ll be alright down here?” She straightened up on her knees in front of me.

  I almost told her that this couch was more comfortable than the floor upstairs, but that had all kinds of innuendo attached to it.

  “I’ll be fine.” I patted the couch. “I think this is better than what I slept on in the Bane. I’ll manage.”

  “Okay…” Starna nibbled on her lip as she got up. “I’ll see you in the morning then.”

  “Sleep well!” I waved at her as she started up the stairs.

  “You too.” She smiled, then sped up the stairs.

  Despite my assurances, I knew that I wasn’t going to sleep well anytime soon. Not while there were people out to get Starna.

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