Page 123 of The Dragon and the Dove

‘Don’t piss me off tonight,’ she said, coming inside. ‘I’ve had a bad day, and I’m looking to stab something.’

He tipped his head back, revealing his jugular. ‘Have at it, kitten.’

She said again, ‘What are you doing here?’

He raised the tumbler of whiskey in his hand. ‘Drinking alone.’

She sniffed. ‘How sad.’

He hummed, watching her. ‘Do you want to drink alone together?’

‘No.’

Yes, you do.

‘Suit yourself.’

She turned to go. Stopped. Turned back. He was still looking at her. Smirking. Why was he always smirking? Ignoring him, she marched over to the dining cart and poured herself a drink. She plonked down in the chair opposite him and sipped her whiskey.

And still, he watched her.

Ugh.

She shifted uncomfortably. ‘Why are your eyes like that?’

‘Like what?’

‘So … bright.’ So unnerving. So arresting. Like diamond shards. She took another gulp, letting the burn distract her from the desire to stare right back at him.

‘My mother was from Borea.’

The northernmost country in Arthos. A place of pine and snow and little else.

She huffed. ‘I didn’t know you had a mother.’

‘Most babies do.’ There was a note of amusement in his voice.

‘Not me.’ She sipped her drink. ‘Not that I care.’

Hard to miss something you never had. At least that’s what she told herself.

‘Mine died when I was young,’ he said. ‘I don’t remember her.’

‘Is that when you became a Dagger?’

‘No.’

Silence.

‘All right.’ She tipped her drink at him. ‘Good story.’

He traced the rim of his glass. ‘I’d hate to bore you.’

‘You’re not,’ she said too quickly. ‘You’re one of the least boring people I’ve ever met.’

Those diamond eyes glittered. ‘Why do I get the feeling that’s not a compliment?’

Val didn’t know what it was. She just knew she wanted to hear more. ‘Go on,’ she prompted.