Page 178 of Winter Gods & Serpents

“No, Mal,” she said, leaning in enthusiastic and almost flinched again when I ran my hand higher up her thigh and then between her, my fingers tracing the seam of her breeches. I wanted to know what my touch did to her, to tear that layer of cloth and dip my fingers in her. She gasped a little, swallowed and then continued. “There is an order depending on what we are dealing with is allergic to a man-child and smugness incarnate or nonchalance and empathy. But now that I think about it, we could just send you Mal, you tick all the boxes.”

My brother gaped slightly stunned. “Now I understand why Kil calls you dahaara.”

Her hand went over mine, her thumb smoothing over my skin while I moved over her. “Kil calls me many things.”

I smiled at the sound of my name.

“She has a nickname back home too,” Caiden said, and Snow’s eyes shot wide.

I moved quickly, holding a hand tight above her mouth while she slapped me viciously. I wanted to hear this one.

“The Moody Crude. They even have a song for her.”

I turned to her, cocking a brow up. “I don’t feel special anymore, I thought you only had it for me.”

I finally let her go and she gasped before calling upon a million curses for both her friend and I. “That crude enough for you?” she asked, panting.

I plucked a hair stuck to her lip. “Who on Numen has taught you those?” I wanted to kiss that dirty mouth. I wanted to taste those words on my tongue, all of her words, and then I wanted her to taste me.

“She hung out with lumberjacks, fishermen, farmers and all sorts of the finest gentlemen. They made for the finest gentle woman,” Caiden explained.

“You taught me most,” Snow accused.

“No, no,” her friend said, shaking a finger. “You heard them out of me, I didn’t teach them to you.”

“The one thousand quotes of the best philosopher in Dardanes,” Nia said toasting her drink, and Snow laughed.

“You always this close?” I asked, and then put my hand over Snow’s mouth again. “No, I don’t wish to kill them too.”

Caiden stared between the two of us confused and explained, “Yes, I was probably the first face she saw after leaving Isjord.”

“You were,” Snow answered.

“And she was the first face I saw after leaving Adriata. When she brought me out of that basement,” Nia continued, “and then the first to cry for me, the first to ever take care of me, the first to look after me, the first to hug me, kiss me, call me her sister, the first to laugh with me and make me laugh. The first to go above and beyond for me, the first to almost get killed for me, the first to make me feel whole again. The first to give up something precious for me.” Her eyes rimmed with tears. “To give up her mother’s pendant to the crafter for the metal of my hands, undoubtfully as if you didn’t lose a piece of your soul that day. To sacrifice for me because I was loved just the same.”

“Nia—” Caiden warned, looking between the two friends who refused to look at one another.

“I even remember the first words she said to me, the first words I’d heard from another human being in days.”

Snow stood and exited the tavern, a storm of misunderstanding hovered between the two. Snow was not angry, she was touched and hurt that was why she had run out, to avoid showing just that. So I stood and left after her.

“She doesn’t like being disturbed when she is like this. If she goes for your heart I won’t stop her,” Caiden warned.

“I will wave a fish in front of her nose, it ought to buy me some time to run for my life.”

She walked slowly and absently toward the stables. “Go away, Kilian.”

I smiled. “How did you know it was me?”

“The only one who would dare tempt my fury is you. Nia knows and so does Cai and Mal, you never learn. You always come and give me words and pity, and—” She crouched down, her hands over her head. “The damned pity.”

“I won’t give you anything that you don’t want, so stand.”

She stood and turned to me. “What have you come to tell me?”

“Nothing, I’ve come not to leave you alone.”

“I like alone.”