Page 45 of Cursed Crowns
“If they come out at all,” added Todrick ominously. “The air down there addles the mind.”
Rose and Shen exchanged a look.
“Never mind about that now,” said the innkeeper. “Will you be wanting the attic room or not? I’ll throw in a free supper for the trouble.”
Kai rubbed his hands together. “Let’s eat.”
Rose blew out a breath. It was just for one night. And she was not a queen here in Hollyfort, but a traveling musician. Safe from prying eyes and wagging tongues. And besides, she’d much rather sleep in a bed, protected by two seasoned warriors, than sleep outside where who knows what might stumble upon them.
“We’ll take it,” she said, summoning a smile. “With gratitude.”
After a supper of lamb stew and soggy carrots, Todrick showed them to their room at the top of a creaking staircase. “You three go on in,” he said, at the door. “I don’t think we’ll all fit in there.”
“Oh!” exclaimed Rose as she stepped through the door and nearly banged her head on a low beam. The attic room was tucked into the eaves of the building and was so cramped that Kai’s head brushed against the ceiling.
There was a small window overlooking the town square and a stained washbasin in the corner. The rest of the meager space was occupied by the bed.
Todrick waved at them from the doorway. “If you need to relieve yourselves in the night, there are buckets under the bed, and the privy is out back.”
“Delightful,” said Rose in a strained voice. “Thank you for your hospitality.”
Todrick eyed the three of them curiously. “Well... have a good night then.” As soon as he closed the door, Kai tossed his whip aside and flopped on to the bed. The springs groaned as he splayed out, his fingers brushing both sides of the mattress.
“Claiming it now!” he said with his face in a pillow.
“You may certainly not!” said Rose, grabbing the other pillow to thwack the back of his head.
Kai chuckled as he turned over. “I’d like to see you make me move with those little hairpin arms.”
Rose gasped in affront.
“Allow me.” Shen folded himself into a ball and leaped onto the bed. The mattress rebounded, jostling Kai over the other side, where he landed on the floor with a resounding thud.
Rose collapsed into peals of laughter.
Kai sprang up, whip in hand. He pulled it taut, cracking it between his fists. “Little cousin, you are going to regret that.”
Shen side-stepped Kai’s advance. “Too slow, cousin.”
Kai smirked as he drew his whip back. “We’ll see.”
“Stop it!” Rose leaped between them. “Behave, both of you! We can’t afford to draw any more attention to ourselves.” She cleared her throat. “I will be taking the bed. With Elske. You may each have a pillow.”
“How generous of you, Queenie.” Kai grabbed a pillow and stretched out on the floor at the end of the bed. “The desert would be more comfortable than this,” he grumbled, kicking his boots off in two determined thunks.
“Speaking of Elske,” said Shen, going to the window. “I should fetch her.”
Rose came to stand next to him, all too aware of how close their faces were in the narrow frame.
“I’ll go down and wait for the coast to clear. Then I’ll sneak the wolf back up.” He pinned Kai with a warning look. “You stay there. On the floor.”
Kai waved him off. “Don’t worry about your queen’s virtue. If shewas my type, I would already have seduced her.”
“Excuse me?” Rose tossed her hair, frustrated by the tangles. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing personal.” Kai gave her a wolfish grin. “I wouldn’t assume to be your type either, but I’ve seen how you look at my cousin, and, let’s be honest, I’m just a better-looking, bigger version of him.”
Shen stood over Kai, his boot dangling just above his crotch. “What was that?”