“I’ve got my eye on you,” Ryan said in a low voice. “You even look at Sam in a way that makes him uncomfortable and I’ll come back here and shove my sword through your dick until you’re shitting it out.”
“So violent,” I whispered reverently. “I mean, it ignores how the gastrointestinal system works, but wow. Also, watch your fucking mouth. There are children present.”
“I give you my word that nothing untoward will happen to Sam,” Ruv said, voice even.
“Darn right, mothercracker,” Ryan said. “Ryan doesn’t want to have to come back and cut a bro.”
“Aaaand that’s enough,” I said, stepping forward and pushing Ryan out of the way. “When you start sounding like Gary, you lose all credibility. Get outta here, you meathead.”
Ryan hooked a hand around my neck and pulled me close, laying a filthy kiss upon my lips, more tongue and teeth than finesse. But it turned out that I’m totally on board with tongue and teeth and gave back just as good as I got. By the time he’d pulled away, my face felt scrubbed raw by the week-old stubble on his face, my lips tingling and warm. He looked smug as he backed away slowly, glancing at Ruv. He brought his hands up, palms toward the sky, and said, “Ryan out.” He whirled around and headed toward Kevin, who was demanding even more gold than he’d already been given.
“Stop getting advice from Gary!” I shouted after him, a little dazed. “You stupid, sexy asshole.”
“He certainly likes to prove his point,” Ruv said, once again amused. “I suppose that’s a knight, though. Blunt and forward. Lacking in finesse and subtlety.”
I stared at him. “Obviously you don’t know us at all if you think any of us is subtle. About anything.”
“Point,” he said. “Walk with me, Sam.”
“You’re not going to try and touch my junk, are you?” I asked him suspiciously. “Because Ryan will stab you.” I frowned. “Not that I need him to. I don’t need no man to take care of bidness, if you know what I mean.”
“No. I really don’t know what you mean. Does anyone?”
“Sometimes. Where are we going?”
“Just away from the noise. There’s a dock near where you’re staying that—”
“I know,” I said. “I was there before we left.”
He didn’t seem surprised. “Good. It’s not far.”
I caught Ryan’s eye as I followed Ruv through the crowd. I jerked my head, letting him know I’d be right back. He looked like he thought that was the stupidest idea he’d ever heard, but he got distracted by Kevin saying something to him. I was out of his sight before he ever turned back around.
The noise fell away behind us. The wood creaked under our feet, the water lapping against the posts. I had a tendency toward stupidity, but I kept my eyes open, taking in my surroundings, making sure this wasn’t some feeble attempt from Vadoma to trap me in Mashallaha. I didn’t think Ruv would go along with it, but I didn’t really know him. He was the Wolf of Bari Lavuta. His allegiance was to his phuro. If it was anything like my bond with the King, I couldn’t underestimate what Ruv would do on Vadoma’s behalf.
The dock was empty when we stepped onto it. It swayed gently beneath our feet, but not enough to throw me off balance. A dry wind whipped over the water, a faint mist landing on our exposed skin. The stars were bright above. I’d have to remember what they looked like out here in the middle of nowhere when I was back in the City of Lockes. I didn’t think I’d come back to Mashallaha. Vadoma wasn’t someone I needed. Ruv was a headache I didn’t want to have to worry about. When we needed Zero, we could bypass Mashallaha altogether, or I could send Kevin. Either way, I didn’t want to come back to this city. It had hurt my family too much.
Ruv sat down on the edge of the dock, feet dangling down into the water. I sat beside him, sitting far enough away that we didn’t touch. I didn’t like how my magic felt around him, like it was comfortable, like it could be something more. Apparently my magic was a bit of a slut, given how it seemed to curl around him. Ryan felt bright and electric, like lightning. Ruv was smooth and warm, a desert wind. Ryan told me it took a long time before he was able to feel what I did, and even then, it was faint. I didn’t think Ruv could feel my magic, given that I hadn’t known him for very long, but it still felt… wrong. If this is what it meant to find another cornerstone, I hoped I never had to meet another one for as long as I lived.
“She’s worried,” Ruv said, breaking the silence.
I didn’t need to ask who. “Why?”
“Because she doesn’t think you’re taking this seriously. That this is just a game to you.”
I snorted. “She doesn’t know me.”
“Does anyone?”
“Gary does. And Tiggy. Kevin. Ryan.”
“So you say. But I think sometimes you hide behind a mask, even to them.”
“Right,” I said dryly. “And this is based on…?”
He shrugged. “Observation. It’s what I do. I watch. Your sass and snark. You have magic, but you mostly use words as weapons. There is great power within you, Sam, but you choose to hide it away.”
“I’m pretty sure you were there when I destroyed all those sand mermaids,” I said. “In fact, I know you were there.”