A Fate of Wrath & Flame (Fate & Flame 1)

“Just one?”

Kaders dips his head.

“What did she look like?”

Kaders’s eyes flitter to the stack of coins in front of him before he collects his ale and takes a long, drawn-out sip.

The softest exhale slips from Zander’s lips as he digs into his money purse again, pulling out another equal stack.

“Woman with long hair as dark as ink and eyes like green jewels. Pretty thing.”

“Did she give you a name?”

Again, Kaders takes a long sip, waiting.

But Zander isn’t so quick to dole out more coins this time. He leans forward and through gritted teeth, repeats, “What was her name?”

Kaders glares at Bexley and with a sweeping gesture collects his coins and dumps them into a leather satchel at his hip. He makes to slide out of the booth.

“Must we play this game?” Bexley’s sultry voice doesn’t fray, even as she seizes the back of his neck with her delicate hand. He’s a strapping man, and she’s a slight woman a fraction of his size, and yet his shoulders sink with resignation. “My friend has paid dearly for a few insignificant details.” Her free hand slips below the table, into his lap, working at the laces of his pants. “I think it’s important you give him a few more.”

A slow, steady exhale slides from Kaders’s lips. “She went by Gesine.”

That has to be a fake name. I would use one, if I were her.

“And did she say where she was going after she left your ship?”

Kaders swallows as Bexley shifts closer, pressing her body against him, the hand below the table now moving at a steady rhythm.

I assume this is what Zander meant about Bexley’s methods.

“Didn’t ask, and my crew stayed away from her for the most part. They’re not keen on the casters. They tolerate ours because they bring us smooth sailing. But she was wearing a gold collar around her neck. My wind woman said this one was of a powerful sort.”

Zander and I share a knowing look. She’s definitely an elemental. It must be Ianca.

“Is there anything else you might be able to tell us about this caster? Anything at all?”

Bexley leans farther in, nipping at the skin below his ear with her teeth.

“You demon woman,” Kaders mutters under his breath, his lids growing heavy with arousal. Her responding giggle is unexpectedly girlish, and it stirs a small smile from the rugged brute.

I elbow Zander’s side and nod to the coin purse between his thighs, but he shakes his head, his jaw set. My exasperation flares at his stubbornness. We’re about to lose Kaders’s attention for good, and any information that comes along with it. On impulse, I reach into the satchel. Zander’s body goes rigid, but I ignore his reaction, and the awkward location of my hand, and collect a fistful of coins. I toss them across the table’s surface.

The sound of scattering gold grabs Kaders’s attention, snapping him out of his lustful stupor for a moment.

“Anything else you can tell us?” I push.

Kaders’s breathing is shallow. “She was asking about the Ybarisan princess.”

“What about her?”

“If the rumors are true that the king still plans to marry her.” Once a reluctant victim, Kaders’s fingers are tugging at the laces that bind Bexley’s dress together in the front.

“I think we’re done here.” Zander secures his much lighter coin satchel to his hip.

“My payment?” Bexley asks.

“I will ensure you have your seat. You have my word.”