7. Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven
Evandra
My mind buzzed with questions, each one louder than the last. Why were those three here, in my tiny town, in my inn of all places? There was something about them—about him—that didn’t add up.
Then, I got a brilliant idea. A painfully stupid, brilliant idea.
The next thing I knew, I was padding barefoot down the darkened corridors toward the rooms I’d lent to the mysterious strangers.
The faint light of the moon poured through the arched windows, casting soft patterns across the walls.
My pulse quickened with every step, my heartbeat pounding so loudly in my ears that I was sure it would give me away. I’ll just say I’m getting water.
As I approached his door, I slowed, pressing my ear to the wall just beside it. The low murmur of male voices reached me.
“We have to be back to Castle City in ten days’ time, Drake,” Felix’s tone was measured but firm. “And three of those are just the ride. We don’t have time to dilly-dally.”
Castle City? My brow furrowed. Why are they going back there?
“I understand that, Felix,” that unmistakable growl- Eldrake. “I will make sure the mission goes well, and we get what we came for. By any means necessary.” There was weight behind that last sentence, the kind that sent a jolt of unease ripping through me.
“Well, that’s already been made evident,” Felix replied, his tone tinged with something I couldn’t place—disapproval, perhaps?
What are they talking about? My mind spun, trying to piece together what little I’d heard. Then, I caught the faint sound of footsteps approaching the door. My stomach dropped.
Without thinking, I darted into a small broom closet just a few feet away, pulling the door shut as quietly as I could. I held my breath, straining to hear through the thin wood.
“Good night, Captain,” Felix said, his voice now just outside the door. The door clicked shut, and silence followed.
Captain. So Eldrake was their leader. Hot.
I leaned back against the closet wall, my head spinning with the scraps of conversation I’d overheard.
They were on a mission. They were going back to Castle City.
And Eldrake… wasn’t just a leader. He was a Captain .
But a Captain of what exactly? I knew he couldn’t be in the Kings army- he was Riftborn.
The thought sent a thrill through me, and I pressed a hand to my chest, trying to steady my racing heart.
What kind of mission brought a Riftborn Captain and his companions to a place like Winshire?
Whatever it was, I had a sinking feeling it wasn’t good.
And yet, despite the unease swirling in my chest, I couldn’t stop the faint, ridiculous smile tugging at my lips.
As soon as the corridor fell silent, I slipped out of the broom closet and padded back up to my room, my heart still racing. Once inside, I shut my door quietly and sank onto my bed, trying to make sense of what I’d overheard.
What are they after? I wondered, staring up at the cracked ceiling. Could it be my book? The thought sent a shiver through me, though whether it was fear or excitement, I wasn’t sure. Or was it something else entirely—some hidden piece of contraband buried here in Winshire?
I hugged my knees to my chest, my mind spinning with possibilities. Whatever it was, it was important enough to bring a Captain and his squad to this forgotten town. Important enough for “any means necessary.”
This was exciting—terrifying, yes, but exciting. For the first time in what felt like forever, something was happening. Something bigger than the monotony of the inn, the endless routines, and the quiet, unchanging days of Winshire.
Some time passed of me just laying on my bedspread, trying to will my thoughts to quiet down. The restless energy wouldn’t let me sit still. I decided to go for a walk to try and settle my mind.
I crept downstairs once again, barefoot, letting the hush of the late hour settle around me.
The ancient rugs below my feet were rough with age, and the shadows of the moonlit trees painted the wooden walls.
The inn was silent—Papa asleep, the hearth embers soft and low.
But the corridors beyond the kitchen still held a strange pull.
I wasn’t sure what I was hoping to find.
Just air, maybe. A minute to think without the weight of it all pressing on my chest. The hall curved ahead in quiet shadow.
I turned the corner—and nearly smacked straight into a wall of muscle.
My heart jolted. “Gods?—!”
A hand caught my elbow to steady me. “Easy.”
Eldrake.
He released me quickly, but the place where he’d touched my arm still tingled. He stood half in shadow, shirt loose, hair slightly damp. The air shifted around him like it didn’t know how to behave.
“Should I be worried you’re stalking my halls like a ghost?” I said, trying to sound steady and casual. My voice came out a little breathier than I liked.
His silver eyes scanned me, unreadable. “I could ask you the same question.”
“I couldn’t sleep.”
He nodded once, and for a moment, neither of us moved. The silence pressed in—heavy, humming. Then he tilted his head, the faintest curve tugging at his mouth.
“You smell like pears.”
I blinked. “What?”
“The roast. From earlier.” His lips quirked. “It stuck to you. Smells good.”
“Oh.” Heat prickled up my neck. “Thanks. I was… cooking.”
“I noticed.” He took a step closer, voice low. “You always cook like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re trying to conquer the kitchen.”
My arms crossed before I thought about it. “Is that supposed to be an insult or a compliment?”
“That depends.” His eyes glinted. “Did you win?”
A laugh escaped me—sharp, nervous. “Still standing, aren’t I?”
His gaze dropped, lingering on my bare feet against the wooden floor. When he looked back up, his expression had changed—softer, almost reluctant, though his voice was firm.
“You interest me.” His eyes locked on mine, and the air between us shifted, charged with something unspoken, dangerous. My chest tightened, ribs aching with the effort of holding still. Then, just as quickly, he stepped back—a single pace, enough to shatter the moment like glass.
“You should be careful, Eva,” he said quietly. The warning was real, but there was something else in his voice, too—like maybe he wasn’t talking about the inn at all. He turned and walked away, disappearing down the corridor without another word. I stared after him, heart pounding.
What the hell was that?
My thoughts churned for what felt like hours, spinning over the endless possibilities of what their mission could be.
Finally, exhaustion crept in, dragging my eyelids down.
The last thought I clung to before sleep claimed me was the memory of Eldrake’s eyes, burning like starlight in the dim light of the inn.
I woke with an unusual sense of enthusiasm, a lightness that carried me from my bed to my wardrobe.
For once, my dreams had left me alone. I pranced across the creaking floorboards, opening the wardrobe doors with a flourish as I debated what to wear.
My hand lingered on a little yellow dress tucked toward the back, one I’d only worn a handful of times.
It was beautiful, but I’d always deemed it too revealing for work. Today, though, I hesitated.
Seeking attention, are we? That little judgmental voice that lived in the back of my head whispered.
I cursed myself, pulling the dress from the wardrobe.
It was simpler than I remembered, but still striking.
The neckline dipped a little lower than I was used to, and its hemline stopped just above my knees—far shorter than the modest, ankle-length gowns I usually wore.
The heavy linen clung to my curves as I held it up, the fabric buttery-soft against my skin.
It wasn’t inappropriate, exactly, but it was far from prudish.
The little voice scoffed. Why are you doing this? A dress from my name day ten years ago wasn’t going to catch the attention of a man like Eldrake—especially not when that stunning woman, Fen, stood at his side.
I shook my head, biting back a wry smile.
Gods, what am I doing? Still, I slipped into the dress, smoothing the fabric over my hips.
The soft yellow felt warm, like sunlight, and for a brief moment, I let myself enjoy the small indulgence.
Even if it was silly, today felt like a day worth wearing it.
At least I wouldn’t look quite so embarrassing. In fact, I want to look like something more than myself. Maybe even… beautiful . I tugged a brush through my bouncing red curls. Instead of throwing them into the usual messy bun, I let them fall loose, framing my face in soft waves.
My excitement carried me down the stairs into the bright kitchen, where I busied myself preparing breakfast and tea as I would for any guest. The scent of warm bread and chamomile filled the air, but the three strangers didn’t emerge from their rooms.
“Smells amazing!” Papa’s cracking voice called from the stairs, startling me so badly that I nearly dropped the kettle.
“Gods, Papa! Are you trying to kill me!?” I teased, though I couldn’t quite mask my disappointment that he wasn’t who I was hoping for.
He chuckled as he descended, his old bones creaking with each step. “Did I hear you up last night?”
“Yeah, we actually had a few guests check in late,” I replied, my eyes drifting to the closed doors upstairs as I served him his breakfast.
All day, my mind raced with thoughts of the three. Drake’s piercing Star-Glow swirling with molten silver, and his towering, muscular frame haunted my every other thought. I found myself hoping, wishing, that his door would open and I’d get another chance to speak with him.