CHAPTER EIGHT #3
Drawing in a deep breath, Thom was about to let out a low, impressed whistle, but it dissipated into a puff of breath as he watched her brush a finger tenderly over Ethenn’s healed flesh. Her eyes regarded him with baffling affection.
Then she dropped her hand into her lap.
“There,” she said haughtily, leveling a superior look in Thom’s direction. “If you’re ever so injured, don’t bother coming to me. I’m not sure you could handle a touch as potent as mine.”
Any retort died before inception. Her snide quip carried a new resonance in Thom’s ears. It didn’t matter how flirtatious she was with him; he’d witnessed the softness in her expression while her hands lingered on the young man’s face.
By the way Ethenn sat slumped away from her, the kid was ignorant of it.
“Loxley,” Rafferty called, all sins forgiven. “Come help me teach Evie a lesson.”
Ethenn excused himself, thanking Ilain for her help, then jogged over to the others, saying, “We only have two training swords, idiot.”
Rafferty hoisted two thick branches. “I’ve fashioned my own blades.”
Shaking his head at their antics, Thom turned back to find Ilain returned to her sketches. He’d often wondered what she drew in there. If anyone but Auden got close enough to find out, she’d flip it shut. Now, he had an idea of one of her subjects.
“Make sure you capture the shading of his blush just right,” he quipped. “Wouldn’t want him appearing too heroic. Realism and all.”
A sharp eyebrow rose on her porcelain skin. “Whatever are you talking about?”
“The kid.” He tipped his chin in the direction of her page. “Your drawings.”
She shut the book with a snap. Her lips lifted mockingly. “Don’t be jealous, dear. If you want your likeness captured, I will happily oblige.”
“Mm-hm. And how many times have you captured our young friend’s likeness?”
“I’m afraid your envious insinuation holds no ground. I’ve drawn each of you with equity.”
“Have you?”
She gave him a bland stare before returning to her work. But Thom noticed the subtle shift of her eyes toward the trio sparring a handful of yards away.
He grunted in bafflement. “Are you boffing the boy?”
That made Ilain’s charcoal slice up the page in a startled jerk.
Suddenly, her gemlike eyes were on him, a blazing green fire. “How dare you?” she snarled. “I may be flirtatious, but my honor is above reproach. Should you like proof of it, I’d be happy to jilt your own sordid desires.”
Thom laughed. “Sordid desires, eh? Yes, I’ve had many of those. None of them involving you.”
Her rosy lips pursed with sarcasm. “My heart aches at your rejection.”
He motioned toward Ethenn. “And here I thought I was the object of your affection.”
Languidly, Ilain stretched out her legs, crossing them demurely at the ankles. She wore a contemplative expression as she eyed him. “Don’t be too heartbroken. It takes a certain finesse to hold a flame.”
The admission made Thom’s mouth drop open in surprise. “You like the kid?” He scoffed. “What a future that would be. You’d burn him up in ten seconds flat.”
“Why do you think I’ve chosen to flirt with you?”
“Wait—what?”
Ilain rolled her eyes. “You don’t think I’m foolish enough to intentionally seek out the company of a man who’s not wise enough to recognize my worth, do you?”
His face scrunched in confusion. “You’ve been flirting with me to make him jealous?”
“Not at all,” she said with a huff. “I’ve been flirting with you because I’m trying to dissuade him, and you don’t pose a threat.”
“Dissuade him? I thought you liked him.”
“I’m attracted to him. There’s a difference. But he does like me, and I don’t care to hurt his feelings.”
“What do you care to do to him?” Thom couldn’t help teasing her. He enjoyed the way it made her eyes narrow and her jaw twitch.
Ilain set her sketchbook to the side. “Even your indelicate mind couldn’t handle my aspirations.”
“Can’t say I’m not intrigued.”
“I’m afraid you’ll remain unsatisfied.”
“You’re awfully good at this.”
“At what?”
“Baiting a man.”
She smiled, cunning and arrogant. “You spend thirty-two years in an Order with tedious Mages twice your age, and you’d find yourself rather excited at the attention of handsome young suitors too.”
Thom’s expression fell into shock. “You’re thirty-two?” He’d pegged her for being closer to his sister Meria’s age at twenty-five.
“I spent thirty-two years in the Order,” Ilain corrected. “I lived at home a decade before that.”
Thom gaped at her.
She smirked. “Magic has its benefits.”
“Almighty,” he mumbled. “I’m flirting with a woman fifteen years my senior.”
Her copper brows lifted in delight. “You’ve decided to return my coquetry?”
“What’s life without playful banter with a pretty woman?”
She set a hand to her chest, mockingly coy. “You find me pretty?”
Thom raised his brow. “Why didn’t you tell me of your disinterest in the first place? I would have happily assisted your discouragement of Loxley from the start.”
“Hm.” Ilain considered him. “I suppose I could use some assistance. He doesn’t seem to be getting the idea.”
“You’re not doing a very good job rejecting him.”
Her green eyes sparkled. “You’ll oblige me then?”
“It’d be my pleasure.”