Chapter 35
Linnea’s legs felt like they were going to fall off after days of riding horseback. She typically traveled by carriage for long distances, but that would have drawn too much attention to them.
The worst part was that Linnea was wearing pants for the first time in her life.
The tightness around her lower half made her feel exposed, especially whenever she caught Halsten staring.
It always made her search her body, brushing away any dirt or horse hair he may be looking at, which made him laugh and shake his head.
They stopped for the night at an inn about a half a day’s ride away from the Blomvin Manor. There was no sense in traveling in the dark when they could rest for the night and eat a good meal, then get an early start in the morning and be to the manor early in the day still.
Gyrial approached the innkeeper to inquire about rooms and Liva rushed over, speaking to him in hushed tones. Gyrial nodded and returned to his conversation with the plump man behind the desk.
Linnea’s movements were stiff due to the ache in her limbs, but she concealed it as best as she could.
“Are you walking like that because you are not accustomed to long journeys in the saddle, or because you feel like the entire room is taking in your figure in those trousers?” Halsten jeered.
Linnea’s face flushed a deep red, heat creeping up her neck. “I, erm. Mostly because of the soreness, but I am not quite adjusted to my figure being on display. I have always worn dresses.”
Halsten looked Linnea up and down, then grabbed her hand and held it above her head, spinning her like a ballet dancing figurine in a music box. He clicked his tongue.
“Take a hot bath, then stretch your legs as much as you can. It will help,” he leaned in close and whispered in her ear, so quiet only she could hear.
“And to clarify, your figure is drawing the attention of everyone in here. They cannot stop observing your long legs, your rounded behind, or your hourglass shape. The puffy shirt is doing nothing to hide that, by the way.”
Linnea’s cheeks were now heated for a completely different reason.
There was no way that her feeble frame was drawing that kind of attention.
She always assumed people stared because of how weak she was; how flat and shapeless she was.
Though she hadn’t really observed herself in the last few months.
She had been eating better, taking the long way to any destination in the castle she was heading so she could climb more stairs.
She stepped back quickly so she could no longer feel the heat coming from Halsten’s body. She needed to get away before she leaned into it.
The universe was on her side when Gyrial approached with room keys for everyone.
“Three rooms. Niklas, Halsten, and I will take a triple. Liva requested her own room, so Linnea, that means you will be on your own. Is that okay?”
Linnea nodded. She didn’t exactly enjoy sharing her space with anyone besides Asta anyway.
“Nothing personal,” Liva stated. “I like my privacy.”
Linnea didn’t doubt that one bit. The sea dragon probably had certain needs to fulfill while they were on a break. She knew that sirens needed to ingest blood, so she assumed sea dragons had similar needs.
The group separated, Niklas and Gyrial heading for the pub under the inn while the other three headed upstairs to get settled into their rooms.