17. Princess Esemeray
PRINCESS ESEMERAY
The calm air kissed her skin, and the smell of pine and firewood smoke caressed her broken heart.
As they walked toward a rusted cobblestone building, Esemeray took in the village.
Her eyes lit up. Aldmoor was nothing like Dagon.
It was full of life—well-kept and clean, and not a single vagrant in sight.
Esemeray glanced across the street and watched a woman toss dough in the air through a pane of glass.
Through another window, a man hammered on what looked to be a sword.
Aldmoor seemed to be the village of opportunity.
Conversely, Dagon was the kingdom of misfortune.
Her father made it hard to find work. Made it hard to run a shop.
Made it hard to live. He nearly took fifty percent of all earnings from the townspeople.
Left them begging on the streets, even with an occupation.
Dagon was hopeless and cruel. Dirty and disheartened.
Esemeray couldn’t care less if flame consumed the castle, and if it did, she hoped her mother would burn down with it.
Chatter sounded from the nearby locals walking by.
She kept her head down as they passed. It was a silly precaution, really.
She’d never joined any family portraits or showed her face beyond Dagon.
Her mother’s voice rang through her mind.
“Go back to your room. The artist didn’t bring nearly enough charcoal to capture you.
You will simply wash us out. Go now. Why are you still standing there? ”
Esemeray fixed her gaze across the street. In a window, the same man who gifted her the cloak stared with intent, shaking his head in disapproval. Esemeray’s brows bunched.
Why is he staring like that? She hummed, running her fingers down the cloak, and dipped her chin in thanks. His round eyes shot up, and he disappeared out of sight.
After a few moments of walking in silence, Riggs braced his hand on the small of her back, leading her toward a brick building eerily close to the tavern. His firm touch caused her pulse to thrum, and she found herself leaning into him.
When he had run his hands across her kitten form, she was certain she’d explode right there and then.
But now? With his fingers tracing her spine.
Esemeray sucked in a sharp breath, her stomach fluttering.
She was certain any longer of his knuckles dragging down, her knees would wobble and crash to the ground.
“Here we are,” Riggs said, his hand departing.
Regaining her composure, Esemeray took in the restaurant with a smile.
Outside were cherry wooden tables, and chairs placed strategically.
She had never seen a place where she could eat outdoors.
Every place in Dagon had been inside. Perhaps because there was nothing beautiful to gaze upon.
But here? There were so many things to admire.
Esemeray’s eyes lit at the white-spotted viny plants hanging from a wooden canopy.
Riggs pulled out a chair, motioning for her to sit. “For you.”
“Thank you,” she said quietly as she sat down, removing her hood and letting her hair fall.
Riggs' eyes brightened as he took his seat across from her, such surprise etched on his masculine face. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”
“Me too.” She beamed, her eyes trailing his sharp jawline and sinful lips. She sucked in a sharp breath. “So, Leo huh?”
Something like recognition dawned on Riggs' face. With a smirk, he leaned over pinching her arm. “Sophie, huh?”
That made her laugh.
He leaned back into his seat, his smile faltering. “I wanted to tell you the truth.”
“Couldn’t risk the job?”
“Something like that.”
She inhaled the sweet smells drifting from inside the restaurant, her eyes softening. “I wasn’t truthful either, and for that, I’m sorry.” She swallowed. “I’m sorry about my father.” Her stomach turned, knowing it had been her fault for his sentence. Even this interaction could get him killed.
“I get why you lied.” Riggs shrugged. “Please, don’t apologize.”
A young woman with cinnamon hair approached them, her ample breasts bouncing softly in her cotton, long white dress.
She placed two glasses of water down. “Welcome to Rudy’s Brews. What can I get you two?” Esemeray didn’t miss the woman’s gleaming eyes and the way they drank Riggs in. A burning sensation spread through her chest. Quickly, she tucked her hair behind her ear, trying to appear unaffected.
“Hey… Sherry, right? Just two of Aldmoor’s famous chocolate chip cookies,” Riggs said, playing with a napkin.
“It’s Shirley, silly, but of course; anything for you.” The woman winked, rubbing her hand along his shoulder. Riggs shrugged her off, throwing her a weary smile. Shirley’s eyebrows drew together, then she disappeared inside the restaurant.
Riggs set his hands on the table, and Esemeray glanced down, staring at his rough, scarred hands. Her gaze traveled to the faint claw marks marring his arm, her cheeks heating, knowing she had been the cause for his injury.
He reeled back, grabbing his glass. “Are you alright?” Riggs asked, scanning her. His eyes caught on her lip, his brows bunching. “Who did that to you?”
Esemeray’s fingers drifted to her lip, running across the raw split and winced. “My mother.”
“She had no right.” Riggs' knuckles turned white around the glass, shattering it.
Esemeray flinched.
“She had no damn right,” he whispered. He huffed quietly, dragging his hands through his hair, yanking on his strands. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to?—”
“It’s alright.” She exhaled a breath. “I’m okay.”
“Okay.” Riggs glanced over his shoulder, resting his arm along the chair, his jaw clenching.
Moments of silence passed, and Esemeray fidgeted with her nails beneath the table, unsure of what to say.
Riggs' features softened as he met her gaze, arching his brow. “Hey, so…I’m a little confused how you got here. It’s dangerous traveling to Aldmoor from Dagon.
” He glanced at her feet. “And you’re not wearing any shoes… ”
She gulped, curling her toes across the stone. “About that.” Her mouth went dry.
Would he even accept me for who I am?
Riggs leaned closer, causing her heart to rupture. “Yes?” His voice was soft, reassuring.
Esemeray’s throat constricted. “I…” She should’ve thought this through before shifting into a kitten.
She should have continued swimming through the murky depths until she was clear of them.
Should have gone her separate way once knowing they were safe.
Her eyes fell once more, and she found herself thinking about what to say.
Riggs reached for her hand. “Hey, it’s okay. I don’t need to know.” His fingers curled around hers, gentle and warm. She never thought she would see him again, and yet here he was, holding her hand—touching her.
Shirley returned, and Riggs reeled his hands back. Fighting back a frown, Esemeray slid her hands to her lap, heart plunging through her stomach like an anchor.
Shirley set down the cookies, sweet steam curling through the air. She brushed her hand along Riggs' shoulder again, and said, “I missed you the other night.” She giggled like a school girl, twirling the ends of her hair. “Maybe we can catch up later.”
Esemeray swallowed her gasp. The other night?
Riggs met her seductive stare and said bluntly, “I’m in the middle of something.” He gestured between himself and Esemeray.
Shirley scoffed while walking away, and Esemeray didn’t miss the dirty look she threw her way as she disappeared into the restaurant.
Esemeray’s brows rose. Classy.
Riggs ran his hands through his hair, chuckling nervously. “I apologize about that.”
Esemeray shifted in her seat. “Are you two…together?”
Riggs' cheeks turned scarlet. “Gods no! If she were my girlfriend, you would think I’d remember her name.” He let out a short laugh. “Just someone I know. Sort of. It’s a long story.” He scratched the back of his neck and grimaced.
As handsome as Riggs was, he could have any women in his village. She was certain he already had, given the way the women blushed in his presence—how she blushed in his presence.
Riggs puffed out his cheeks, blowing out a slow breath. “Anyway…”
Esemeray offered him a shy smile, unable to find the words to speak.
They stared at one another for a passing moment.
Riggs cleared his throat. “So…”
“So…” Esemeray’s pulse fluttered.
“Are you just passing through, or…maybe staying a while?” He tossed her a charming smile.
Esemeray’s heart skipped. “I was headed to Levaruin…where my cousin lives.” She half lied, chewing on her lip. “And then I heard… I mean, I saw you and your brother fighting those…beasts.”
“You saw us?” Riggs' head angled.
Her shoulders tensed as she admitted, “I couldn’t just leave you there.
I… I had to help…and I panicked, and—” Riggs stared at her with such intensity, and she couldn’t breathe.
Her eyes slammed shut as she struggled to find the words to explain.
She rested her hands on the table, slowly opening her eyes. She would tell him.
Riggs leaned forward, his hands sliding against the grain of the wood, fingers tangling around hers. “Esemeray,” he murmured, his thumb dragging across her knuckles in slow, slow movements.
Esemeray blinked. “There’s something I need to tell you?—”
A low, male voice shouted behind her. “Riggs, where did you go? Your food’s ready!”
Anxiety skittered down her spine. Black mist flooded her vision and her human form disappeared, replaced by her kitten form. Glad for her instincts, Killian turned toward them from across the street.
Riggs swore as he stood, picking up the fallen cloak and throwing it around his shoulder. She could hear her pulse thrumming in her ears as his hand slid beneath her belly, scooping her in his arms. Riggs' voice was a low rasp, “You have some explaining to do.”