A Soul for Trouble Read Online Free PDF Page B

with deep creases folded into his leathery face approached them. He wiped his hands on his apron a little too thoroughly, probably a way to excuse himself from shaking their hands. “Welcome to the Happy Hog. How can I help you, strangers?” Her spine stiffened. Of course, they would draw attention without saying a word. A hooded man, a yellow-haired girl, and a wolf. Who would find anything normal about that?
    “We were hoping you had two rooms available for the evening,” she replied, hoping her voice sounded calm.
    “One room will be fine,” Dev growled behind her.
    She plastered a sweet smile on her face, ignoring him. “I prefer two.”
    “One.” His green eyes glowed from shadows that concealed his face, and her blood ran cold.
    “ You’ve pissed him off now, my little Soulbearer .”
    “ Tell me something I didn’t know .”
    The man cleared his throat. “I only have one room available this evening. The trade routes are full with the harvest going on, and so is my inn.”
    “We’ll take it.” Dev discreetly dropped several gold coins in the man’s hand. “My apprentice could use a bath and some more suitable clothing for travelling. Perhaps you could assist us with that, as well.”
    The innkeeper’s eyes widened past his droopy eyelids at the sight of gold in his palm. “My boy has a few things he’s outgrown that may fit the young lady. I’ll tell my girls to start heating up some bathwater as well.”
    “No need to do that. My apprentice will be fine with a cold bath.” Arden gritted her teeth. So this was her punishment for disagreeing with him. She would have preferred a slap to the face rather than the cool intensity of his glare. At least she’d know he’d gotten his anger out of his system.
    “Come this way, and I’ll show you to your room.”
    Dev’s hand pressed against the small of her back. She followed the innkeeper to a small corner room with a fireplace and a bed large enough to share. Her gaze fixated on it, and her pulse raced. Would he keep his word and sleep on the floor?
    “I hope you’ll find this to your liking. Let me light the fire—”
    “I can do that.” Dev moved in front of the fireplace, blocking the innkeeper. “Just please see to the bath.”
    He backed away, colliding with the young woman carrying the metal tub. “Of course. I’ll be back in a few minutes with some water.”
    Dev closed the door behind them and crossed his arms. “Why did you disobey me?” Arden mimicked his posture. She wasn’t going to let him know how much she wanted to hide under the bed. “I’m the Soulbearer. You’re my protector. If anyone should be giving orders around here, it’s me.”
    “Wrong. Until you complete your training, you’re just a little scrap of a girl with a half-crazed god of chaos trying to control your mind and a necromancer on your tail. You need me to keep you sane and alive, so until we get to Gravaria, I suggest you do as I say and not challenge me again.”
    She lifted her chin, refusing to look away from him. “Or you’ll do what?” His upper lip lifted in a snarl.
    “ Uh-oh, wrong answer. You’re awfully good at pissing him off, my Soulbearer. I’m going to enjoy watching you two in the coming years .” Dev opened his mouth to say something, but the entrance of three people interrupted him.
    The innkeeper must have recruited every staff member and empty bucket he could find to bring up her bath water. They wasted no time filling the bath two-thirds full, leaving a bar of soap and a towel beside it and retreating back downstairs. It was almost as if they sensed Dev’s anger and didn’t want to witness the unavoidable explosion. At least they had the courtesy to close the door behind them so they could feign ignorance when it happened.
    He snatched her wrist and pulled her close enough to him so his lips brushed against her ear when he spoke. “Now, listen to me, Trouble, and listen well. There are far worse things out there than