Woven Shadows

Chapter 5

I watched as Lottie pocketed the last of her winnings, her movements graceful and unhurried, as though she had all the time in the world. The men she had played with were long gone, grumbling as they left the tavern, but she remained, counting her coin with a casual confidence that only made her more irritating.

And then her eyes met mine.

I straightened slightly, gripping the edge of the table as she stood, her bright eyes gleaming with amusement. The grin that spread across her face was wide, mischievous, and I had the unsettling feeling that she had known I was watching her all along.

Great.

I stayed where I was, slumped in the shadowed corner, hoping that maybe, just maybe, she'd get the hint and leave me alone. But of course, she didn't.

She crossed the room with that same bouncy, lighthearted step, like the heavy, humid air didn't even touch her. Her wild golden hair shimmered under the dim lanterns, the small blossoms woven into it catching the light as she moved. I could practically feel her grin growing as she made her way toward me, and the closer she got, the more I felt my patience wearing thin.

I didn't need this. Not now. Not ever.

Lottie slid into the chair across from me without waiting for an invitation, her grin never faltering as she rested her elbows on the table, leaning in just a bit too close for my liking. She radiated a kind of energy that grated on my already frayed nerves—light, carefree, and impossible to ignore. The very opposite of everything I was feeling.

"Well, well," she said, her voice lilting with amusement. "You've been sitting over here all quiet-like, haven't you?"

I narrowed my eyes, keeping my voice low and unwelcoming. "I wasn't looking for company."

She didn't seem phased by my tone. If anything, it seemed to amuse her more. "That's fine. I'm company enough for the both of us."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Of course, she was one of those. Too bouncy. Too lighthearted. Too... fae.

Lottie glanced at the mug of water in front of me, then back up at me with a curious tilt of her head. "Just water, huh? You must be the cautious type."

"Or broke," I muttered under my breath.

Her grin widened. "Ah, I see. Well, that explains a lot."

I shot her a look, wondering just how much she thought she knew about me. The answer was probably too much.

She settled back in her chair, stretching her arms above her head as if she owned the place. "So, tell me—what brings you to this charming little corner of the world? You don't look like the type to wander into a village like this without a reason."

"I'm passing through," I said, keeping my answers short. I wasn't in the mood for her questions.

"And where are you passing through to?" she pressed, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.

I clenched my jaw. This fae wasn't going to leave me alone, was she? She'd already decided I was some sort of puzzle she wanted to solve.

"That's none of your business."

Lottie didn't miss a beat, still smiling as if my sharp words were nothing more than a light breeze. "Well, if you're passing through, maybe I could help. I'm a bit of a wanderer myself. Seen plenty of places, met plenty of people."

I gave her a long look, my patience wearing thinner by the second. "I don't need help."

She raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "Maybe not. But it looks like you could use some company."