Jo nodded. “He will. I don’t expect to be back until the Winter Solstice or later.”
Xander nodded. “Must be nice to have a partner in business.”
My brows hit my forehead. I hadn’t even known females could own establishments. And this Jo was a… partner here?
Interesting.
I had so many questions, but before I could ask them, Jo turned her assessing gaze to me. “Daegal didn’t mention you were bringing company, Xander. Who isshe?”
Jo looked at me shrewdly, and I took a step back, sliding my hand into my pocket. The hilt of my dagger was a comfort against Jo’s gaze as I sorted through her words. Who was this Daegal? Was he the brother?
Xander stepped forward, pulling out a stool before gesturing for me to sit on it. I did, but not before sending him a withering glance.
In response, he placed a large hand on my shoulder. Infuriatingly, the possessive action felt… right, somehow. Xander drew me against his chest before clearing his throat. “Thiscompany, Jo, is Ana. My wife.”
Fake wife,I added silently.
The barmaid paled, her eyes darting between me and Xander. “You,the male who refuses to see any female twice, got married?”
Xander nodded, his voice grave. “I did.”
“To her?” Jo gestured to me, the question clear in her voice.
“Yes, to me,” I snapped. I felt oddly insulted that the female thought Xander’s marriage to me was strange. Our marriage was fake, but her disbelief irked me. I added, “You’re not exactly what I was expecting, either.”
Jo raised a brow, pausing mid-wipe of the bar to put her hands on her hips. The cloth dangled from her hands as she tilted her head. “You were expecting someone else?”
“I-I…” I blinked as the admission slipped out, “I thought you were going to be a male.”
Xander chortled, and Jo looked amused as blood rushed to my cheeks.
I hurriedly continued, wishing the ground would open up and swallow me whole. “I suppose I shouldn’t have made any assumptions.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Jo said, leaning forward. I averted my eyes as her breasts appeared to be moments away from spilling onto the countertop. Several males and a few females eyed her appreciatively.
Still holding my gaze, Jo grabbed a cup and began to wipe it with a new cloth as she said, “You aren’t the first one to make that assumption. Most people find it easier to deal with a male, so I don’t mind helping them along to that conclusion. Usually, by the time they realize I’m a female, they’re too invested to back out of our dealings. My brother is more of a… silent partner in the business.”
“I see,” I lied. There was still so much to the world that I had to learn.
Xander claimed a stool beside me as he braced both his arms on the counter.
“I need to talk to you,” he said to the barmaid.
Jo nodded, her brown eyes shrewd. “I figured you would.It’supstairs.” Placing the cup she had been cleaning on the counter, she waved her rag in the air. “Daegal, come here.”
I turned, my face paling as a dark-skinned male with pointy ears and black curls began walking towards us. My stomach tightened as the elf approached.
A dozen thoughts ran through my mind at once. Was this a set-up? Was this male another Death Elf? Were they going to sell me out to the Winged Soldiers?
I was sure the king would pay handsomely for my return.
My gaze darted all around the tavern, marking an escape route. A dozen or so patrons blocked my path to the front door, but there appeared to be a route out the back.
Just as I was about to bolt, a warm hand landed on my arm. I tensed as the warmth of Xander’s touch leaked through every layer.
“Easy, Sunshine,” Xander rasped. His breath warmed my cheek as he said, “Daegal is a Fortune Elf. He’s not going to hurt you.”
“That’s right.” The Fortune Elf slid behind the bar, nodding in my direction. His eyes glistened in the candlelight as he picked up a glass. “I don’t believe in hurting females.”