6
“Would you like some hot tea?” Asim asked nearly an hour later.
Pearl turned from where she was standing on the wide deck overlooking the waterfall that flowed from underneath it. She saw a flash of uncertainty flicker through the man’s eyes before it was replaced with the same stubborn, determined expression that had brought her to his home. Crossing her arms to keep from reaching out to smooth away the worried expression on his face, she shrugged and nodded.
“You have hot tea?” she asked in surprise.
“Yes. Lady Ariel enjoys it,” he replied.
“I would love a cup,” she said.
He nodded, turned, and retreated back inside. The moment he was gone, Pearl uncrossed her arms and fanned herself. A snort from the golden creature watching her made her scowl.
“Hot flash,” she lied.
The creat
