Warrior of Blade and Dusk (Book 2)

Aranya stormed ahead, leaving Kai to trail behind her. She wouldn’t look. She wouldn’t. She would focus on finding Delan, on searching for him between donkey-hitched carts and milling people in long robes and laughing children running underfoot.
Her eyes betrayed her. She glanced back once.
Cool hazel eyes met hers, bright in the golden glow of evening. “Yes?”
Her mouth opened, something knotting tightly in her chest and warmth crawling up her neck. Then, slamming her jaw shut with a click, she whirled on her heel and marched forward. It didn’t matter what he thought of their kiss. In fact, it was stupid if he thought anything at all. Even stupider if she thought about it.
“If it’s another kiss you’re wanting, you just have to ask.”
Her face flamed, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of even a glare.
“If you asked, I’d say yes, eventually. Now, I might say no a few times, just to be sure you mean it when you ask. But if you keep asking, eventually I’ll say yes. Especially if you throw in a little begging.”
“Shi Kai,” Aranya growled, stopping in the middle of the street so his horse almost bumped into hers. She looked over her shoulder at him so fast her braid swung and slapped her neck. He blinked innocently at her. She lifted one of her tingling hands in a fist and flashed a brief glimpse of her talons. “One more word, and I’ll kill you.”
Nearby, a chicken squawked and a few heads turned. Aranya ignored them.
Kai lifted an eyebrow. “In broad daylight? I’m afraid that’s illegal, love.”