Diplomatic as always.
“Fate brought us together, of course,” Aidon smirks. “I can admit it’s getting a little crowded, but I am a family male.”
A hint of a smile appears on Jestin’s face a second later. “You need to break the bond.”
“Too high a price,” I mumble. As a Berigander, I should be able to ask Gorok for a favour and he would grant it, but knowingfull well he is displeased with me, I don’t think I should risk angering him further.
Aidon raises an eyebrow, and they engage in yet another stare down.
Fucking males.
I want to bolt. Or bury my head in the sand. But what’s the point? Jestin would just snap his fingers, and the sand would scatter before it ever had the chance to suffocate me.
I don’t understand this weird-ass tension between them.
“Long live the High Queen!” someone yells. My stomach knots and I keep walking.
No one says a word.
The street narrows, stalls fading one by one, until only the sound of my footsteps remains, hammering inside my head.
We are approaching the palace, where I don’t have any allies. Not with Jestin’s cold shoulder, and leaving my best girl-mate on her big day.
I can’t wait to have this day behind me, when I can finally immerse my senses with wine.
Or drown them.
You are nothing like I imagined.Aidon’s voice fills my head, but his calm tone gives nothing away. I don’t know whether he’s taunting me or not. He doesn’t even bother to look at me, only tilting his head up, bathing in the sun.
Oh really? Because I’m supposed to be a big, bad villain and villains don’t have insecurities?I shoot back through our mental connection, hoping he fucking looks at me.
Yeah, exactly.
Jestin places a hand on my waist and I flinch, so caught up in the Simon that his touch startles me. I open my mouth to explain that it wasn’t his touch that made me flinch, but the damage is already done.
Jestin shakes his head, then gestures towards The Inn, its velvet-draped balconies and carved archways still steeped in the dim, sultry glow that refuses to fade with morning.
“Should I arrange a room for you two?” Jestin’s grin twists in a way that is anything but pleasant.
“Don’t be an ass,” I murmur and at the same time Aidon says, “That would be much appreciated, dear lord.”
I can only shake my head. My cheeks burn as my gaze catches on the painted sign near the entrance:The incredible experience will carve itself into your soul, forever changing your perspective.
“Aw, did the brothel of all places give you a spiritual awakening? Poor, enlightened soul.” Aidon’s grin widens. “How devastating. Forced to broaden your horizons one climax at a time.”
I snap my head to Jestin, but by a strange streak of luck, he is busy with a messenger and thankfully misses his comment.
Something happened.
“Why are you determined to make it worse?” I hiss at the Simon.
“Am I making it worse, or are you just not used to having someone verify what you’re thinking?”
“Blast you! Where did you even come from? Wait… do you belong to the brothel?” I’d left a small fortune in that place. That’s where I first encountered his kind.
He bursts out laughing. “Unfortunately, I didn’t have the privilege to be paid for my exceptional skills. Our moments will be the first time I will get something for it.”
I stare at him in outrage at the insinuation. What did I get myself into?
