“I’m not a girl,” I snapped.
“You’re right! You are no girl, but a woman, who can have a bit of firewater with her new friends.” He raised his glass to me and smiled.
“So, a cup of firewater and—” the server asked.
“And some bread, please,” I added for goodmeasure.
“And three shots of Dragon’s Breath, darling,” Morvyn said.
“No,” Raylik ground out.
“One Dragon’s Breath … fornow,” Bryn said with a knowing smile, like she had seen this play out before.
“Were you able to see some of Naiadon?” Nixie asked over the music.
“Yes, I saw the library and the treasury,” I answered.
“Oh, the treasury is such fun! Rayly and I go down there to try on the jewelry.” Her pink eyes grew wide as she spoke.
I looked at the large, lumbering figure to her right and tried to imagine him frolicking through the archives with little Nixie at his side.
He looked me straight in the eyes as he took a deep drink, without an ounce of shame.
“Raylik is more fun than he lets on,” she continued. “Don’t let all the silence and brooding fool you.”
The server set two drinks before us, then disappeared.
“Precisely why he should have a shot of Dragon’s Breath with me! Come on, just one itsy-bitsy shot. Please, please, please,” Morvyn whinged.
Raylik waved a hand at him to shoo him off.
I took a drink of the firewater. It was bitter and spiced with the familiar burn of alcohol. I’d restrain myself from drinking too much to keep my wits about me, but maybe it would help calm the last remaining nerves clawing at the nape of my neck.
“Oh, one won’t hurt,” Nixie said with a sly smile, “and it’ll get him to stop grumbling.” She eyed Raylik over the rim of the cup, his shoulders settling under her gaze as he nodded a yes.
“Four Dragon’s Breaths!” she shouted, her voice like a bell’s toll cutting through the music in the cave. The sound made it to the siren tending the station at the sea glass structure, who nodded a yes.
“Make that six!” Hylos bellowed, his hand on Calypstra’s waist as he guided her through the dancing crowd.
Did he ever stop touching her?
Morvyn drummed his hands on the table, rattling our chalices. “Now we’re talking!”
Hylos clapped a heavy palm on Raylik’s shoulder.
“We drink to celebrate the good news,” Hylos said as he and Calypstra took a seat at the table.
Morvyn sketched a bow. “As your humble servant, I must obey my king regent’s command,” Morvyn said.
Nixie rolled her eyes.
Regent. I noted the word and Morvyn’s comments from earlier. Hylos believed his father was still alive. Captured by humans. Somewhere in my country, held captive by my king and father.
“You haven’t even heard the news yet,” Hylos laughed, a warm, broad smile radiating across his young face.
“I don’t have to, my liege. For you, I will party at your mere command,” Morvyn added.
“You’d drink yourself stupid at the command of a crustacean,” Raylik responded.
