“I—“
“We—“
We all spoke at once, but we could each only muster a syllable or two before the murder in Nyx’s eyes shut us down. It was clear it was a rhetorical question, and evidently, we were all quick learners when we were drunk, so we shut up.
He took in the empty glasses and bottles around us and huffed out a plume of smoke. “Get. Back. To. The. Inn. Now,” hesaid low and menacing. Then he stepped aside and waited. It was not up for debate. Our evening was over.
We all stood, drunk and wobbly, while Nyx leaned over and paid the server for our tab. Oh Goddess, we were in real trouble—he’d even paid for our delinquency.
I glanced at Kol, though for what? Advice? Help? He shook his head nearly imperceptibly, letting me know that there was nothing to be done but do as instructed or there would definitely be a scene. And nobody wanted a scene. Like condemned fae, we variously staggered, swayed, and hiccuped our way out of the door in silence. Not another word left Nyx’s lips as he menacingly brought up the rear of our contrite group. He was not about to trust us to make our own way back, obviously.
After a few minutes of trudging up and down stairs and over bridges, I found Caly by my side. I wasn’t sure how things were with us. We could barely get through a brief exchange without verbally sparring, it seemed, and yet, when she looked up at me and I looked down at her, I read amusement there. We were in trouble with Dragon Daddy, and she was thinking it too. She pressed her full lips together to stop a laugh. I snorted, unable to keep it in, and slapped my palm over my mouth. She had to look away, but I heard the giggle cough she made to cover up her laughter. All the while, Nyx radiated silent fury behind us, and we walked on like chastised younglings.
The yelling began as soon as we reached our rooms.
TWENTY-FOUR
CALYTRIX
Iturned, slamming the door behind me and nearly ran into Faolan. He backed up a few paces holding his hands up while carefully avoiding touching me.
I rolled my eyes so hard they nearly fell out of my head. “I wasn’t trying to touch you.”
“I didn’t suggest you were…”
“Then if you’ll excuse me—” I tried to step past him but he didn’t budge, and his massive size blocked the entire tiny hallway. “Can you move?”
“They’ve locked the door,” he said unceremoniously, nodding to the door to the room he was sharing with Alaric and Kol.
“Really?” I frowned, trying to peer around him.
“Yep. Kol and Alaric kicked Nyx out, then slammed the door and locked it so he wouldn’t come back.”
“Well, Nyx just tried to have a go at me in there.” I jabbed a thumb at the door behind me.“So I walked out.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” At least he was as sick of Nyx’s temper as I was.
I knew Nyx was just trying to keep us safe, but I didn’t want to even be here, so my sympathies were short.
“You can go in there if you want.” I slid to the side to create some room for him to squeeze by if he wanted.
He didn’t move. “Where’s your sister?”
“Kol took her with him.”
“Where are you going to sleep?” I didn’t mention I could easily get into the room with my sister and the other two with my magic if I wanted to. I half suspected he was going to leave, though. I didn’t want that, but I wouldn’t blame him. I was not entirely sure what duty kept him here.
“I guess in the hall.” He slid to a seat against the wall.
“Are you going to leave?”
He searched my face for a moment before shaking his head. “No…are you?”
“I’m not leaving Nova and striking out on my own.”
“Good.” He leaned his head back and closed his eyes.
“I’m going to go see if the innkeeper has another room.”
