Keane smirks and reaches out to take both nipples in his fingers, giving them a final tug in farewell.
“I think I’ll like this tease.”
“I don’t think you will, Highness,” I reply with a grin, slowly covering my chest to his gaze. I let one strap slip back down to expose my breast, laughing when Keane takes a quick step forward.
“Alexis,” he warns, bringing a steady hand up to my shoulder to grab the strap. He covers me with a tsk and then turns me around, urging us both down the tunnel as we resume our walk.
“Stormfall?” Keane calls out.
The Bird of Ash flies into the tunnel from outside and caws at Keane in acknowledgement, then glides back out to the open air beyond.
“You said you have a place here?” I turn to the Prince when we step into the cool spring air. The buildings and shops on either side of us are a bit sleepy in this small area off the main road, but the bottled lanterns of moonslight ahead reveals a night alight and full of travelers.
Keane nods, “I planned on us staying there tonight, but now I don’t know how I can see you standing there without being allowed to touch you.”
My cheeks flush as we walk onto the main road, though my mind is drawing me to that curiousness that always surrounds Keane when he’s in Bardot.
“You don’t stay in your room at the Castle?”
“I haven’t since I moved to Gaumond.”
I frown and take in the main road of Palisades, every shop, vendor and tavern bustling under the bottled moonslight. The greenstone buildings surrounding us jut high into the sky, many of the patrons on the road stopping in their walks to bow to Keane. A few of their eyes quietly flick between him and me, but the Prince just nods to each in greeting while remaining stoic through the encounters. It’s different, seeing him walk this city with features of calm indifference. He doesn’t greet the people here as he would in Gaumond, jut offers them simple politeness.
Stormfall glides overhead as we follow the main road west. We pass by a large crowd in the street that’s watching some sort of show, and unsurprisingly, I notice that everyone is sectioned off in their races. Discerni men stand with their women, human husbands with their wives and kids. Everyone is enjoying their night as normal, they’re just not enjoying it together as friends.
“We wouldn’t be able to stay here tonight anyways,” I sigh to Keane, shoulders pressing straighter as a Discerni man eyes the two of us together, “Golem chose to stay behind. Unless you want to take the trip down so I can grab his home. We can head back up again after.”
“No,” he says without emotion, eyes still on the road ahead, “your room is fine tonight.”
I sigh again and stop in my tracks, narrowing my own eyes on the back of his head. Keane turns around when he notices I’m not with him, stopping in the middle of the road as he lifts his brows.
“I have questions, Keane.”
I fold my arms in front of my chest as people pass by. Keane’s lips curve up into a tiny smile, his brown eyes becoming playful.
“I know you do, Alexis,” he nods in amusement, crossing his arms as well, “but we either have the questions out now and miss Cal’s fight, or later and make it there just in time. I’m pretty sure he’s beginning soon.”
My eyes narrow on the Prince as I huff in frustration.
I decide to start walking again, brushing my shoulder against his arm and earning me a pinch on my ass. I jump and look sideways at him with a narrowed gaze, reminding him of our deal.
“Notouching, Your Highness.”
Keane shakes his head, his eyes alight and ready for the challenge. He falls back in step with a large smirk on his lips as we take a shortcut to Drinker’s Row.
“You heard my conversation with the Old Boy’s Club,” I note, turning a corner of the pathway and greeting the main road again.
“Yes,” he grins, “you handled them nicely.”
I nod, thinking of the new Lord that graced Sir Miles’ table tonight. “What do you know of Lord Alexander? Of Mare.”
Keane looks at me in question, his eyes curious, “not much.”
“Perhaps you should,” I reply softly, thinking how the Discerni Lord wanted to engage with the older men at the table, “he may be like-minded.”
Keane nods in understanding, “I’ll meet with him while we’re here. As will Desmond. But what of you and Daniel?” he asks, looking down at me curiously again, “you two looked to be in the full crux of your conversation before we arrived.”
“We were,” I reply, adding nothing more. I tilt my head up and watch Stormfall take a steep leap into the sky before disappearing behind the building.
