Cal’s own booming laughter fills the pub as he slings an arm around my shoulder. “My girl!Seems I taught you well, Alex!”
I laugh with him and clink our mugs together.
“But the Prince is still mad…” he leans in close, arm tightening
around my shoulder, “and we’re still meeting up tomorrow morning.”
I nod at my friend with a sigh. Time to make amends.
The apology I craft in my head is quickly disbanded when I glance over to Prince Keane. He’s no longer standing next to the three of us but sitting on a stool in front of the countertop, his full demeanor casual as a dark brunette Discerni sits on his lap.
Ancients,he moves fast.
“Or not?” I turn back to Cal, lifting my brows in the direction of the Prince.
He follows my gaze and lifts his own brows in surprise. “I guess we’re good, then.”
We both grin and take a hefty drink, Cal running his hand through his auburn hair as he looks between Alanna and me.
“But why in the Ancients didn’t you two say anything?” he asks, “you know I would have joined you.”
The Prince turns his brown gaze to us, expecting an answer as well.
“Ask her,” Alanna replies, hitching a thumb, “I just tagged along for the ride.”
Cal sighs even as his eyes twinkle in affection. “I know you like exploring, Alex, but I’m not sure Gaumond is the right place for that just yet.”
“It’s apub, Cal,” I roll my eyes, “what kind of trouble do you think I’m going to get into?”
The Prince leans forward and whispers something into the Discerni woman’s ear that none of us can hear. She laughs and nods at his words, throwing a hand behind his head as she skims her fingers through his brown locks. I quickly avert my gaze when she starts moving on his lap, her sensual lips tipped up in a smile when Keane leans forward to whisper something else. I glance at Alanna, wondering if the interaction bothers her at all, but she’s already back in a flirty conversation with the soldier from earlier who’s decided to reappear.
“Wait,” I look around in realization, “where did Desmond go?”
“Away from the crowd,” the Prince replies, moving his hand down the girl’s thigh. I want to ask him why his brother doesn’t feel comfortable in this crowd, but his fingers trailing back up the girl’s thigh to the side of her ass catches my attention instead.
Keane notices my gaze and smiles quietly, his fingers brushing against the edge of her short dress as I continue to watch on. He tugs at the fabric and moves it to the side, the woman parting her legs just slightly as his hand disappears underneath.
“And Holis and Mana?” I flush, quickly turning back to Cal.
“They’re to be settled in for the night up at the castle,” he takes a large drink, “Claymore will show them around.”
I nod and watch him look around to all the pipes in the room. Cal turns to the Prince and juts his chin to the heavy cloud of smoke that surrounds us, his grin only growing with every puff that lands closer to him.
“What do you all smoke up here?”
“Shisha from the forests surrounding Varon,” Keane replies, lips brushing against the girl’s shoulder.
“I’m familiar with it,” Cal grins.
As am I.
The few Discerni at Varon’s library we’re smoking it in the various rooms when I roamed the halls. I distinctly remember thinking that one wrong tilt of the pipe would end with the whole building going up in flames.
“We can share a pipe,” the Prince offers, hand disappearing farther up the brunette’s dress. I take a drink and notice the outline of his fingers skimming across her hips, her dress dangerously riding up as he pulls her closer into his lap.
Dear fucking Ancients, I need somewhere else to look.
“I’d like that,” Cal gives the Prince a beaming smile, hand running through his beard with a nod.
