I yearn to feel the burn in my lungs and the general happiness I always get when smoking at my friend’s side, but I can’t tell him that my body is already feeling heavier from the toddy and watching the Prince’s hands move all over the Discerni woman. Adding smoke to the mix will only amplify the heady feeling.
Cal offers the pipe once more, frowning in confusion when I politely decline for a second time. He stands up from the table with another shrug and walks to the Prince, handing him the pipe instead. Keane nods inthanks and says something that gets Cal laughing, his hands finally leaving the girl’s side as he takes the shisha and inhales deeply.
“Could really use your presence right now, Golem,” I pat my bag
and take a hefty drink of ale, “or that man with the pretty hazel eyes. He’d be a good distraction.”
Golem’s jar vibrates under my palm as I look around the room. I
think I spot Barnett not too far away, but my search is halted as the Prince comes to a stop in front of the table with Cal and the woman at his side.
“Alexis?” he smirks, extending the pipe in my direction.
While I would love nothing more than to wipe that smirk off his face, I sit back in my chair and feign disinterest.
“Not my thing.”
“A pity,” he grins, taking a seat at the table, “though I have a feeling you’re lying again.”
I nearly choke on my ale.
Cal gives a small chuckle, taking the pipe from the Prince’s outstretched hand to save me from replying. He sits back in his own chair as the pretty Discerni takes her usual seat on top of the Prince’s lap.
“We’re heading out,” Alanna walks over with Heizman. She says something else to the Prince that I’m too distracted to hear, my smile growing immediately when Barnett appears next to his friend and sends me a wink just before they leave.
“You’re fitting in nicely, Lady Alexis,” Keane nods, his eyes flicking to the back of Barnett’s head as we both watch him walk away.
I ignore the comment and finish my ale.
“I’m getting another drink. Anyone?”
Cal nods for another and continues to smoke his pipe with a lazy grin, the Prince and his Discerni girl asking for toddies as well. I make my way over to the black countertop and wait for Marybeth to finish her rounds, grateful to have a moment to myself as I take everything in.
So far, Gaumond is unlike anything I’ve experienced in the Court of Knowledge and even the southern portions of Warrior. The roads at Brierman may come close, maybe even some parts of the Palisades and Dardar, but there’s no flamboyant swagger in those cities as there is here. Everything in Knowledge is definitely more hidden as well, adhering to a Court etiquette that asks for any raucous and sensual behavior to be taken somewhere private. But since I’ve been here, just in this tavern alone, I’ve seen all manners of sensual touches both above and below clothes that would make my home Court gossip behind judgmental eyes.
I smile at the people around me, to their bold, unabashed take on life that’s almost refreshing. The full of the room is just enjoying themselves in whatever manner they seem fit, and true to Cal’s comments, they’re extremely consensual about it.
“Another round?” Marybeth asks, drawing my attention back to the counter.
“Two ales and two toddies,” I nod to the Discerni woman as she starts pouring.
“You can hold the second toddy, Mary,” the Prince comes up from behind and leans his arm on the granite. His brown eyes spark with that hint of playfulness, his gaze catching mine as I turn to him with a sigh.
Ancients,he’s fucking handsome. Way too handsome for his own good.
The dim lighting of the room flicks against his tanned skin, his broad chest revealed under a cut down the middle of his regal black satin shirt. There’s a thin black chain resting around his neck with hints of fluorite in it, the small green flecks catching the light and looking good on him before disappearing back under the shirt.
“Hold a toddy?” I ask, turning to our table to see Cal seated on his own.
“Camala had to leave,” he replies simply.
“Sorry, Keane, but I was already pouring the toddies when you came up,” Marybeth announces, placing the original four on the counter.
“Thank you, Mary,” the Prince smiles, “send me the total tomorrow.”
The Discerni woman nods in gratitude and continues with her rounds.
“Thank you,” I reply quietly, turning towards the drinks.
