Parnon grunts his way into words. “Mmm when that hound attacked, she froze. Terrified.”
“I felt it.” I nod.
“She’s delicate. Easy to kill. That monster wanted to drink her blood, all of it.”
“Right?” I take another swig. “That’s what I keep trying to tell her. If she dies …” The words fade as my hazy mind refuses to go even one more step down that road.
“Atfirst, she was terrified.” He grabs another bottle, a white this time. “But then, she jumped down from the wagon armed with just the blade she’d used to cut herself free of the canvas.”
I almost choke, and sputter out, “What?”
“She did.” He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “She went after it. I was with her as she ran for the creature and drove her blade into its leg with a bloodthirsty yell that warmed my heart.” He chuckles. “Even the creature was shocked, as if it couldn’t believe she went after it instead of running screaming.”
“My Beth did that?” I don’t know why I’m surprised, but I am. She’s always been fierce, but not where Kizriel was concerned. Fear ruled her there, and I fully intended to fillet that monster whenever I could get my hands on it.
“She did. Sliced right through his hamstring. A pitiful howl he made. And then I crushed his windpipe.” He stares at his palm with something verging on a smile.
I drink the bottle down, then grab another as I try to picture it. It’s not that hard, I find. I can see Beth, fresh blood on her hands as she and Parnon work to sever Kizriel’s worthless head from his body.
A smile creeps across my lips, too, pride and love warring to be the reason for it. “She is mighty.”
Parnon harrumphs his agreement.
I spill a little more wine but manage to swallow most of it. “But why won’t she commit to our mating? Come with me to the winter realm where I can keep her safe and warm and fed and fucked? Why won’t she?”
“Her friends.”
“When I met her, she said she had no friends.” I lean my head back and tell it to the stars. “She said friends weren’t her thing, you know? But now, she wants to save everyone she meets. Everyone! She’s like a, like a, like a friend, ah, friend collectifyer or something.”
“Loyal, she is.”
“To a Spires-damned fault!” I shout it, then reach for another bottle. “We came for Clotty, okay? We got her. She is here.” I stomp my foot. “We are here.” I stomp again. “Now it’s time to go where the snows are deep and the nights glacial, the fires warm and the meat well-roasted. Not to the wyverns! Not to the mountain over there with the, the, you know, the red—” I waggle my fingers in the air. Whatever word I’m trying to say won’t come. I’m tired.
“Did she agree to come with you to the winter realm?” He takes another bottle.
“Yes.” I nod emphatically. “She did.”
“Then she will.”
“Not if we die in wyvern fire.” My eyelids grow heavy.
“True.”
I reach for another bottle. There isn’t one. “Damn it all to the Spires! More wine.” I stand, the ground moving beneath my feet, and walk into the villa.
“Goodnight.” Parnon laughs.
“Coming back in a moment. Need more wine.” I shoo away a cobweb. No, it’s my hair in my face.
The night wind blows, some sort of cricket chirps, I run face-first into a doorframe, and hit the floor with a grunt.
14
Beth
He snores. I didn’t realize he did that. I stare down at him as the morning light paints orange beams across his body. Something purple and sticky coats his chin and parts of his chest. Wine. I can smell it.
“All night drinking party without me?” I drop down to my haunches.
