“Of course not, who?” King Sylvian presses.
My face just feels hotter. “Sylvian.”
He grins, happy like a dog with a bone. “I like the way she says my name.”
“It’s the same thing,” King Oberon says dryly.
“I want to try it out,” King Ashton tells me with a smile. "Who am I?” He asks, pointing to himself.
My mouth feels dry. “Ashton.”
His grin is wicked. “My name does sound good on her tongue, doesn’t it?”
I try to ignore them, even though I’m amazed by the way they embarrass me. We settle around the fire, silent for a moment, each lost in our own thoughts. Then, as if they’ve all been waiting for this exact moment, the arguing starts up again.
“We’re going slower than we should be. I don’t think we’re even close to getting through,” King… Oberon grumbles, glaring at Ashton.
Ashton shrugs. “Maybe if you’d taken my lead on some of the turns, we’d be further along.”
Cassius tries to mediate. “Let’s just focus on surviving, shall we? The labyrinth is dangerous enough without us killing each other.”
Sylvian laughs. “It’s like watching a pair of old women fight over knitting needles.”
“Better than watching you play with your dick,” Oberon shoots back.
Sylvian doesn’t rise to the bait. He just looks at me, then back at the group, as if he’s weighing something important. Or he really doesn’t have a response.Do men really just play with their dicks?Animals don’t do that when they reproduce, so I assumed humans were the same way… Maybe it’s a fae thing.
The bickering escalates, each king picking at old wounds, ancient slights that have clearly never healed. I listen for a while, amazed at how quickly it spirals. Then it turns back to them on this journey. Oberon blames Ashton for flirting with me instead of paying attention in the labyrinth. Ashton mocks Oberon’s lack of social skills, saying he’s jealous that he can’t flirt with me. Sylvian jokes that they’re having a “dick measuring contest,” which makes Cassius have to hide his grin.
“If we were measuring our dicks, Sylvian, you’d lose,” Ashton crows, flashing a toothy grin.
Sylvian raises an eyebrow. “Want to find out? I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”
My cheeks burn. I stare at the flames, praying to every god that this does not turn into what I think it might. I’m having a hard enough time being around these gorgeous kings without knowing exactly what they look like naked.Although, seeing them naked seems like it’d be the kind of experience I’d never forget…
Ashton recovers first. “I’ll pass, thanks. I’ve heard about earth fae… nothing impressive.”
Oberon sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Are you all children?”
Cassius, finally fed up, says, “Enough. If we want to survive, we need to cooperate.”
“Well, I’m in charge here–” Oberon begins.
“Like hell!” Ashton shouts.
“In your dreams,” Sylvian adds, shaking his head and laughing.
“I’m the natural leader. And a quest needs a leader,” Oberon argues.
“Then it should be me,” Ashton counters. “I’m the easiest to get along with.”
“Sylvian is the easiest to get along with,” Oberon says, looking irritated, “but that doesn’t make him the natural leader.”
“I have a superior mind,” Ashton tell him. “I should lead.”
“I don’t want to follow anyone but myself,” Sylvian says. “I don’t trust any of you.”
“I don’t care who leads, but we need a plan, because the way we’re currently going will get us killed.” Cassius’s voice is patient, with a hint of frustration.
