But, Altair couldn’t count how many times he’d thought of her face within the past few days.He wondered if she had made it out of the Dead Lands, or if his act of stealing all of her magic had been fatal.His only regret was being unable to kill Sullane.If Altair ever saw him again, he vowed to finish the job properly this time.
He felt a presence before he saw the source; a collective hush overcame the tavern.A female star strode into the crowded space and spotted him instantly.Altair sighed.He’d finally been found.She was tall and lean, with long blonde hair the same shade as his, and eyes that were more amber than golden.While she was currently wearing a plain tunic and pants, Altair knew she was more comfortable in fighting leathers.Ignoring the other patrons, she headed straight towards him, leaning against the bar counter next to him.He refused to look at her, instead continuing to drink his bourbon.
“Tarazed,” he said.
“Phaedros take you, Altair.I’ve been searching for you for days and that’s all you have to say to me?”
He shrugged.
“Where have you been, anyway?”
“Here.”
“In the tavern?”Tarazed’s nose scrunched with distaste.“Well, that explains why you look like shit and”—she leaned in to sniff him, then reared back—“why you smell as if you’ve bathed in beer and sweat.”
Altair sighed again, lamenting the lack of alcohol in his glass.He still wouldn’t look at her.“What do you want, Tara?”
Her face softened to an expression of pity Altair couldn’t bear.“I was searching for you, little brother.You’ve had me and Okab worried.”
“You found me.You can tell Okab I’m fine.”
“I think we both know you’re not fine, Altair.”
Tara was almost a century older than Altair and his twin, Okab.It made her extremely protective of both of them, even though it was apparent at an early age that Altair was capable of watching out for himself.Okab was always the smallest, and he was teased more by the other young stars.Tara and Altair both beat up multiple bullies until they finally received the message not to fuck with Aquila constellation.They helped train their brother outside of their lessons, and he studied with a tenacity worthy of their family.These days, although Okab was still smaller in stature and mostly unassuming, Altair didn’t know who would win in a fight should they go against each other.But just because Okab needed more attention didn’t mean Tara stopped being Altair’s older sister as well.She still made sure he was doing well—not getting lost in his work—and she took him out to have some fun so he could ‘stop being so uptight all the time.’In the past, he’d thought her overbearing and obnoxious, but at least he knew her heart was in the right place.Now, though, Altair simply wished she’d leave him alone.
“Altair…” She sighed, finally sitting on the stool next to him and flagging down the barkeep to order some wine.As she drank the red liquid, she groaned.“Gods, that’s delicious.A thousand years without wine was a tragedy.”
They sat in silence for several minutes, both of them nursing their drinks.Altair was content to sit in the quiet, soaking in the strength and peace his sister’s presence brought him.But he’d never admit to her she provided that comfort, and he still wanted to punch her when she finally opened her mouth again.
“Do you want to talk about it?”Tara asked softly.
“Not particularly.”
“Tough.You’re still going to tell me what happened.”
“Then why did you even ask?”he muttered under his breath, which earned him a smack on the shoulder.It didn’t hurt, but Altair rubbed the area anyway and scowled at his sister.
“You accomplished what you were meant to when you were chosen to fall, and we are all extremely grateful.So what is with the dour mood?”
Altair finished his drink and signaled for another one.
“Maybe you’ve had enough, little brother.”
“I haven’t had enough.That’s part of the problem.”When the barkeep came to refill his glass, Altair swiped the bottle from his hand.The man frowned at him, but Altair threw extra coins onto the counter.The barkeep’s eyes widened at the amount—well more than what a single bottle cost—but he didn’t ask questions, instead swiping the money into his pocket and walking away.
Tara’s amber gaze appraised him with a shrewdness Altair didn’t like in the slightest.“This isn’t about the girl, is it?”
Altair said nothing, taking another pull from the bottle of bourbon.
“Altair, please tell me this isn’t about the girl.”
Altair ran his hands down his face.In all the years they had been planning for their return, this was the last way he thought he’d be feeling once he was victorious.Godsdamn him, he had fallen in love with the one person he was forbidden from.He’d actually started to tolerate Talon and Zane, and he was even slightly upset that he had killed Talon instead of Sullane.No, Altair had thought he’d be lauded with praise, his name chanted in the streets as the stars were returned to their former glory, with the humans in their rightful place beneath them.He’d imagined himself drinking with his family and friends, Rigil granting him a boon for his success, and all the women he could ever desire.Except now, there was only one woman he wanted.And she was either dead or she hated him.Altair really couldn’t decide which was worse.
“Fuck,” Tara whispered.It was her turn to run her hand down her face, subconsciously mirroring her brother.“Okay, tell me about it.”
For a moment, Altair considered telling her everything—Iyana was his astalle, and he loved her beyond words.He knew his sister would never judge him or tell a soul other than Okab, but he also knew they were in a public area with other stars milling about.Any one of them could overhear and bring the information back to Rigil, and if Iyana was still alive, he wanted nothing more than to protect her.So he glanced at Tara, a pleading look in his eye, begging her to drop the subject.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
