When they finally left the palace to go into the city after several days, Altair was buzzing with anticipation.Okab tried to dissuade him from following them, but his twin seemed to know it was a futile effort.Of course Altair was going to go to her.It was impossible not to.
They slunk along in the shadows, staying close enough to follow but not so close that they drew attention to themselves.Altair hated the way Sullane was looking at Iyana—with a desperate heat in his gaze.He especially hated the smile Iyana gave him when she glanced back at him over her shoulder.Though, Altair couldn’t blame the other man, because Iyana was absolutely effulgent.Warm light from the hanging lanterns caused her skin to glow and added an alluring spark to her eye.
The group of humans turned into a seedy tavern and Altair wondered why they would choose that spot over some of the busier, more popular pubs they had passed.But when he saw Sullane lead his astalle through the door, with a hand on the skin of her lower back, Altair forgot all of his misgivings.Okab was the only thing that kept him from marching across the street to confront them.Altair’s brother grabbed his upper arm and pulled him back into the shadows of a building.
“You realize this is a trap, right?”
Altair frowned at his twin.“A trap?”
“Yes, brother, a trap.”
“For who?”Altair could not think of who that ragtag group of humans could be trying to corner in a dive bar.
Okab sighed and ran his hands down his face.“There’s no way you’re this stupid.”He must have still seen the confusion on Altair’s face, because he said, “Seriously, how did you achieve the title of general?You’re leading an entire army and yet you can’t recognize that this trap is foryou?”
“For me?”
“Phaedros take me,” Okab muttered.
What would they want him for?Unless Iyana had finally decided to kill him.Altair conceded to Okab, and they stood across the street for almost an hour, waiting to see if anyone else suspicious entered the tavern.Nobody did.Eventually, the curiosity ate away all of Altair’s patience.
“Do what you want, Okab.I’m going in there.”
But as he began to cross the street, Okab was in step with him.
“What if she tries to kill you?”
Altair let out a dry laugh.“Honestly, I’d probably let her.”
“Altair, this may seem selfish because I’m your brother, but I don’t want you to die.”Okab placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.“Please don’t do anything stupid this time.I’ll be at the bar if you need me.”
The aroma of stale beer and piss hit Altair in the face as soon as he walked in the door.Despite the dim lighting, he instantly knew where Iyana was without needing to search.He strode towards their table with a purpose—it was only her and Sullane, though he didn’t doubt the others were nearby—and sat across from them, tugging off his hood.
Those beautiful caramel-colored eyes threatened to drown him.
“Ast—Iyana,” he said, catching himself.“What’s a girl like you doing in a place like this?”Altair cringed inwardly.Had he really just said that?Iyana’s bright red lips turned down at the corners as if she was sayinggross.If he had the ability to erase the last ten seconds, Altair would have rejoiced.
Iyana glanced at Sullane, who simply nodded.Altair saw his hand reach under the table to rest on Iyana’s thigh.It took everything in him not to launch himself across the table and beat Sullane into a bloody pulp.He understood that things had changed between those two, but he was still holding onto a sliver of hope that Iyana would see past all his transgressions and welcome him back.Altair curled his fists on his lap and kept his expression neutral.
“We needed to ask you something,” Iyana said.So Okab was right, this was a trap for him.
“You lured me here?”No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t keep the accusation and hurt out of his tone.
“We—” Iyana paused, and the muscles in Sullane’s arm bunched like he was squeezing her leg.Altair clenched his hands tighter.
“We need your help,” she continued, sounding thoroughly put out by the words she’d just uttered.
Altair almost laughed.They needed his help.They needed hishelp?This was beyond stupid—Iyana was smarter than this.He could still be working with Rigil and following them to murder them all.They had no way of knowing that Altair had defected from the stars by slitting Hadar’s throat and fleeing Athusia.
“Are you an idiot?”he asked her, then immediately regretted it as her entire face went blank.
“That was uncalled for,” Sullane spat at him.“Come on, Mouse.He’s not going to help us.”He started to stand from his chair, but Altair held up a hand.
“I never said that I wouldn’t help you.”He turned back to Iyana.“I’m sorry, that was extremely rude, and I wish I never said it.”Altair also hated the shock that flickered across her face at his apology—that the fact he could feel bad about his choices was a surprise.“What do you need my help with?”
Sullane settled back into his chair.“How do we find Scuti?”
Altair wished the man would either shut up or evaporate into dust so he could be alone with Iyana.
