He knew about my parents, them basically disappearing from my life, knew how I kind of saw him, despite it never really being spoken outright. But he sure was good at reading people.
I swallowed thickly. “Means a lot. Thank you.”
The moment settled just before Lazriel rushed up and slid his arms around Sylas’ waist from behind. “My necromantic heartthrob.”
Sylas grinned at him over his shoulder. “What are you about to convince me to do?”
Lazriel nuzzled against his neck. “Dance with me.”
“I thought you were dancing with Velra?”
“She cut it short, said I was—” he pulled up short as he caught my eye. “Uh… couldn’t handle me in public, you know?”
Enough said.
And fully understood, given what had happened with me where the whole dancing thing had quickly spiraled a little outof control—a little. It was me, the bar was just a tad higher. Or lower? Either way, I didn’t give a fuck. I was who I was. And, yeah, now that was okay with me. More than okay.
“Yes, all right. We’ll dance. A little, Lazriel. First I need to speak with Evira. Give me five, okay?”
“Sure. But if you try to slink away, know I’ll hunt you down.”
Sylas wasn’t the least bit fazed. “Don’t I know it.”
“Evira is over in the living room with Ariana and Vax,” I told Sylas.
“Thanks. I won’t be long, then the four of you can enjoy the rest of your night without business infringing upon it.”
“Business?”
He nodded. “Remnant has asked me to give her a line to The Shadowed. It’s something that may prove helpful with her new role.”
Holy shit.That was some major validation. The Shadowed didn’t exactly give a line to just anyone. It was very limited, restricted. Remnant must’ve been observing and analyzing her while we’d been down in the Shadow Tunnels.
He wasn’t here now, despite his closeness with Ambrose. Being who he was, all covert and that, he couldn’t really be in a public setting like this.
Sylas jolted all of a sudden, then slapped his hand to his temple.
His eyes narrowed and a deeply focused look came over him for a few moments.
“What’s going on?” Lazriel asked, coming around to his side and rubbing his arm.
“Kai mind-linking me.”
“You only allowed that for emergencies. Is it one? Is it that monster? Has he—”
“No.” He ground his jaw. “It’s… urgh, Winter. Why? Well, I know why, but still.”
“Win’s in trouble?” Lazriel and I asked in unison, adrenaline thrumming through me, as I swung my head to see that Win was now gone from the couch. Evira and Vaxan were talking with Ambrose, Evira laughing at something he said.
“Not trouble per se. I just need to see to something.”
“All right, then I’ll go with you, get Velra and Cas as well.”
Sylas laid a hand on his shoulder. “No. Let me handle it. Just a few moments.”
“Okay,” Lazriel agreed, picking up on something in his tone that I guess only those who were his loves would get the whole meaning of. “I’ll go make sure Cassius and Ketheron don’t start cooking up a storm in that ace kitchen Ambrose made for Keth. I saw them dart in there a few moments ago. They could get lost in it for hours.”
“I know the feeling,” I said.
