Page 98 of Tears of Gold

His shoulders droop. “I kicked him across the room.”

Harper’s lips twitch, probably with the same thrill of vengeance I feel.

“Should have kicked his head clear from his shoulders,” Skye says savagely.

“Skye!” Erritt warns.

“What?” The dragon grumbles.

“Then I wouldn’t be here to play Blackjacks with you, would I?” Errit shakes his head and sighs. He drops a perfect score ace and a queen on the makeshift table, his fingers drifting across the queen’s profile.

“Anik won’t forgive me for fighting back, and now he knows I have thoughts I want to protect. I’m going to have to watch his schedule closely this year so I can keep away from him. Vanrey and I will work something out.”

I frown. That plan didn’t work out so well for him during the festival. “Is there a charm you can get to protect your mind?” I ask, tapping my ear to show I mean one like the silver jewelry threaded through his earlobe and snaking up over the top of the ear.

“No, but my father is having one made for poisons.”

The father who allows his son to be raped and qi lashed but doesn’t want anyone to poison him. I think I understand exactly why Erritt didn’t want to return to the palace.

Skye jumps to his feet, his body stiff.

“Skye?”

“My wards are vibrating. Wait here.” He shucks out of his pants and strides for the door. A few minutes later we hear a dragon roar, and I tense.

Erritt strokes my shoulder. “Don’t stress, he’s not in trouble. You’d know if he was angry.” Despite his words, both Erritt and Harper remain tensed until Skye returns a few minutes later, naked and breathing hard.

“Damn micro goblins sticking their fingers in the charms.”

“Looking for somewhere new to live,” Harper suggests.

We all chuckle, remembering the little green beasties who fled the cabin shrieking at us on the first day.

“They can’t pull down the wards, can they?” I ask, a faint niggle of worry worming through my stomach. After all, there’s a hungry fox out there somewhere wanting to slurp me up. I glance across at Erritt. Perhaps we’re both being hunted by someone.

Skye shakes his head. “Nah. Have a little more faith, butterfly. They’re solid and I’ll know the instant anything crosses them that shouldn’t be here.”

Harper slaps his hand down on the table. “Well, now you know how the game’s played, it’s time to start betting.”

I lift my brows. “With what?”

Harper grins mischievously. “With clothes.”

“You want to play strip Blackjack?” I ask, dubious. I’ve heard of strip poker but never with Blackjack. Well, you can bet on any game, I suppose, and it does sound like fun.

“What’s the aim?” Erritt asks.

“If you go bust or lose, you take off an item of clothing.”

Erritt shoots one imperial finger toward Skye. “So the dragon has already lost?”

Skye answers our laughter by grizzling. “You mean I have to put my clothes back on in order to take them off? Dumb game.” Then his eyes slide my way, still sparking with the lighter orange irises of his dragon form. “Well, maybe not if it gets Ava naked.”

I flip my hands, challenging him. “You have to beat me first.”

Skye smirks. “I will, and you’re going to enjoy it.” I smirk, fairly certain he still doesn’t know what the picture cards are worth unless he’s just been messing with us, which is entirely possible.

My gaze slides to Erritt as he quietly surrenders his cards. He’s the one who seems to have a knack for this, quickly grasping the object of the game, even the idea of the dealer. Maybe it’s because he’s been playing a game with far higher stakes all his life.