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Ignoring him, I focus on Castor. “A drink sounds lovely. Please, lead the way.”
32
CASTOR
It’s hard to think while Eden holds my hand, but somehow I manage to lead her to my tavern. Even with my jealous brother’s gaze burning into me for the entire walk here.
Scratch that. He’s been looking at me like that since he realised Eden was my mate too, and worst of all, I don’t have a problem with that one fucking bit.
I was generous enough to give him these last two weeks, but my generosity ends today, just like I said it would when we drank together after Eden accepted our bond.
It’s too bad that Lux didn’t agree with that. Too bad, indeed.
“Here it is.” I wave my arm at the green and white sign hanging above the door of my thatched-roof tavern. It’s not really a tavern, as my little princess will soon discover. But I’ll let her believe it for now. Her naivety is too fucking adorable.
“Snowdrops,” she reads aloud before tilting her head at me. “You must visit this village often if you have a tavern here,” she says innocently.
“Only when Father comes to visit,” I explain, reaching for the door. “I don’t know if Lux has explained to you yet, but we like to send all the humans home when he visits. Father can be unpredictable around human girls.” That, and the other reason…
But Eden’s barely listening, she’s too focused on the ‘tavern’ we’ve just stepped inside of. Her panicked gaze catches on the nude men and women kissing on the stage-like tables, before it flicks to the equally nude customers at the bar, and then the dancers engaged in a very naughty version of Sleeping Beauty on the larger velvet-lined stage.
“What is this place?” she whispers.
“It’s absolutely depraved. That’s what it is,” Lux says, pulling her closer. “I tried to warn you, Eden. Let me take you home now.”
“No.” She steps away from us both. “We’re here now and… and I think we should all have a drink together. I won’t let you take me home until you fix whatever’s going on between the two of you. It’s got to be more than just the bond.”
“Eden, we’re not going to solve any of our problems here,” Lux growls while I laugh.
She blinks at us. “So you’re admitting this is more than just the bond?”
“No,” he blurts. “It’s just… It’s complicated.”
Before they can argue, a young waitress recognises me and parts a purple curtain that leads to a private table. Nodding at her, I take Eden’s arm and guide her over while Lux follows, his expression growing stormier by the minute.
“Can I get you anything to drink, Your Highnesses?” The waitress dips her head at us. She’s wearing the skimpy white chemise I make all my female staff wear here.
Lux replies before I can, “Two whiskies and an orange juice.”
When I nod at her, she hurries off to prepare the drinks, but when she returns, Lux slides the orange juice towards Eden before downing both of the whiskies himself.
“Another,” he grunts at my staff while my brow shoots up.
“Just bring us the bottle,” I add in an apologetic tone, making a mental note to steal a dozen gold coins from Lux’s bedchamber tonight. I’ll need it to pay myself back for the huge tip we’ll be leaving here.
When she returns with the bottle along with a few glasses, I thank her before pouring out a drink for myself and another for Lux. The waitress gave us three glasses, but I know better than to pour any whisky for Eden right now.
I’m already a dead man enough in Lux’s eyes.
“So, Eden, here’s the deal.” I sip my drink.
“Don’t you dare,” Lux snarls, but I’m already finished with him.
“When you bonded yourself to Lux, you bonded yourself to me too.”
“What?” Eden almost drops her juice.
Lux looks as if he wants to flip the table. “You agreed you wouldn’t tell her until I decided she was ready!”
