Page 129 of To Bleed A Kingdom

“Because unlike you, I don’t still carry the scent of three different males.” She inhales deeply, then crinkles her nose. “You fucked them what? No more than an hour ago?” Lena cocks her head to the side. “Did they at least pay you well enough?”

A strangled sound bursts from Danya and I try my damnedest not to laugh.

“Careful, Lena,” I say, smothering a smirk. “You're beginning to sound a bit desperate.”

Lena’s hard gaze snaps to mine. “I wasn't the one begging in the Gods Garden today, now, was I?”

My smirk falls.

“Watch your tone, human,” Danya snaps, appearing only a hair’s breadth away from lunging for Lena. “You’re in the company of your betters.”

“Is that what you believe?” Lena asks me, ignoring Danya. “That you're better than me?”

“I am an immortal,” I reply, tightening my arms around Danya.

“Half immortal, Darius.” Lena grins wickedly. “Half.”

“I still have royal blood,” I snap, her words reminding me too much of my argument with Luthais today. “What are you? A nobody. A scarred human hiding away in a decrepit inn.”

Even with the warring noises in the pub, I can hear the creak of her leather vambraces as she clenches her fists at her sides. “You're such an asshole.”

“I never pretended otherwise.”

“No you didn't, did you?” she says quietly, searching my face for something. Something I'm sure she won't find.

“Alright, alright,” Zander says, moving towards Lena. “Let’s cool it a bit before Lena makes Darius a eunuch.” Coming up from behind her, Zander wraps both arms around her upper chest. I bite back a growl when Lena clutches his forearms.“How about that dance you promised me?” Zander asks Lena.

“Yes! Dancing.” Aurora hops down from her stool. “We’ll meet you out there.”

Lena doesn't say anything, but she allows Zander to steer her away, holding my gaze until they reach the cleared off space before the cold hearth.

“That's better,” Aurora sighs, drawing my gaze to her. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she turns to face me with a sickly-sweet smile and slams her tankard into the side of my head.

“Godsdammit, Aurora!” Cupping my ringing ear, I feel warm blood slither between my fingers. “Why do you always have to go for my ear?!”

Her smile widens, but she says nothing more as she saunters off to join Zander and Lena, dragging a pleased looking Tristan behind her.

“Oh, my prince!”Danya gasps, reaching for my ear. But I jerk my head back and snatch her up by the wrist, dragging her off my lap with a startled yelp.

“Fuck off, Danya.”

“But… I thought…” she says with a slight tremble to her lip. I might’ve thought she was sincere if I hadn’t seen that same manipulative pout a thousand times before.

“Leave.”

Her lip stills and she narrows her eyes on me. With a huff, she spins away and stalks out of the tavern, rattling the door when she slams it shut.

Spinning on my stool, I find Griffin staring wordlessly at me.

“Don't even start,” I warn. “I don’t want to hear it.”

“I didn't say anything.”

“No lecture?”

Griffin arches a brow. “Would it make a difference if I did?”

“No.”

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