Page 19 of The Sorcerer of Shadowholde

Not that he often thought that about other men, or at least had not acted on those thoughts. That was something he had told no one, not even Vita. Something he only really considered late at night when he couldn’t sleep, and all of those deeply entrenched feelings floated to the surface.

Regardless, his eyesight was just fine, and it would be impossible to regard the man entering the tavern as anything other than beautiful.

Long, white hair hung down his back in opalescent luster, small pieces framing his pale face. Pointed ears, ruby red eyes, and a vicious frown, though it took nothing away from his beauty.

A vicious frown directed right at their table?

Verian glanced around the pub, then turned to face Vita. Her eyes were wide, an arm still draped around Drusus. She focused on Verian and mouthed three words.

The High Consul.

CHAPTER 9

Vita

“GET YOUR HANDS OFF of her.” The High Consul spat every word with the venom of a viper.

What washedoing here?

Drusus seemed unaware that something serious was happening, his hands still in place on Vita’s back and thigh.

“Let go of me,” she hissed, trying to squirm out of his arms.

He finally noticed the High Consul striding their way and released her. Vita jumped up, stumbling a bit as she realized perhaps she’d had a bit too much to drink. The tavern was spinning, but she tried to compose herself as Drusus stood up behind her. Verian jolted into action as well, moving around the table to get between her and the approaching High Consul.

There was a pit in her stomach, a combination of too much drink and the panicked anticipation about what was to come.

“I should kill you where you stand for your indiscretion.”

The High Consul glowered at the group, his eyes blazing fiery red, every bit of vitriol aimed at Drusus. The fury on his face contrasted with the finery that adorned him, a black tunic embroidered in silver spirals worn over black trousers and tall boots. He held his arms at his sides, tensed as if ready to fight.

A fight that would surely cause Verian and Drusus all sorts of trouble, as members of the city guard.

The tavern was silent, the High Consul’s voice commanding the attention of everyone in the room. He stalked up to Verian, and though they were of similar heights, his presence towered over all of them.

“High Consul,” Vita breathed, curtsying low and elbowing Verian in the side.

He followed suit with a bow, as did Drusus.

“Why were your hands all over her?” the High Consul asked, head cocked and eyes not leaving Drusus.

“Sir, I… Vita is my friend. It was all in good fun,” he muttered and she knew that the drink had gotten to him as well.

With a speed she couldn’t comprehend, the High Consul whipped around her and grabbed Drusus by the throat, holding him up in the air with impossible strength. The guard grasped at the hand around his neck, eyes wide with shock and fear. There were murmurs around the pub, but no one stepped in to stop the madness.

“Tell me what you wanted to do with her,” the High Consul commanded, unblinking eyes pouring into Drusus.

“I-I wanted to take her to a room upstairs and fuck her. I wanted her sweet little mouth around my cock while Verian fucked her from behind…” The words streamed out like a gurgling brook, as if Drusus couldn’t stop himself.

The High Consul cut him off, tightening his grip so the man could no longer speak.

Shocked whispers bubbled throughout the tavern and Vita pressed her fingers to her lips, her mind a jumble of intoxicated thoughts. Gods, she was drunk. She wouldn’t have said no to an encounter like that, tipsy or not. The thought of being between two handsome men titillated her, but this was all wrong. If she were going to sleep with Verian, their first time shouldn’t be like this.

That was all beside the point right now, as Drusus started turning red. She needed to focus.

“Please stop,” Vita said quietly.

She rested her hand on the High Consul’s arm, trembling at her own audacity, her brazenness to touch the most powerful man in Shadowholde without his permission.

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