Page 18 of The Sorcerer of Shadowholde

The foul Praetor. A man he was supposed to follow without question as the leader of the guards and army. How could he respect a man who abused his own employees?

Right now, though, his primary concern was the scene in front of him. He should say something. This was getting out of hand. Vita didn’t want to go home with Drusus, did she? Gods, he hoped not. The last thing he needed was one of his brothers in arms, a superior no less, sleeping with the woman he…

The woman he what? The woman he loved?

Of course, he loved Vita. She was his childhood friend, hisbestfriend, and they had experienced so much together. And deep in his heart, he loved her more than that. Imagined himself abandoning the guard and running away with her, starting new lives in a new city.

Fanciful thoughts, but that’s what dreams were for, right?

“Ver?” Vita asked, and he blinked back to the present.

“What?” He cleared his throat, trying to figure out what he had missed.

“You’re awfully quiet,” she said, her head cocked to the side.

The ale flushed her cheeks a rosy pink, and she gave him a broad grin, though it did nothing to staunch his frustration at Drusus’ self-satisfied one.

“Just thinking, sweet girl.”

She bit her lip into a smirk. “Thinking about what?”

His face grew hot, a sweat breaking out on his brow that had nothing to do with the humidity in the room. Was she reading his mind?

“Yes, friend, thinking about what?”

Drusus was so smug. He ran his hand too far up Vita’s leg and she shrieked, squirming as he held her in place on his lap. She laughed again, but took his hand and guided it to a more appropriate spot on her lower thigh.

“Naughty boy,” she tsked with a shake of her raven locks.

Drusus licked his lips as he watched her, and it made Verian want to scream.

“Maybe it’s time for us to go?” he asked, desperate to stop whatever was unfolding in front of him.

“That’s not a bad idea. Should I get us a room?” Drusus replied, winking at Verian when Vita turned her head.

“What do you think, Ver?” She bit her lip again, and he noticed her beautiful eyes sparkling with lust.

Was she really asking him for permission?

Or… wait.

Drusus nodded his head expectantly, as if trying to urge him along.

“I think we could all have a lot of fun.” Drusus’ voice was gravelly as he stared at Verian, brushing his fingers through Vita’s hair.

What the Hells was he suggesting? She smiled sweetly and wriggled her ass along the other man’s…

Oh, Gods.

Did Drusus really want to share Vita with him? Did Vitawantto be shared?

Not that he was against that kind of arrangement. Just not with Drusus. Not with any brothers of the guard. Besides, he’d always imagined his first time with Vita to be intimate, sensual… and with no third parties present.

No. She was clearly drunk. He wouldn’t allow this, wouldn’t allow her to be taken advantage of. If she wanted Drusus when she was clearheaded, then so be it. But now? This had to be stopped.

Suddenly, the tavern hushed, quiet murmurs replacing boisterous laughter. Verian tore his eyes away from Vita and Drusus, to a man standing at the door.

Gods, he was beautiful.

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