Page 76 of Daughter of the Darkened City

“Antagonistic?” Enid supplied.

Onora picked a dart up off the floor, waving it in his face. “You used your shadows to block my dart.”

“Can you prove that?” he asked.

The fierce glower on her face was enough to make Enid want to shrink away, but Dryston just flared his wings a little wider, taking a step closer to her so he could tower over.

“Don’t sit here and tell me that I’m imagining things, Lord of Shadows.”

“Let’s say I did use my shadows. Are there any rules against that?”

Onora gaped. “Rules?”

“The rules of darts are, you both throw them, trying to hit the target, from a predetermined length away. I don’t believe there are any rules against using magic.”

Her nostrils flared, and she drew in a deep, ragged breath. “You have no honor.”

“Maybe my honor is of a different kind than yours.”

“Honor is honor. But a demon without honor? How shocking.”

Dryston’s smug look fell away, back to wrath, his shadows forming around him. Enid didn’t see what happened, or maybe she did and her brain was too slow, but in one moment the two looked ready to fight, then in the next moment, absolute shock lit both their faces and Onora took a step back, breathing hard as her eyes darted around. Then she turned and stalked out.

“Damn, Drys, we can’t take you out in public,” she said as he walked toward them.

He grumbled something under his breath, resting his chin on his palm, clearly still wound up from the encounter.

“Should we get a muzzle for him?” Kaemon asked.

Enid tip her head back and howled as Dryston scowled at both of them.

“Maybe a leash? Or harness?” she offered.

“Shut up,” Dryston growled.

She laughed again, Kaemon joining her,and when the server came by, she grabbed another shot. She knocked it back,the liquid hitting her throat, burning as it went down. This was it, the perfect spot. Her thoughts still attacked, but they couldn’t stick. They were just liquid, slipping away before they could pierce. The barkeep wasn’t cutting heroff, but he should be. She wasn’t certain she could get herself home now.

She waved at the nymph behind the bar and pointed to her drink, wanting another one. She nodded and poured it, but before she could give it to Enid, a hand clamped down and pushed it back.

“No more. That’s your last,” Dryston said.

Enid narrowed her eyes in annoyance, but Dryston’s face only held worry.

“I’m not done,” Enid said.

“You are. You’ve had enough, Enid.”

“Why do you care? If I drink myself into oblivion, then finally death will claim me, and you can rest. We all know you should have chosen Kaemon that day and you have regretted it every day since.”

Dryston’s face paled, and if Enid had been sober, she would have regretted her words. Instead, she laughed.

“Oh Drys, don’t look so alarmed. It’s okay if you regret it. I do too.”

Kaemon stood, coming to her side, and pulled her up. She stumbled with the step, and he caught her. “Drys, help me,” Kaemon said.

Dryston shook his head, grief still on his features as he helped steady Enid. They were silent on the walk back to the castle, but Enid sang a bar song, finally feeling free. She’d gotten that truth off her chest. Too bad she had so many more.

“Avenay is my mate,” she said as they struggled up the cobblestone hill. “What a wonderful and horrible thing. She’s so perfect and wonderful and everything I’ve ever dreamed of and nothing that I deserve.”

---