Page 75 of Flirting with Darkness

Gold is the wine,

And both rest by Queen Mor’s side,

Her tomb covered in vine.

My heart vibrates in my chest. I lose sense of my surroundings.

Her low, sensual voice is lovelier than any I’ve ever heard—a strangely deep and powerful sound for such a small woman. She clearly has a hell of a set of lungs on her.

She should be singing for a living, rather than running this club. I tell her so, and she laughs.

“I used to sing, actually.” A shadow darkens her gaze. “In another time, another place.” She shakes her head, pushing the memory aside. “The lyrics once were different, but they changed over time, to reflect modern events. It is strange that you would hear it.”

Her golden-brown eyes seem bright when she stares at me in silence, scrutinizing me in a way I don’t find comfortable.

I shift on my seat. “Strange,” I agree. Quiet or not, the Hall is still a nightclub. I shouldn’t hear anything except what the dj’s playing for us. “It’s pretty depressing, for a children’s story.”

“So are most tales—even the fun, modern versions. Princesses falling into long sleep, bleeding, dancing through pain, and then chosen by perfect strangers as their brides.”

“Better than the originals.” I wrinkle my nose, thinking about poor Sleeping Beauty, raped in her tower only to be awoken by her newborn children.

We sip our respective drinks in silence until Eochan walks out of the basement, in the company of a tall, handsome man dressed like he’s applying for the part of Prince Charming on a stage.

His get-up’s particularly comical to me after our talk of tales.

He wears a rich black and blue costume, flawlessly executed, and even has a crown on his shoulder-length white-blond hair.

More surprising yet, I note extended ears when his head shifts to the side as he whispers to Eochan. He takes his cosplay seriously.

Eochan sighs and shakes his head. Then he notices his girlfriend and smiles, crossing the room to join us.

The stranger’s annoyed at the interruption. He lifts his gaze to sneer in Cissa’s direction.

That’s when he notices me.

That’s when he, too, smiles.

Oh, boy.

5

DARINA

He’s not the first man who’s looked at me like he wants to take a bite; not even today. I grimace and focus on my drink again. The costume, I don’t mind, but the entitlement in his demeanor is another story.

He strides right to me, ahead of Eochan, and completely ignores Cissa who pleasantly waves. “Jaynus. This is Darina, one of our regulars. Darina, Jaynus, my cousin.”

They’re family; that explains some of the enmity, though not the rudeness.

“Hi.” I don’t hide my disinterest, barely glancing at him before returning to the Bone Martini.

The best way to deal with men of his sort is to make it abundantly clear that I’m not remotely interested. Even then, I’m likely to have to reject him a time or two before he gets the memo.

“If I may, you’re lovelier than any woman I’ve had the pleasure to encounter here.” He bows slightly, lifting his hand in a gesture that demands mine.

I frown at the offered palm and opt to play dumb rather than take it. Still, it was a nice compliment, not as lecherous as the ones I usually hear from this type, so I say, “Thanks, Jaynus.”

I hop off my stool with a wave of my hand, toward Cissa and Eochan, fully intending to retreat toward the dance floor.

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