Page 76 of Draekora

“You know, I think you may be right,” he said, snapping out of his lovey-dovey charade. “And besides, it’s notyouI was wanting to speak with.” He turned to Zain. “First time seeing you here. Glad you could make it tonight.”

Zain gave a slight nod and took another swig ofglaeron.

Seeing his new target wasn’t one for words, Niyx turned back to Alex. “Did you know Zain here is Meya’s most notorious illegal trafficker?”

Alex felt her stomach lurch. “Trafficker? You don’t mean…” Her eyes jumped up to meet Zain’s. “You don’t traffic people, do you?”

Zain’s lip curled. “I do many things, but I draw the line at smuggling live goods.”

That, at least, was something. But still… “Whatdoyou smuggle, then?” Alex asked.

“Whatever he can get his hands on,” Niyx said, clapping Zain heartily on the shoulder and ignoring the bulky Meyarin’s look of disdain. “He steals from the rich and sneaks his wares out of the city, bartering with desperate mortals who will pay an arm and a leg for anything Meyarin-made. Myrox designs in particular are always in high demand, am I right, Zain?”

Again, Zain remained silent as he threw back the dregs of his goblet and liberated Alex of her own.

“You want to go a little easy with that?” Alex said pointedly. “You’re a big guy, but I can smell those fumes from here. If you pass out, I’m sure not carrying you home.”

“It would take much more than a few flagons ofglaeronto knock him out,” Niyx said with a knowing grin. “He could drink all night and still find his way around the city backwards with his eyes closed. Trust me on that.”

“Don’t encourage him, Niyx,” Alex said with a frown. “We want him to stop drinking, not to drink more.”

Niyx let out a bark of laughter. “Good luck with that, sweetheart. Prying Zain from his drink would be like asking him to give up his commercial exploits. It’s not going to happen.”

“Itcould,” Alex argued. “If only he was willing to try something new.”

Ideally, this would be the time to ask Zain why he continued to refuse Roka’s invitation to join the elite guard, but with Niyx listening in, all she could do was stare at Zain meaningfully, knowing he was aware of what she wasn’t saying.

Finally, Zain spoke. “It would appear, Niyx, that you’ve managed to find the only Meyarin more irritating than you.”

“Hey!” Alex cried indignantly.

“She is rather magnificent, isn’t she?” Niyx said, lips twitching. “But be warned, this kitten has claws.”

“Kittens are harmless even with their claws,” Zain returned, his eyes roaming until they deliberately narrowed in on Aven. “It’s the snakes you need to watch out for. You never know when they might strike.”

Alex couldn’t miss the underlying tension and wondered what had caused the rift between the two Meyarins.

Throwing back the last of Alex’s drink, Zain abruptly announced, “I need a refill.” He didn’t wait for a reply; he simply disappeared into the growing crowd.

“Pleasant sort, isn’t he?”

A bubble of laughter rose out of Alex. “Yes, he’s the life of the party. I can see why you invited him.”

“To be fair, he’s not here because of his social skills,” Niyx said. “Aven thinks he’d be a good ally, considering his access to mortals and his contacts within other trade circles.”

“Aven reached out to him?” Alex asked, relief washing over her. “You’re saying Zain’s not here because he believes in… What everyone else here believes?”

Niyx cocked his head. “What do you think everyone here believes?”

“I’m not a fool, Niyx. I know this isn’t a birthday party.”

His eyes searched her face. “How much has Aven told you?”

Alex wasn’t sure what the correct response was, so she settled on a half-lie, half-truth. “He’s told me enough.”

“And yet, you’re still here?”

“I agreed to have an open mind.”

---