Page 75 of Draekora

“I know you have a high regard for them due to your upbringing, but for tonight, all I ask is that you keep an open mind and just… listen. Maybe see things from a different perspective.”

“Aven—”

“It’s really important to me, Aeylia,” Aven said quietly, the golden flecks in his eyes burning like embers. “Can you do that for me?”

“You’re asking a lot,” Alex told him, only half truthful, since he was asking the impossible.

“I know I am,” he replied instantly. “But it’s just one night. You can leave whenever you like, but I hope that you’ll stay for at least a little while. And then you’re free to go back to your human-loving self again.”

Not sure how to respond, Alex gestured towards the door. “Who’s in there?”

“Just a few of my friends.”

Her trepidation instantly skyrocketed as comprehension hit her like an anvil falling on her head. “And… uh, what are they doing?”

A secretive smile stretched across his face. “Waiting for me.”

And with that, he opened the door to what Alex knew without a shadow of a doubt was a meeting ofGarseth—Aven’s original Rebels.

Considering the fact that she was witnessing one of the early get-togethers of a bunch of future murderers, Alex found there was nothing all that revolutionary happening. There were no ceremonial slaughters of innocents, no calls for violent rioting and thankfully, no blood-bonding rituals of faithfully blind devotees. It was simply a bunch of young Meyarins in a room, chatting over drinks and suspicious looking appetisers— suspicious because Alex figured Tohro had supplied the food, and as Aven had said,Narsae de Trigonwas hardly the most sanitary of places.

After his grand entrance was met with boisterous excitement from the Meyarins, Aven had left her in the corner with an apology, saying that he had to make his rounds. But she kept her eye on him, fascinated by the way he spoke to them, how he gave his full attention, treating them as if whatever they said was the most important thing he’d ever heard. Darrius had once told her that Aven was gifted with an almost unnatural amount of charisma, and after seeing him work the room, Alex had to agree.

He was really quite spectacular.

Regardless, she was starting to get fidgety, still unsure why she was there.

“You look like you could use a drink.”

Alex spun around at hearing words in the common tongue and felt her heart sink. “Zain?”No, please no.“What are you doing here?”

Still looking as shabby as the last time she’d seen him, Zain raised a Myrox shot glass to his mouth and threw back its contents. “What does it look like?” he said after swallowing. “I’m drinking.”

He reached out to grab two full goblets from the tray of a passing Meyarin, shoving one into Alex’s hands.

“Glaeron,” Zain said. “The finest brew around.”

“This just keeps getting better and better,” Alex said, not touching the drink even when Zain started swigging large gulps from his. “Not only are you a criminal, but you’re also a functioning alcoholic. Perfect.”

“Everyone has a role to play,” Zain said, his eyes scanning the room, strangely alert. “Mine just happens to be one of the more enjoyable ones.”

“What are youdoinghere, Zain?” Alex demanded again.

His eyes came back to her. “I could ask you the same question,Aeylia.”

“And I could ask you both, but I already know the answer,” came a new voice.

Alex turned just in time to see Niyx swagger to her side.

“Lovely Aeylia,” he greeted, seeming to have decided on her nickname for the day. “A pleasure, as always.”

“I saw you a few hours ago, Niyx,” she told him, following his lead and speaking Meyarin, figuring it was best to avoid sounding like a mortal given their company. “Surely there’s someone else you can bother?”

“Oh, how my heart bleeds,” Niyx said, raising a hand to his chest. “How ever shall I survive such a painful rejection from my one true love?”

Jeez, he was laying it on thick. All Alex could do was roll her eyes while trying to suppress a smile. Despite how blatantly ridiculous his flirting was, he really was entertaining to be around.

“I’m sure you’ll get over it,” Alex told him.

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