Page 51 of A Deception of Courts

Frankly, I didn’t have the care or energy to worry about his feelings right now. I just wanted to drink myself into oblivion.

Kayne sat next to Duncan, so close that my stomach had burned slightly with an emotion that left a sour taste on the back of my tongue. My gaze shifted to the touch of their thighs and the way Kayne leaned into Duncan’s side for support. Anyone would have believed Kayne was struck by Duncan’s lightning by the way he jolted away from him as I entered the tent.

Duncan didn’t seem to notice anything was wrong, but Gyah did. The face she pulled suggested so. I smiled weakly to acknowledge her, knowing this conversation would be saved for another time.

I threw myself into debriefing them about my conversation with Lyra and Elinor, aided by the cups of ale Duncan continuously poured out for me. Kayne hardly touched his drink. I tried my best to enjoy the conversation, but I could only focus on Kayne’s stare, burning holes into me.

By my third drink, I was relaxed enough to ignore the Tracker and his disdain for me.

It was no surprise when Kayne stood from the cup-strewn table and announced he was retiring to bed. Relief cooled through me like a fresh breath of air as he prepared to leave. I was the only one not to bother telling him to stay.

“One more, Kayne, come on. When have you ever turned down a drink?” Duncan drawled, sloshing amber liquid out of the cup that he swayed.

“Lucari will need tending to.” Kayne dismissed Duncan. “Strange place and all that.”

“She is likely off terrorising the local rodents,” Althea said, words slurred. “You can leave her to her own means for another drink, can’t you?”

“If anything, I better save those rodents and get Lucari to deliver Robin’s invitation to the Nephilim before I sleep.”

Althea hiccupped as she spluttered. “If they don’t arrive by morning, it will be my hangover-fuelled wrath upon your head.”

“The Nephilim will receive it.” Kayne’s hand patted his pocket. The back of his freckled hand flattened the small roll of parchment I’d given him when I arrived. “Night all.”

I kept my cup lifted to my lips, hoping it would prevent my need to bid him goodnight. The truth was, I didn’t particularly care if it was good or not. As long as he and his stalking gaze gave me a reprieve, that is all I cared about.

“Rest well,” Duncan called, as Kayne took his leave. “Hope the head is okay come morning.”

“You know me,” Kayne muttered, offering Duncan a wink. “When has my head ever been bad.”

I almost choked on my drink. Gyah too. My stomach twisted at Duncan’s knowing chuckle. “If you ever want to get to sleep tonight, perhaps we don’t test that theory, friend.”

What the fuck did that mean?

Gyah leaned into my side. The moment Kayne was out of earshot, she spoke aloud for the rest of us to hear. “Am I missing something? Because you look like you’re about to vomit or scream.”

I swallowed hard, tasting bile just as Gyah had said. “It’s nothing.”

“Refill anyone?” Duncan asked, leaning forward with the jug that was far lighter than it had been when I joined them. His arm flexed as he filled Gyah’s cup. Some ale spilled across the lip, spreading across the veins of the wooden table.

“I thought I was the only one who didn’t like the Tracker,” Gyah whispered, looking daringly at me. “But you look at him like you want to knock a fist into him. You’ve all been stuck together for so long.”

“I said it’s nothing, friend. Leave it.”

Not satisfised with my response, Gyah looked to the remaining group and lifted her voice so we could all here. “So, what has Robin done to piss Kayne off so much?”

I blanched on the spot, the blood draining from my face. A dribble of ale burst out of my mouth, which I quickly cleared with the back of my hand and forced out a laugh.

Duncan said nothing but leaned back on the bench. The presence of his arm across my shoulder was so sudden. Even our seat creaked with the movement of such a powerful body. “Kayne has never been the best at making friends. Unless those friends have feathers and claws.”

“He didn’t seem to have a problem before the princeling walked in.”

“Gyah,” Althea hissed, unable to hide her smile. “I think you meankinglingnow.”

“No.” Gyah pulled Althea in close and pressed a sticky-lipped kiss upon her cheek. “That doesn’t have a ring to it.”

“I’m tired,” I whispered into Duncan’s ear, doing a job of distracting him with my hand as I ran it up the inside of his leg. He stiffened in his seat. The skin across his arms prickled with a wave of pleasured bumps. “And cold. How about we crawl under some fur and warm ourselves up?”

In other words, can we get away from this conversation as soon as possible?

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