Page 19 of Vicious Princess
I’m welcomed by loud chatter and heavy alcohol-infused air as I step inside. Not all the fae here are Ezkai, but there are even more soldiers inside. They gather in groups around various tables littered with heavy jugs overflowing with some sort of beverage.
I find an empty spot at the bar and settle comfortably. This is perfect. I can people watch and see Ezkai in the wild. When a cute bartender approaches me, I order a whiskey, neat.
The amber liquid burns its way through my throat and down. When it starts to warm up, I realize it might not be the best idea to drink on an empty stomach.
I watch the liquid swish inside the glass like a stormy sea as I roll it between my fingers. Whiskey was Dad’s favorite drink. The beautiful carved oak bar in our home had a collection of whiskey from all over the world. Fancy crystal bottles with gold-plated labels, beautiful handmade clay bottles, and rare onyx bottles lined the shelves, displayed proudly. Whenever we had guests, those who knew Dad well would bring a bottle to add to the collection, and those who didn’t know about his passion would get to learn about it during an after-dinner whiskey tasting.
That’s one of the things I loved about Dad. His generosity. He was more than happy to share his love for prestigious drinks with everyone else instead of keeping them for himself or “special occasions.”
My eyes burn. I close them and inhale a deep breath. It’s been three years. Three years since that damn fire took my family away from me. Yet it hurts as if it happened yesterday.
When will the pain go away?
The answer comes to me immediately:
Once I get my revenge.
A loud burst of laughter on my left draws my attention. A group of Ezkai crowds a round table, playing dice. They’re so focused on the game and each other, it’s as if the rest of the world doesn’t exist.
Every fae at that table looks like they belong.
A knot forms in my chest, and I turn back to my drink. I can’t believe Kazh thinks I would choose becoming an underground criminal over being an Ezkai.
But what bothers me more is Vasquez and his reason for sending me to Kazh. I should have known he had ulterior motives other than helping me find shelter. Is having me be part of Kazh’s criminal gang his way of trying to keep me?
I would punch that bastard if he were here with me right now.
I sigh and gulp down the last of my drink. It burns my throat and stomach, but I welcome the pain.
“Having a bad day?” The bartender approaches me, taking the empty glass away.
“More like three bad fucking years,” I say. “I’ll have one more, please.”
The bartender refills my glass and smiles. “Three bad years don’t equal a bad life. Even if it doesn’t feel like it right now.”
He winks, and before I can say anything, he moves away to serve other guests. I guess he’s not wrong. I’m here, finally in Ekios, ready to start my journey of becoming an Ezkai in a few days.
That’s what I’ve been working on all this time.
I cup the glass and stare at the whiskey. The color reminds me of that stranger I met in Ezkai Castle and his eyes.
I wouldn’t mind a sexy distraction right about now. Lucky for me, I’m in a bar full of attractive soldiers.
Slowly, I look around the place, eyeing the Ezkai. All are fit, with broad shoulders and powerful arms. Many are tall. Handsome.
It’s not only because most of them are ungodly stunning fae. Many blessings come with being born a Decarios, the chosen of the gods.
I’m not one to sleep around. I get too emotionally involved.Just like with Vasquez.So I tend to avoid that.
But I’m about to start a new season in my life. Maybe it’s time to learn how to approach relationshipswithoutfalling in love. Attachments never bring anything good anyway.
The moment our gazes lock from across the room, I recognize him.
Those two deep amber eyes, that square jaw that’s as sharp as the blade strapped to my belt, and those sensual lips that hold a promise of wicked things.
I know he recognizes me too when he arches an eyebrow. Something low in my stomach curls at the way he looks at me. Concealing my giddy smile with the glass, I turn away.
Just as I hope, not even a couple of minutes later, the stranger approaches me.
