Page 143 of The Forbidden Dragon King
“I’d rather that they join me in the rose bath.” Quintus looks me up and down in a way that makes my skin crawl.
I bet that he’s the type of asshole who collects people just to break them.
“Are you going to do nothing but glare at that wine all night or respect us by drinking, my boy?” Maximinus demands.
Aurelius looks trapped.
Is he as much of a lightweight as I am?
He has just fought a battle and flown for hours. He must be exhausted.
Now Maximinus is trying to get him drunk in public.
Lucius’ gaze snaps to mine in alarm.
Aurelius glances around, realizing that everyone is watching him. He tilts up his chin, before downing the wine.
The shifters cheer, downing their own.
Maximinus looks smug. “Refill the wine, pet.”
I turn to Aurelius for guidance, but he isn’t meeting my eye. Reluctantly, I fill up his goblet.
Can he control his emotions when he’s drunk?
Aurelius’ eyes are heavy. He pushes himself to sit up straight on the couch but he’s swaying.
Lucius peels himself away from the man who has been pawing at him and pushes himself up.
Maximinus holds up his goblet. “We are here to remember our great and good King Tarquin. He led both the wars against the Shadow Fae, devastating their number. He outwitted the Shadow Vampires. He led us toward a glorious new age. Yet he was no mere warrior.” I wince, when Maximinus glances significantly at Aurelius. “He was also a statesman. A scholar. Noble andrespected. By his death, we have lost the best amongst us.”
Aurelius sits stony faced, as the dragons murmur their agreement.
“His cruel murder within the walls of our own palace, still not resolved, weighs heavily on the entire kingdom.” Maximinus sighs, as a deep silence falls over the room. What is he implying? “I raise a toast, however, to my nephew and a shining example for the realms. To King Tarquin.”
Maximinus stands, lifting his goblet.
Throughout the hall, every shifter follows suit.
Aurelius stands as well, but when they drink, he doesn’t.
Maximinus’ expression becomes thunderous. “You won’t drink to my toast…?”
“You know that I don’t keep my control well under the effects of alcohol,” Aurelius hisses back.
“Drink,” Maximinus growls, “to your dead brother.”
Panic rushes through me.
“I’ll drink for him.” Lucius gives a bright, brittle smile, diving around the table to snatch Aurelius’ drink and down it for him.
Maximinus hurls his goblet at Lucius. It hits him across the face, slicing open his cheek.
I startle in shock, as Lucius cradles his swollen eye and bleeding cheek, but still doesn’t take a step back. Blood drips between his small fingers.
“Uncle,” Aurelius snarls in shock.
The entire room falls into a tense silence.
