Page 163 of Deadwood
“Are you going to tell Auria?” Flynt asked as we walked through the throng of citizens. Fae of all different backgrounds pulsed around me, their powers practically beaming out of them with the concern they held for their lives.
They had such doubt in their ruler that they believed I might let them die under King Tenere’s wrath? I’d just have to make it clear to them that I’d do anything to keep that from happening.
I shoved through the brothel’s front doors. “No.”
“Glacies won’t be able to get to her?—”
In the middle of the open room, I spun on him. “Do you think I don’t know that?” I’d given him a quick rundown of what Glacies had told me and Vulcan regarding her bond with Auria. I didn’t want him taken off guard if Glacies put up a fight when King Tenere arrived to take his daughter back.
Patrons, men and women alike, quieted their tones as they sent nervous glances our way.
“It could sway Auria to stay,” Flynt said, lowering his voice to not draw more attention.
“If she doesn’t already wish to be here, I don’t need to try to change her mind.” If not for me, I highly doubted she would stay for a dragon she hardly knew. The creatures were new to her. I couldn’t tell her, and have her leave and wonder for eternity what the bond meant.
Glacies and Auria could survive apart from each other, but after a while, they’d feel as if a hole had been dug through the center of their chests, wishing to be filled. Auria would likely believe it was her mourning the life she had experienced for such a short time, while Glacies would know the truth. She’d ache, call out for her, want nothing other than her other half, but she’d never cross the chasm. It was impossible, even if she wanted to.
But if Glacies got hurt… No matter how far Auria was, she’d feel it.
It wouldn’t make any sense to her, but I had no fucking clue what to do, and it seemed Glacies didn’t either.
“You’re just going to keep it from her, then?” I heard the accusation in his tone loud and clear.
Turning, I set a hand on the worn metal railing and climbed the spiral staircase. Flynt’s boots echoed a beat behind mine. “It’s not for me to tell. The bond is between Glacies and Auria. If Glacies is keeping it from her, then she has her reasons. I won’t put myself on her bad side for the sake of persuading Auria to stay.”
As I approached the top, the flames in the sconces on the walls flickered shadows along Triss, one of the brothel’s original courtesans, who stood on the edge of the wooden porch, overlooking the town. She wore a flamboyant red dress that had a slit all the way up to her waist on one side, exposing her sheer thigh-high stockings. Her brunette hair sat in a bun atop her head, and as she turned to me, she puffed the lingering smoke from her cigarette between her lips. The smoke curled around me, avoiding contact with my skin as my magic sensed its presence.
“I need your perch. Should only take a moment,” I said to her as Flynt stopped right at my back.
“I suppose I won’t be upset you’re not here to request my presence,” Triss moped.
I glanced behind her to the people below. “Never am. You could take Flynt here off my hands, though.”
Triss’s eyes found him over my shoulder, a devious smile cresting her painted lips. “He might be a fun ride.”
“Triss, honey, I mean no offense by this, but I don’t do…” A hand ghosted my back as he presumably tried to pull the right words from the air.
“Men with feelings can have their fun, too,” Triss purred, puffing on her cigarette. “It’s not a crime.”
“Not much is in this town,” I reminded her, sliding past her to set my hands on the cold railing. On the horizon, gray clouds cluttered the near-black sky. A storm was coming. One I hoped we were prepared for.
Triss waved a hand to the crowd. “Take your time. The perch is yours.” She left Flynt and me to the ruckus below, making sure to close the double doors behind her.
“Bowen—”
“I can’t think about that right now, Flynt.” I kept my voice calm as I turned to him. We both ignored the eyes of the crowd turning their attention on us. “Glacies will tell her when she’s ready.”
“And if Auria decides to go before she can tell her?”
“Then that is the consequence Glacies has to live with.” And Auria would feel the ramifications of it as well. Was it really something I wanted to hold back from her? I brushed the thought away. It wasn’t my secret to tell.
Understanding shone in his eyes that I wouldn’t make the decision for the dragon.
We both faced the street below. It was littered with irate people demanding answers.
“Probably a wise decision,” Flynt said. “If the citizens of Deadwood have you stressed, imagine facing the wrath of a snow dragon.”
“I wouldn’t be stressed at that point.” I adjusted my grip on the metal railing, thinking through what I’d say to them. “I’d be dead.”
