Page 43 of All the Pain of Promises
Again, the god of shadow and prophecy’s lethal glare slid back to Calfair. “You would sully the Starstorm family name if you kill your future in-law.”
“I beg your pardon?” Solarius’s gaze swung back to Calfair, and the jerk had the audacity to flash another cutting smirk—bloodied mouth, bruised face, and all.
Solarius shook his head, wincing as it throbbed along his temples.
Impossible. There was no way Ariesian would promise Sarelle to Calfair, not when she was supposed to be pretending to persuade Prince Aspen to court her. Stars above, Calfair was almost as bad as the prince himself, and Solarius was ashamed he’d ever been friends with the miscreant in the first place. Calfair was an absolute scoundrel. A selfish, cocky asshole who enjoyed tormenting those he deemed beneath him.
“That’s right, Lord Solarius.” Smugness dripped from the sarcastic use of his title and Calfair spat a disgusting mixture of saliva and blood onto the tavern floor. “Your brother and my father are working on uniting one of your brothers with my sister.”
Solarius’s jaw dropped and he snapped it shut.
If Nyxian didn’t already know, he would likely find out soon enough, and once he did would lose his stars-damned mind.Tovian would be the one to take the news in stride and accept his fate, but Nyxian…he would fight. There were two things in this world Nyxian simply could not stand. The first, being told what to do. The second, the uncanny idea of sleeping with one female for the rest of his life.
Solarius stole a glance at Drake, who nodded once in confirmation, and a riotous stream of curses filtered through his mind. The last thing he wanted was to have any kind of connection, marital by name or otherwise, to this bastard.
Calfair sauntered forward, but there was no mistaking the way he winced and favored his left leg as he walked. “So, run home to your little wife before she finds her way into my bed again.”
Solarius lurched toward him, but Drake’s arm shot out with blinding quickness, preventing any further movement.
Drake grabbed a fistful of Calfair’s shirt and hoisted him into the air for everyone in the tavern to see. “I suggest you shut your mouth, Skyhelm. Before I cut off your cock and shove it down your throat.”
Solarius bit the inside of his cheek to keep from grinning. Most might assume that was nothing more than a vicious threat, but if anything, it was a promise. After all, Drake had conducted that exact exploit on a man who dared to lay a hand on Solarius’s youngest sister, Creslyn.
“You wouldn’t—” Calfair choked out.
“Try me,” Drake countered.
Shadows swarmed, engulfing the space around them, leaching it of warmth and replacing it with a permeating cold that sank deep into Solarius’s bones. Gasps and a few startled cries echoed throughout the Thundercloud, and the fear of those who stood nearby was so palpable, he could almost taste it on his tongue.
“Leave.” Drake commanded Calfair like he would one of his notorious dragons. “Now.”
He dropped him without a second thought and Calfair staggered backward, smoothing his wrinkled shirt, and lifting his chin with a sense of feigned authority.
Calfair scoffed once, sent a vitriolic look in Solarius’s direction, then turned around and stomped out of the Thundercloud, all while trying to disguise his limp.
Solarius straightened, though it wasn’t like he was much better off. In fact, he was fairly certain the impact with that damn table had broken a rib or two. Maybe three. But it had been well worth it. He loved a good brawl, specifically those without magic, the ones where it was only a matter of brute strength and bare knuckles. It gave him a kind of delicious satisfaction, making the hideous bruises and broken bones all the more rewarding. Despite the shock of pain reverberating throughout his busted body, Solarius locked his spine and accepted the glass of whiskey that Drake shoved into his hand.
He would never admit it out loud, and while he didn’t particularly care for Drake, his loyalty to Creslyn and their family was unrivaled. Which was why he didn’t argue when Drake clinked his own glass of whiskey against Solarius’s and they knocked back their drinks in unison. The warm, cinnamon flavor burned the back of his throat, and he tapped the empty glass on the bar’s smooth surface, debating having another.
Rolling his neck once, he continued to twirl and tap the glass. “How did you know I was here?”
“I didn’t.” Drake shrugged, lifting one hand in the bartender’s direction to signal another round. “That was pure luck.”
“Mm.” Solarius licked his bottom lip and hissed as the metallic tang of blood coated the tip of his tongue. “Gettingmyself into a bar fight doesn’t really strike me as something important enough to be revealed in one of your prophecies.”
The corner of Drake’s mouth twitched, but it vanished just as quickly. “Not quite.”
“Then what are you doing here?” Curiosity piqued, Solarius feigned indifference. Drake rarely left Creslyn’s side, not unless it was absolutely necessary and of the utmost importance. “If not stopping me from ending the life of that miserable piece of shit?”
Another nonchalant shrug.
“Nothing.”
“Bullshit.”
Drake collected the two new shots of whiskey and slid one in Solarius’s direction. “I am tracking someone of interest. Someone who has no business being in Galefell.”
Tracking, indeed.
