Page 73 of A Storm of Fire and Ash
“I’ll take the floor,” I snapped.
“Suit yourself,” he said. “But you’ll be begging for a pillow by morning.”
I all but fled my room—his room—still burning from head to toe. My thoughts were a mess of tangled emotion and heat, shame threading through every breath. The image of Zayn, standing half-naked with water still glistening across his chest and abs, haunted me like a brand. That damn towel. That maddening smirk.
I hated him. Worse, I hated how my body reacted around him. I needed to get drunk.
No—I needed to drown.
The pub was loud and smoky, tucked beneath a sloping roof that smelled of stale ale and old laughter. It was the kind of place where no one cared who you were, only that you paid.
I found Eryn and Makar at a corner table, a bottle already half-gone between them. Eryn looked up and smiled in that gentle way of hers, and Makar raised his brow, already grinning when he saw me.
“Well, someone looks like they either saw a ghost,” he said, “or walked in on a man they want to murder and kiss at the same time.”
“I’d prefer the first option,” I muttered, sinking into the chair beside them and snatching the bottle.
The mead was strong and burned all the way down. Just what I needed.
“Hey,” I looked at Makar, “Were you following me into town the other day? Watching me and my friend from the woods?”
Makar gave a puzzled look, “Love, you should know by now what my magic feels like. And, if you were withsomeone else and I was watching, don’t’cha think I woulda joined?” He showed off his charming smile and ran his hands through his long auburn hair.
Eryn brushed him off. “You pay more attention to that hair of yours than anything else,” Eryn huffed and rolled her eyes. “What happened?” she asked.
I chuckled. “I guess you’re right… I would’ve known it was you. And honestly, I knew it never was. This magic was different. Darker.”
I told them everything as we continued to drink.
And drink.
And drink some more, until my words started to slur a little and the numbness washed over me.
“What do you say the three of us have some fun tonight? Might not be with the prince, but perhaps I can convince you two lovely ladies to partake?” Makar flirted. I laughed and elbowed him hard.
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
“You know I would love another go.” His accent made my body warm. Or perhaps it was the booze.
“What do you mean, another go?” Eryn asked, her brows raised high. “This is the second time you’ve insinuated sex…” Her eyes went wide as they darted back and forth between me and Makar.
“A lady doesn’t kiss and tell,” I teased, taking a long drink from the bottle. “But I’m no lady,” I shrugged and passed the bottle to Eryn as I said, “I fucked Makar and Fintan at the same time.”
Eryn spat wine all over my face.
She could hardly contain her coughing, which was mixed with a laugh. “I’m sorry, you what?!”
Makar and I started to laugh, and Eryn joined in.
Time passed.
We talked. Laughed a little. I even forgot, briefly, how ruined I felt inside.
But then Eryn said she needed to head back, and Makar followed not long after, off to find some trouble to charm.
Now I sat alone.
“I’m fine,” I lied, pouring another glass. “Truly. Fine.”
