Page 95 of The Courting of Bristol Keats
Bristol’s back stiffened. “No.”
“One wouldn’t know it by the way you’ve skipped required festivities—not to mention your classes. You certainly won’t be allowed back for my lectures. You may as well pack your bags. It’s time for you to go.”
He said it so smoothly. Soundly. His voice held all the conviction of a done deal.You are dismissed. Go.
“I’m not going anywhere, except to join my friends.” She took a step forward, daring him to block her passage.
Reuben stepped aside with a sweeping gesture, a sneer twisting his lip. “Go home, Miss Keats. You don’t belong here. Go now, before the choice is taken from you.”
Bristol moved past him, her thumb casually swiping her fingertips, silent words hidden on her tongue. As she walked away, Reuben didn’t notice the hem of his robe was smoldering, but he would notice the flames soon enough.
She paused at the top of the stairs and lifted her chin, looked a hundred miles away, a thousand miles, even past Bowskeep, and made her way down the grand staircase.
CHAPTER 66
Quin swigged back the contents of his glass and slid it across the table to Dalagorn for a refill. They had already killed off one ogre-sized flask of whiskey and were starting on another. It had been a long, dry journey to bring back the Lumessa, and they were making up for lost time. Glennis didn’t touch goblin whiskey but was gleefully sipping honeysuckle wine while she downed a whole leek pie.
“We’re way ahead of you,” Quin said, noting Tyghan’s untouched drink.
Tyghan shrugged, his mind elsewhere.
They were tucked beneath an arbor in a dark corner of Jasper Court. Cully sat across from Tyghan, showing off his lightning ability to catch cherries between his teeth that Glennis was happily pelting at his face.
“Hey, Cully,” Kasta said as she joined them. “Ivy’s looking for you. It seemed important. Something about Beltane Eve. She’s over at Middle Arch.”
Cully scrambled to his feet, stumbling on his chair and righting it, Glennis still pelting him with cherries. “I better see what it’s about,” he said, and hurried away.
Quin snorted. “She really looking for him?”
Kasta smiled. “No, I just wanted his chair.”
They all laughed, and Dalagorn poured Kasta a glass.
“What is it her parents don’t like about Cully?” Glennis asked between bites of pie.
“No wings,” Quin answered.
Kasta grinned. “Elven have their qualities. Look how quick he is with cherries.”
Glennis shook her head. “They should just run off and marry. Her parents will come around.”
“A pixie come around?” Dalagorn scoffed. “They’re far too proper.” He extended his little finger like he was holding a cup of floral tea instead of whiskey. “Especially not Lord Hambry. That stubborn coot . . .”
Tyghan slowly spun his drink, the conversation around him fading, of no more interest to him than the music and the ringing of goblets raised in greetings. The distant torchlight shimmered on his drink’s amber surface.Space, he thought.She needs space.It was a strange term, especially since she was closed up in her room. His farm had space. The seaside had space. Her chambers were finite and small. How long would she need that space?
They’re afraid she plans to leave.
He was certain she wouldn’t leave. She believed in promises.
But maybe that had changed.
I have no good reason to dally.
No reason.
But Tyghan wanted there to be a reason. Gods help him,hewanted to be that reason.
His hand tightened on his glass.
