Page 43 of A Tale of Treachery

After a time, the feeling disappeared, and I chuckled to myself when I reached my destination: Mystics Tavern, a secret bar nestled in the forest. A place where mages, witches, and fae came to play. I had spent many a night here, drinking, laughing, and flirting with the locals in hiding.

“I guess my spirits needed a drink,” I mumbled with a laugh.

Tonight, the tavern was packed to the brim with brownies, pixies, mages, and more creatures than usual. Even a group of pooka taking the form of horses sat outside the tavern, drinking ale from troughs, waiting to invite drunken travelers on a wild ride through the forest. It was unusual for so many creatures to venture out of Faerie all at once, but the tear in the rift must have brought them out of hiding.

There was something about the scourged forest that fairies thrived on, and they could often be found sneaking about the woods, bartering and bargaining.

I walked through the door, my eyes scanning the variety of creatures. The events from earlier today must have unsettled everyone to the point of binge drinking. I felt the urge, too, and quietly made my way to my usual corner to order a fairy wine. After a day like this, I could stand to lose some of my faculties, even though the idea of attending a tribunal tipsy probably wasn’t the best.

I took a sip of my wine anyways. A light buzz would help make the night bearable.

A group of naked green and blue pixies had taken an interest in my ruby hair, trilling at the brightness as they twirled about my head, their gossamer wings fluttering while they dove in. The tickling of my scalp relaxed me as they braided and played within the strands, oohing with delight. Pixies were mischievous little things, their love of bright objects, sugar, and alcohol outrivaling basic survival skills.

I chuckled when a blue pixie dove into my glass of wine, swimming around as she swallowed the liquid she bathed in. I picked the glass up and sipped as she frantically paddled away from my mouth. No creature, no matter how cute, would prevent me from enjoying this drink.

The alcohol flowed through my veins, filling my head with a warm fuzz, and I looked around the tavern, measuring its occupants. Mystics Tavern was a luxurious little hole in the wall, its chairs a plush velvet, the floor and bar top a rich, finished oak lit by the magical fae lights strung along the walls and ceiling. The faintest golden designs littered the walls, painted into the shapes of flowers and stars.

My gaze caught on the sight of a ginger-headed fae male, Eulalia’s obsession. They’d never spoken or even acknowledged each other’s presence, but how could he be aware of her existence when she constantly dodged him? We considered thisourcorner because it gave her enough coverage to admire him from afar without being noticed.

He was handsome, with a chiseled jaw and sun-kissed skin. The tips of his pointed ears, capped with golden rings, could be faintly seen poking from beneath his stick-straight, shoulder-length hair. And his amber eyes…looked preoccupied. He was clearly a shifter fae, judging by his muscle tone and unusual eye coloring. But it was impossible to tell what creature he could turn into.

I had been so captivated by his appearance that I hadn’t seen his companion arrive, not until he plopped down at the other end of the two-person table. The orange-headed fae’s sad eyes lit up with joy and recognition.

I gritted my teeth at the sight of Ryken and pulled my hood over my hair. The pixies belted out an angry barrage of chirps, and I shifted my body away from the two males.

My guess was that Redmond sent Ryken to follow me.

The males greeted each other, and the ginger slid a mug of ale toward Ryken. Ryken dipped his head in a courteous nod before lifting the mug to his lips and downing it in one go. He leaned back in his chair, stretching, while the waitress frantically approached to fill another mug. She smiled at him, giggling as she brushed her chest against his arm and refilled his drink. When she pulled back, she flipped her hair behind her shoulder and puffed out her chest in an audacious display meant to garner his attention. The move reeked of desperation, and my blood boiled at the sight.

I wanted her dead.

I didn’t know where the thought came from or why, but it was madness. I shook my head as if I could shake some sense into myself.

Chirp. Chirp. Chirp.

Whoops, I’d forgotten about the pixies. “Sorry,” I murmured to the little creatures tangled in my hair.

I sat still while they resumed their work of braiding and watched as Ryken removed his hood, finally in a place where he was safe to be himself. His silver locks looked a complete mess, the hair on top ruffled in disarray. It was like he’d just rolled out of bed.

He was blindingly beautiful.

I would never get used to seeing him without his hood. It was a sight that automatically sent heat spiraling through my core. I crossed my legs tightly together, trying to deny the thoughts that filled my head, the memory of that kiss.

Think of Aiden,I reminded myself.

Ryken’s body went tense, and he clenched his jaw, his nostrils flaring as he searched the room with a burning focus, an intensity that made me believe he could somehow scent my reaction to him from clear across the tavern. I hunched down in my seat and leaned my body into the wall, as if the move could make me disappear.

His head whipped around, and his eyes locked on mine.

Ugh.

He raised a brow and crooked his pointer finger in a come-hither motion, a command that I couldn’t help but follow. My legs moved independently, despite my urge to rebel and tell him off. And as I approached, his friend’s eyes widened in surprise as he leaned over and whispered to Ryken. Ryken muttered something, and his friend positively beamed at his response.

The orange-haired male jumped up and pulled me into an embrace. “Dahlia! It’s so nice to finally meet you!”

I was at a loss for words. This meant that Ryken talked about me, not even just a little bit, but enough that his friend knew me and seemed happy to see me. I pulled back, elevating my eyebrows in Ryken’s direction.

He licked his lips, one side lifting in a smirk, like he was daring me to question why he’d mentioned me.

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