Page 103 of A City of Flames

“Naralía,” I answer firmly. I did not expect that reaction. “Ambrose.”

He smiles, waving his hand for us to follow him. “Well, Naralía that over there is called the Liar’s Dice with our own spin on it.”

Darius places a hand on the small of my back, nudging me forward. shifters stop to glance at us again but my gaze locks onto the brown woolen shawl covering Gus’s tunic.

“Anytime someone challenges a bid and wins, the other has to strip naked as a bet,” Gus continues as we stop by a table of four male shifters. “Darius always makes a spectacle of stealing their clothes, though.”

Of course, he steals them though I make a face, unimpressed by the outcome of this bet. My guess is that it was Darius’s idea in the first place. I turn to him, drawling my words as I lift a single brow, “And here I thought, you had their garments for different reasons.”

He chuckles under his breath and inclines his head as he closes any space between us. His bottom lip traces the curve of my ear as he whispers, “Just because I take their clothes doesn’t mean I don’t sleep with them before, Goldie.”

A sudden tightness engulfs my throat, and I fight to swallow. I scowl as he straightens with a half-satisfied smile, and I stare at the dark liner around his eyes. It creates such contrast to the various brown and golden colors that it reminds me of dawn.

I clear my throat, letting my gaze wander away from him. “Well, have you ever lost?”

“He never has,” one of the shifters grumbles, getting up from the stools as the rest do.

“Even if he did lose,” Gus adds. “I know for certain he’d have no shame in walking around bare.”

“Always exposing me, Gus,” Darius comments with a light-hearted laugh.

“Someone has to, kid.”

“I can agree to that,” I say and clap my hands together, releasing a breath at the sudden confidence in me. “So, how do you play this game?”

“Why?” Darius drawls wryly as I look up at him. “Eager to lose against me, Goldie?”

“Not at all,” I practically whisper, drawing nearer to him this time as I stare into his eyes. “I’m always up for a challenge.”

Everyone breaks out into amused murmurs as I step away. “Where’d you find this girl, Darius?” Someone calls out, but Darius’s gaze never leaves mine as I make my way to sit down.

“More like she found me,” he murmurs with a smile that can only mean he’s implying our first meet and how he’d won.

That prompts me to think of something.

“I’d like to place a different bet,” I announce, ignoring the confusion flooding Darius’s eyes. “Whoever wins gets to ask the other five questions they mustn’t refuse.”

Questions he can’t back out of, not like he usually does, even if I’m aware I could be the one to lose instead.

He grins, lowering himself onto the barrel stool. “Quite tame of you, Goldie.”

I hum in agreement, extending my hand out to him. “I guess I’m just not as eccentric as you.”

Another laugh releases from his lips, melodious and deep, as he shakes my hand. It’s a deal.

Gus stands at the side, citing the rules as Darius grabs the cup with five dice inside. I survey him as I pick up mine, also containing the same amount. It’s a game of lie and deception with a bit of luck on your side. Once we roll a hand and flip the cup down on the table, you hide the dice from your opponent. We then begin bidding what we believe is the value under both cups until either of us challenges the other, calling them liars and showing what we have underneath.

If the amount the person bids is correct, the other loses.

“You’re not going to try and listen to my heart, are you?” I slant my head, pouting my lips in sarcasm as I shake the cup. “Because now that would be cheating.”

He chuckles. “If we all did that during the game, then there’d be no point in playing it, would there?” We both slam the cup face down as he gestures a hand to me mockingly. “You first.”

shifters surround us, watching avidly. And since Darius expects me to disagree, I choose to tilt the cup enough to see all the dice. Three sixes, one four, and one three show under the rim shadows.

I gaze up at Darius, my voice neutral. “Two fours.”

His lip tugs at the corner, and then he lifts his cup. “Three fours.”

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