Chapter 28
Itopped up my glass with foul, clear liquid and threw back another shot of a spirit I was informed began life as a potato.
“Slow down, Letta,” Ryvan said from where he slouched beside me, throwing me a wide-eyed stare. “You won’t make it upstairs to your room at this rate.”
I batted away his concern. “You can carry me.”
“The fuck I can. I had four shots too, if you care to remember.”
“Kier can carry me.”
Ryvan’s expression turned pensive. He tapped his lip. “Do you think he’ll carry me too?”
I shook my head, which made the entire courtyard spin like a merry-go-round. “Too heavy.”
“Hey!”
I reached across the sofa we inelegantly draped over to prod his forehead. “That enormous ego of yours adds extra kilos.”
His grin was swift, and vulgar. “Is ego a euphemism for my giant dick?”
“You are a giant dick.”
He gasped, clutching his chest and spilling some potato-spirit-shit on his navy blue shirt. That was fine, it already had a yellow stain on it from the curry we had for dinner. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to hurt my feelims.”
I giggle-snorted. “Your what?”
“My feelims. All of them are sore right now, Letta.”
I used the handle of my sword to pat his arm. I hadn’t technically let go of it since I stole it back from Calanthe. I’d even eaten with it resting on my lap. “There, there, you’ll live.”
“I have a theory,” Kier announced, his gravelly voice making us both jump hard.
“Ruthless gods,” I hissed.
“Where the fuck did he come from?” Ryvan demanded, grabbing my arm. “Letta, can your husband turn invisible?”
My eyes widened, my mouth parting. Could Kier turn invisible?
“No,” Kier laughed, rumbly and sexy. I peered up at him when he stopped behind our sofa, all tall and muscular and rugged, with his long hair unbound, dark locks spilling over his shoulders. I fluttered my lashes. “You’re both just drunk.”
“Hello, handsome,” I purred, fluttering my lashes faster.
Ryvan poked my arm. “Is there a bee flying near your eyes or something?”
“Shut up,” I whispered. “I’m being seductive.”
“Do you even know how to be seductive?” he whispered back.
“I can hear both of you very clearly,” Kier drawled, leaning over the back of the sofa to kiss the top of my head.
I melted with a sigh, momentarily forgetting that I dismembered one of my closest friends and she was now in the infirmary under an armed guard.
“Kier,” I whispered, walking my fingers up his defined forearm. “Can I have your cock?”
Ryvan made gagging noises.
I pointed at him and nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, I’ll sound exactly like that. Pleeease, Kier?”
His calloused hand traced my cheek, his palm moulding to my face, and my whole body lit up like a wildfire. He ruined it by saying, “No.”
“What?” My mouth fell open in outrage. “Why the hell not?”
“You’re very drunk, and what you need most is a glass of water and a long sleep.
” His kiss found the space between my brows this time; I went a little cross-eyed trying to keep him in my vision.
Ryvan snorted loudly, then choked on his own spit, which felt like karma.
“Come on, mate. Let’s get you to bed. Tomorrow, we can talk about Calanthe. ”
“Hey!” Ryvan shouted, abruptly loud. “Letta, he broke the rule. Tell him.”
“You broke the rule,” I informed my husband even as he manoeuvred me off the sofa and swept me up into his arms, sword and all. “Means you have to take a potato shot.”
Ryvan jiggled the bottle at him in emphasis.
“I’m exempt from that rule on account of being a prince of Bluescale.”
Ryvan leaned closer, and slid unfortunately off the edge of the sofa. I snorted. “Wha’s he saying?”
“Not sure,” I replied, “but he’s pretty.”
I wrapped a lock of long, black hair around my finger and gazed into Kier’s eyes. “Can I—”
“Nope.” He tightened his grip on me and strode across the courtyard towards the steps.
“You don’t even know what I’m gonna ask.”
“She wants your dick,” Ryvan shouted from behind us. I glanced back to see his hands cupping his mouth to amplify the sound, his legs splayed on the floor. I gave him a thumbs up.
“Not happening until you’re sober, Zaba.” Kier kissed my cheek to soften the rejection. “Don’t you even want to know about my theory?”
“Sure,” I agreed. I couldn’t remember what a theory was, but I’d figure it out as he spoke.
“I think the sapphire in your sword is a stone of power. Maybe even the stone of power, the original one.”
“Riiiight.”
He laughed, carrying me across the landing and down the hall to our room, nothing but love and softness in his eyes. “I think we should remove it from the sword, and replace it with another, so I can make it into a necklace for you to carry with you always.”
“Good plan.”
“Don’t worry.” He laid me on the bed with reverent care, long fingers untangling the laces of my shoes. “I’ll tell you again in the morning.”
I blinked, and then my shoes were gone, my heavy wool leggings and jumper replaced with a soft cotton shirt that smelled like Kier and felt like bliss against my skin.
“Kier, look,” I said, drawing his attention. I parted my legs and shimmied my pussy. “Sure I can’t tempt you?”
His eyes were as dark as a void, but then he blinked and only amusement shone from those beautiful eyes I loved so much.
“Very sure. But when we wake up, darling mate?” He crawled up my body, leaving kisses at my hip, my ribs, my collarbone, my throat.
“You’re going to get exactly what you’re asking for. And I won’t be gentle.”
“Will you bite me?”
He groaned, his head thumping onto my shoulder. “You’re trying to kill me.”
“Seems count—couner—cloudern—” I gave up, and let my head fall on the cushion, wiggling until I was comfy.
“Counterintuitive?” he asked with a low laugh that made me want him even more. But now I was laid down, exhaustion snuck up on me and I yawned. “Why, because killing me would deprive you of the cock you want?”
I rolled my eyes, snuggling closer. “No, idiot, because I love you.”
His arms enclosed me in safety, one hand coming up to tangle in my hair. “Now I know your deepest, darkest secret. You’re sweet, and absolutely adorable when you’re drunk.”
I meant to argue with that, but I fell asleep before I could.