Chapter 6 #3
Mun took a deep breath as she noted that Tarek’s eyes had landed on her. She trailed her hand down her body while his russet eyes tracked the sinful path before she settled it on her inner thigh. Tarek rolled his eyes into his head as he wrestled his lust into submission.
“You two are making it impossible to enjoy the holiday,” he all but whined.
With self-control he would abandon later after summoning them to attend his rooms when The Games concluded, Tarek dismissed the twins and stalked back to the quartz dais.
Seeing him sated, for the time being, the lurking members of the Asterism and other prominent stars in his military forces made their way to him.
Pleasantries were exchanged, yet Tarek grew bored of holding court.
This facet of being the leader of House Taurus taxed him the most. He was more of a hands-on problem solver.
Where he was brutish and headstrong, his Adjacent and twin was grace and tact, as if molded by the Gods for her position.
Though anyone would gravely underestimate Tala if they considered her subtle and demure approach a weakness.
Those speaking to him droned on, and Tarek only half-listened.
Abruptly, he held up a hand to silence their babble and rushed to the railing as a flare of light blazed from the bloody pulp of a body.
The victor, who hardly looked any better, was standing over the ravaged mess of their opponent, panting heavily.
Pity.
He hadn’t seen the fracturing happen. He shook his head in irritation and pulled out his selenite shard, mentally sending a message to Arche, his third in command after Tala.
“Prime Apparent?” came a polite voice from the side of the dais Tarek had sulked back to.
“What is it?” he snapped.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, Prime Apparent, but the Regent has requested your presence.”
“No.”
When Tarek saw the attendant was still standing there, he bristled at their patient expression and snatched his hollowed horn to take a long drink.
“If she requests my assistance, she can come to me. It’s The Games!” he yelled with exuberance.
The attendant darted a quick glance around as if they were looking for someone else to receive the message. Tarek bared his teeth. The Asterism seated behind him raised their glasses in a salute.
“Go fetch her,” Tarek baited the trembling attendant.
“Prime Apparent?” they stammered.
He slammed his horn down on the armrest of his throne, and the golden vessel fell from his grip, clattering down the steps, spilling dark sparkling liquid.
“Brother, what can I do for you?” Tarek looked over to where Tala had emerged behind the trembling attendant, whose expression was no longer patient and appeared more terrified.
Good.
Tala lightly touched the attendant on the shoulder, and they bowed themselves away. The leering laughs of the Asters in various states of inebriation chased them as they disappeared from sight.
“Isn’t this too obscene for you?” Tarek asked with slightly slurred speech.
“While that has been established, it seemed my presence was needed,” Tala replied in a clipped tone.
Tarek rubbed a hand across his mouth and looked around for his hollowed horn.
An attendant had likely cleaned up the mess before he could notice.
While all celestials possessed small magic for simple tasks, Tarek rarely needed to tap into that aspect of his magic—he had attendants for that.
Though summoning weapons, small objects, whisking away clothing, or changing one’s attire in an instant was useful.
Where are the twins?
Tala gracefully ascended the steps of the dais and confided into his ear, “It is not my place to note when you’re at your limit, but may I suggest a bit more decorum while we are entertaining guests? Especially those of the foreign variety?”
Tala withdrew from his ear and waited for his shallow nod of concession. She bowed her head as she reached back for the white cape draping behind her, gathering some slack in the fabric before she descended the selenite steps.
The Games continued with the next pairing of fighters—another set of Taureons.
Tarek recognized one of them—one of his Minori was trying to circumvent the promotion board.
A smile of approval formed on his full lips.
He noted Tala hovering near the edge of the throne.
He motioned for her to come back and sit on one of the arm rests.
After she complied, he rested his head against her arm as he played with the white fabric of her cape.
“I’m the Prime Apparent.”
Tala nodded, “That you are.”
“And today is a holiday.”
A faint smile crept onto Tala’s maroon painted lips.
“Are you asking for my blessing or permission to act like a brute?” she asked with a dramatic sweep of her hand to her chest.
Tarek tipped his head away from her and laughed.
“No. We both know I never ask permission for anything. Least of all for acting like the brute that I am.”
There was a beat of silence, and a faint vulnerability entered his voice as he avoided her direct gaze.
“Though I don’t like disappointing you, sister.”
“I don’t like disappointing you either,” Tala said somberly before shifting her stare toward the sandpit.