CHAPTER XIX #11
Stormfall glides overhead as we follow the main road west. We pass by a large crowd in the street that’s watching some sort of show, and unsurprisingly, I notice that everyone is sectioned off in their races.
Discerni men stand with their women, human husbands with their wives and kids.
Everyone is enjoying their night as normal, they’re just not enjoying it together as friends.
“We wouldn’t be able to stay here tonight anyways,” I sigh to Keane, shoulders pressing straighter as a Discerni man eyes the two of us together, “Golem chose to stay behind. Unless you want to take the trip down so I can grab his home. We can head back up again after.”
“No,” he says without emotion, eyes still on the road ahead, “your room is fine tonight.”
I sigh again and stop in my tracks, narrowing my own eyes on the back of his head. Keane turns around when he notices I’m not with him, stopping in the middle of the road as he lifts his brows.
“I have questions, Keane.”
I fold my arms in front of my chest as people pass by. Keane’s lips curve up into a tiny smile, his brown eyes becoming playful.
“I know you do, Alexis,” he nods in amusement, crossing his arms as well, “but we either have the questions out now and miss Cal’s fight, or later and make it there just in time. I’m pretty sure he’s beginning soon.”
My eyes narrow on the Prince as I huff in frustration.
I decide to start walking again, brushing my shoulder against his arm and earning me a pinch on my ass. I jump and look sideways at him with a narrowed gaze, reminding him of our deal.
“No touching, Your Highness.”
Keane shakes his head, his eyes alight and ready for the challenge. He falls back in step with a large smirk on his lips as we take a shortcut to Drinker’s Row.
“You heard my conversation with the Old Boy’s Club,” I note, turning a corner of the pathway and greeting the main road again.
“Yes,” he grins, “you handled them nicely.”
I nod, thinking of the new Lord that graced Sir Miles’ table tonight. “What do you know of Lord Alexander? Of Mare.”
Keane looks at me in question, his eyes curious, “not much.”
“Perhaps you should,” I reply softly, thinking how the Discerni Lord wanted to engage with the older men at the table, “he may be like-minded.”
Keane nods in understanding, “I’ll meet with him while we’re here. As will Desmond. But what of you and Daniel?” he asks, looking down at me curiously again, “you two looked to be in the full crux of your conversation before we arrived.”
“We were,” I reply, adding nothing more. I tilt my head up and watch Stormfall take a steep leap into the sky before disappearing behind the building.
Keane narrows his eyes on my quiet gaze, his voice stern, “tell me, Alexis.”
I sigh.
What do I tell him?
That another man resonated so perfectly with my thoughts on the Ancient? That he inquired into my wants and needs?
I stay quiet as we turn another corner, spotting the three-story tavern that’s hosting Cal’s fight for the night. Keane makes a hard stop in his walk and grabs my hand, pulling me back to his side with a tug as my heart leaps against my chest.
“Tell me, Alexis,” he repeats coolly.
He takes a small step forward, letting his full chest and shoulders hover over mine. The angles of his face are sharp and foreboding, his brown eyes alight with an emotion I can’t discern. He tugs on my hand again when I don’t say a word, pulling me straight into his chest.
Ancients, is this jealous Keane?
And Ancients, why does it turn me on?
A rough breath escapes my chest, but I decide not to lie. I won’t fabricate mine and Daniel’s conversation or the emotions that came from it.
“I told him everything,” I tell him quietly, “and at the end, Lord Daniel inquired into me...”
Keane’s gaze turns hard, his hold on my hand becoming possessive as I look into his tense brown eyes. I take another deep breath and angle my shoulders proud, not ashamed of Daniel’s advances nor of our shared feelings.
“He shares the same sentiment as I do with the Ancient. I think his exact words were destiny be damned when I told him about Stormfall and Hirovale…”
I grin, feeling the words come out of my heart, “he inquired into me, Keane. Asked what I wanted, what he could do to assist with that. He was the first person to ask of my feelings on the situation. To ask about how I felt about it all. He was the first person willing to let the full of my story go to waste if I didn’t want to go along with it… ”
Keane remains silent, his features as cool and collected as the night around us. But I know it’s a facade, know that he’s hiding behind the mask of indifference as he takes in my words and considers what they mean to me.
“Perhaps it’s because I’m with you all so often that you already see my hesitation.
I know you’re aware of how I feel about the situation, how I battle with it…
” I twist my hand and wrap his fingers in mine, “but Lord Daniel was a surprise tonight that I didn’t know I needed.
An ally whose words matched some of my unspoken thoughts. ”
Keane grips my fingers tightly, sliding them within his as he finally grimaces, breaking that cool facade.
He doesn’t like my answer, but he gives me a small nod as his other hand reaches up to the side of my jaw.
I push my head into his embrace and hear him let out a deep breath, his brown eyes turning soft.
“I’m sorry I haven’t inquired more, Alexis,” he says quietly, “I trust you know that I will stand by you no matter what decision you make for your future.”
“I know it,” I nod into his hand, “I’ve known it since the first meeting we had with the Ancient in Fumagalli. You stood before me in protection, Keane.”
“Always.”
“And I also want you to know that I hear you when you ask for me to give the Ancient more time…”
“Good,” he replies, grasping my hand tighter as he pulls my body completely into his. His hand on my jaw angles me upwards, wanting to claim my lips.
“Not until Gaumond,” I smile sadly.
I pull away and take a step back, watching as Keane releases my hand with a scowl. His features return again to their Discerni indifference, his emotions closing off faster than a single blink.
“I hate that face,” I whisper quietly, turning back to the road.
The building to Cal’s fight is loud and boisterous from the outside, with many people clamoring to get in as I start walking in its direction.
I only stop when I notice Keane isn’t following beside me, and turn to find him still standing in the middle of the road, though his features are now taunt and tense.
The Prince has his eyes closed and brows furrowed as if he’s looking at something in his mind that he doesn’t wish to see.
I swiftly walk back to him and take his hand in mine, glancing up in question as he remains that way for a few moments.
Is he looking at something right now? Someone? Is he locating?
Keane swiftly opens his eyes as his features turn hard.
“Something has happened at the castle.”
I open my mouth to ask questions, but he just turns his broad shoulders away from the tavern and takes a large step back to the side alleyway from where we came. He pulls my hand with him and takes off in a run, the two of us clamoring down the road as my stomach knots in nervousness.
“Keane,” I will him to slow down, unable to keep up with his Discerni speed.
I try to release my hand from his but his mind is elsewhere, not hearing my call.
He keeps his eyes trained on the road ahead and continues to pull me forward, his hand gripping mine relentlessly and nearly making me stumble with each step.
Keane guides us into the main road, my feet clattering against the stone beneath me and ready to fall at any moment. I truly can’t keep up with him and yank my hand hard from his, feeling as he releases me with hesitation before finally turning around.
“I can’t keep up with you,” I shake my head, breathing hard, “what’s going on, Keane?”
Keane takes a hard step forward and grabs my hand again.
“Alexis,” he scowls, “I need you to run with me as fast as you can
back to the castle. If you can’t, then I will carry you.”
“What? No, Keane.”
He’s not carrying me through the Palisades.
I pull my hand from his again, needing it for myself while I run. “I will keep up. Just tell me, Keane, what’s going on?”
Keane looks over me in quick assessment, his face set in deep anxiety as Stormfall circles above his head.
“It’s my father,” he replies quietly, his voice uneasy.