Chapter Sixteen #3
“In five years, it’ll be all anyone knows this city as.”
“You’ve been saying that for ten,” Tristan said.
With a bay infested with merfolk, Austin seriously doubted that. “Not with you personally introducing it as the city of monsters.”
Hal considered that a moment, then smiled. “Austin,” he said with affection. “Would you join me for dinner?”
Austin tilted his head. Between his attire and his height, Hal should have been an imposing figure, but the effect was ruined by the dazzle of white in his dark hair.
“I like your crown,” Austin said.
Closer, he could see the individual white buds. He’d seen patches of the same flowers growing in the garden at Tristan’s estate, climbing the trellises near the kitchen.
“I think it would suit you well.”
Hal plucked it from his head and settled it atop Austin’s hair before Austin could so much as blink. “It’s lovely.”
Tristan made a sound of agreement.
Brilliant white clashed with Austin’s hair.
He snatched the thing off, scowling. Both brothers startled at his sharp movement.
Before Austin could say a word, Tristan rose and took the crown from him.
“You’re annoying him.”
He offered it back to Hal with obvious superiority.
“Kas looks quite annoyed too,” Austin added, bristling.
Hal, already out from behind the drape, startled and looked down at the courtroom. Kas was staring pointedly at him, and though Hal smiled, the terrible beauty did not return it. His mask had cracked open, and all his anger showed plainly.
Austin pointedly turned his face away from Hal.
“I’m tired.”
“Our carriage is ready for us.” Tristan seemed to consider it before offering his hand to Austin.
Ignoring Hal, Austin took Tristan’s hand, letting the merman hold him as he rose to his feet. But once standing, Austin dropped it and strode out ahead, Tristan catching up to walk by his side. Neither said a word until they were on the cusp of leaving the city.
Tristan broke the silence first. “You don’t like crowns?”
“Not white ones! My hair is silver, white makes it look grey.” Austin scowled.
“These colours would suit.” He gestured to the glittering blue sapphires embedded in his body jewellery.
“Or emerald green like Kas had on. A woven rose bush with green stalks and red flowers would do if I wanted to use plants, but not little delicate blossoms.” He fixed a glare on Tristan.
“Do I put you in mind of a delicate blossom?”
“I would not use the word ‘delicate’,” Tristan allowed.
“No, you’d use plain.”
Tristan pursed his lips. “I feared Hal would attempt to lure you to his palace had he learned of your beauty.”
“So I am both plain and easily lured. Did you also mention that in your letters?”
A gleam lit Tristan’s eyes. Austin felt the change in his aura: a shift from beseeching to taking. It made Austin want to flash his teeth and physically grapple the merman.
Tristan said nothing.
“How many people read that letter?”
Tristan’s gaze was so intent that Austin felt as though the merman wanted to grapple him. “Likely only Hal.”
The carriage shifted, and something hard bumped Austin’s wrist. He glanced down, but whatever it was had vanished against the black velvet seat. They’d passed out of the city, and there were no lights.
“It’s the jewellery you liked earlier. It’s in a dark box.” Tristan reached across and clicked open the container. He angled the contents toward the window. The white lace garter and silver jewellery shone ghostly pale in the dark.
“You can put it on me,” Austin said, deliberately imperious.
The tension in Tristan’s aura grew. It wasn’t annoyance.
He took the silver from the box, untying the lace garter at the back. Tristan considered it for a moment, then leaned in toward Austin’s neck.
“What are you doing!”
“What you asked.” Tristan’s voice was a predator’s purr in the dark. “Are you going to be contrary with me all night because you don’t like how I deflected my brother’s attention? Only an idiot would think I was being genuine in calling you plain.”
“It goes on my thigh,” Austin hissed.
Tristan paused. “Ah.” Then gruff and embarrassed, “I see.”
Austin practically vibrated in his seat. Plain. Easily lured. Idiot. If Austin mauled Tristan, the man would deserve it.
“Your thigh,” Tristan said, low, almost to himself. He carefully cupped Austin’s calf, lifted his leg, and placed it over his knee. “Ah, and I get to…” A happy hum burst free as careful fingers slid Austin’s shorts up. Gravity helped the soft fabric on its way. “Hm.”
Tristan manoeuvred Austin’s foot through the loop of silver and guided it to his thigh, then carefully tied the garter’s strings. The metal was cool against Austin’s skin. The lariat drop settled at mid-thigh.
“I see now why I annoyed you, suggesting you try it on at the stall,” Tristan said. His fingers slid slowly down Austin’s thigh, framing the chain as if it deserved admiration. “It suits you well. Dark blue, as you said. I’m sure rubies would be equally glorious on you.”
Plain. Easily lured. Idiot.
And glorious.
“Red does suit me.”