Page 72 of Black Crown

Dyter wants to be where he is.

My discomfort with the current situation simmered close to anger.Are you kidding me?Did you ask him properly?

I breathed in his face and asked him. So, yes.

I huffed with frustration, but I couldn’t argue with that.

Dyter glanced over at Tyrrik and offered a half-smile. “Don’t do anything stupid.”

“That’s it?” I asked.

Almost as if he could hear me, Dyter continued, “I guess we’re here for the night, so enjoy a little time off. Meet under the arch if things go awry or tomorrow at first light.”

I dropped the veil and hollered after Dyter, “Is that . . . wise?”

Only Tyrrik remained. I hadn’t even noticed Tiago disappear. I groaned. Was I the only one freaked out by this spawn show?

Ugh, what are we going to do to kill time?Seems like everyone else is playing cards. I stepped closer to Tyrrik as a scantily clad Azuli male brushed my side.I don’t want to leave them here in case something is afoot.Am I seriously the only one who thinks this is weird? Do you really believe we can’t leave until morning?

There are guards at the doors. The queen agreed to help, and there’s a lot of stimuli.Tyrrik dragged his finger down the back of my aketon and then tugged me closer. His heat radiated into the space between us, and like a moth to the flame, I inched back a little further.Want to find a corner?

I lifted my brows even though he couldn’t see. The crowd of people continued to writhe in their frenzied orgy, and I worried my eyes were going to pop out of my head. A lot ofstimuliwas an understatement. I took another step back until my body was flush with Tyrrik’s. Wiggling my butt I asked,A corner to do what?

He stilled behind me.To watch the room.

I pursed my lips, a little disappointed in his response.Oh yeah, that’s what I was thinking too.Or maybe play cards.Or dance the maypole.Everyone else is doing it so we should, too, right?

Tyrrik spun me to face him with his hands on my shoulders, and I tilted my head to peek up at him through my lashes. I grinned at his heated gaze. I rose up on my tiptoes, bringing my mouth closer to his, and asked, “Are you okay?”

No.

I brushed my lips down his jaw.Has anyone ever mentioned you become monosyllabic when you’re turned on?

He kneaded my back and nestled closer to me.It’s because all the blood leaves my head.

I snorted and then suppressed a laugh. I needed to stop playing cards, or I wouldn’t want to stop, and neither would Tyrrik. I wrenched myself back and rotated away from Tyrrik’s face, hearing him groan behind me. Risking my mental health, I stole a glance to Dyter and the Veraldian servant. And froze. My mouth dried, and panic thundered in my chest.

“Where’s Dyter?” I asked, spinning back to Tyrrik.

24

Tyrrik blinked as though trying to see through a fog, and then shook his head, the focus returning to his eyes in a moment. He glanced over the crowd, a much easier task for someone of his height, and frowned.

“Well?” I demanded, still scouring the throng of Azulis myself. “They said no one leaves until morning.”

I can’t see him, Tyrrik said.But have you considered that he’s gone to find a corner somewhere?Maybe he wanted privacy?

I don’t care.He doesn’t get to do things like that.And he wouldn’t.Not when we’re in a new place with dodgy people.

I sniffed the food, Ryn.There was nothing wrong with it.And she was from Verald.Maybe they’re just catching up on old times.

“Like how Irdelron was the spawn of evil?” I snapped. “Sorry, but nope. I don’t care if I see Dyter’s hairy butt,” I decided after chewing on my bottom lip. “I need to know he’s okay. He can play cards where I can see him if that’s what he wants to be doing.”

I glanced around the room at the rest of our party again and sighed. If we went to find Dyter, the others would be left unattended, and they were definitelynotbeing responsible. Crazy sex-show or not, I was done. I growled, “Let’s round the others up.”

“You go and get Dilowa,” Tyrrik said. “I’ll handle the others.”

“You mean you don’t want me to look at the naked male bodies of our group,” I grumbled, secretly relieved. Or not so secretly I supposed, thanks to the mate-bond.Bonded life.

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