Page 86 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

The ale never stopped flowing as we all sat around the table.

As we sat, talked, and laughed, I realized I didn’t think I’d ever had a group of friends. I had my siblings and Luce growing up—and they were who I spent the majority of my time with. But they were my family—not friends I made outside of the palace. I didn’t have any friends outside the palace walls. Not unless barmen counted.

I had acquaintances. I participated in idle chit-chat with visiting males and females, but once we returned to our perspective homes we didn’t talk to one another. We did our duty and returned to our perspective lives. And it wasn’t on them. It was on me too. I didn’t try to pursue those relationships—or any relationships. Platonic or romantic. Any romantic relationship I pursued ended before they or I could get attached.

Maybe my issues were more deep-rooted than I had thought.

I had never felt left out—I had never craved those relationships since I had my siblings.

But now, after sitting around this table tonight laughing and drinking with my friends—I thought for the first time I might have been missing out on something all this time.

These people—they all knew me to various degrees—and yet they were still here. They knew me and still wanted to be myfriend and spend time with me.

They would follow me into darkened allies and kill the enemy without question.

Who did that?

Friends, I guess.

“Let’s play a game,” Nico suggested as Luka appeared with another round of drinks. This time another tray of shots along with our ale.

“What game?” Kara finished off her glass and reached for another.

“It has to be something simple,” Declan amended. “None of you have the wherewithal for anything else right now.”

I laughed. He had a point, I didn’t think any of us could handle anything too serious right now. Declan on the other hand had hardly touched his second drink.

“Hey.” Kara shoved him slightly. “Are you saying I’ve had too much to drink?”

“No. But if I take your money in this situation it would feel like stealing.”

“Let’s bet on something else,” Luce suggested. “We play a simple game of whoever has the highest card wins and the lowest card loses. If you lose the draw you either have to answer a question from the winner of the round or take a shot.”

“I’m in,” Nico said immediately, shuffling the cards before placing one in front of each of us, not giving us a chance to argue.

I picked up my card. A six. Not too bad, but not enough to make me feel comfortable about my odds.

“Flip your cards in three, two, one…”

We all flipped our cards and I looked around the table eagerly.

“Dammit,” Nico swore while Luce clapped eagerly. “Looks like I get to ask you a question.”

Nico leaned back. “Bring it on, Lucy.”

Luce debated for a minute before asking her question, “What’s hidden in your bedside table?”

Nico’s eyes widened, his mouth falling open. “How do you know about that?”

Luce grinned widely. “I walked in on you one morning and you were in an awful big rush to hide whatever’s in there from me.”

We all looked at Nico expectantly. “You’re no longer my favorite.” He pointed a finger at Luce. “But I am no quitter. So if you all must know, I sleep with a stuffed wolf every night, that’s what I was hiding in my drawer.”

Luka choked on his drink as I failed to stifle a laugh. “How is this the first I’m hearing of this?”

“Awe, how cute,” Declan added, a small smirk pulling up one side of his mouth.

“Adorable,” Kara cooed.

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