Page 74 of Blood So Brutal

Ah, the power of a few ales.

“You look worried,” he started. He leaned toward me and lowered his voice as he said, “Word around the street is that you were sent to Scarlata not too long ago. Anything noteworthy we should know about?”

Normally, I would shut him up immediately, push away any conversation of the blood kingdom in public. Nowhere was safe to discuss such things with him, not even here.

But I was tired. I was frustrated. And I was growing damn tired of keeping secrets. “We were there for a day or two,” I answered. “Same as usual.”

He waited for more, but even he knew I couldn’t say much. The chattering of the pub lowered.

When I didn’t say anything else, Nathan added, “I also hear a celebration is in order.”

“A celebration?”

A large, stupid grin spread across his dark face. “You’re getting married.” He broke out in laughter, and dammit, he almost made me forget what was so bad about the entire thing.

Yes, I was getting married.

If only it was under better circumstances.

“That I am,” I said. I clinked my mug against his when he held it out. “In a few days, I’ll be a married man.”

“She must be a very special girl if she can chain down the infamous Wolf Jasper.”

I wanted to smile, but my chest ached at the thought. “Yeah,” I mumbled. “Yeah, she is special. More special than anyone could imagine.” I didn’t tell him how terrified I was. I didn’t tell him that I was very close to losing my shit entirely.

No, I let him buy me another drink, let him clasp my shoulder once or twice more, let him tell jokes of our past and dull the thoughts in my mind.

I wasn’t sure how much time passed, but the sun no longer filtered through the piece of fabric we called the door. Fewer and fewer conversations filled the air around us. Nathan’s words began to slur until I was certain he was just as drunk as I was.

In fact, when he started elbowing me in the ribs, I thought he was just falling out of his seat.

“Wolf, look.”

The room blurred together as I lifted my gaze to the front of the bar.

My stomach dropped.

Huntyr walked ahead of Jessiah, eyes wide and hair a mess. She glanced around the entire room—which only consisted of two or three other parties—before her eyes landed on me.

She stiffened.

The smile fell from her face.

I barely noticed Nathan moving away from my side to greet my brother. My eyes were too focused on Huntyr.

She stood still for a few more seconds, not moving at all, before finally taking one step in my direction.

Then another.

Her wings were hidden now, summoned away. Good, because everyone in this tavern would have dropped to their knees at the sight of those glorious things. She made her way over to me, though, and I took a deep breath of her.

Wind and cherries.

Fucking addicting.

“I didn’t expect to see you here,” she said. She stood at the bar beside my tall stool, her arm just barely brushing against mine.

“How was flying?” I asked. Maybe she’d forgotten she was angry at me. Maybe, by the grace of the fucking goddess, she’d understand why it was all so important we let Asmodeus think he was winning.

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