Page 204 of The Call of Crimson
“And you’re just now telling me about it?” Breyla asks, voice dripping in disbelief.
I shrug. “I didn’t know you enjoyed dancing so much until recently, so why would I have told you?”
Breyla scrunches her nose in confusion.
“Are we going or not?” I ask, trying to move this conversation along. “We haven’t got all day.”
Elijah’s eyes meet mine, and a look of understanding passes between us at just how true those words are.
He jumps to his feet, pulling Ophelia with him. Breyla is up next and already striding for the door. The rest of our group joins them, pulling fur-lined cloaks around their shoulders as they go.
“Go ahead with Breyla, doll,” Elijah tells Ophelia. “I need to grab something first.”
I stop beside him as the others disappear into the corridor. He turns to me, all traces of playfulness gone.
“A word, prince.”
“Of course.”
When the door clicks shut behind the others, he turns to me. “I want to thank you.”
I raise a curious brow at him. “Whatever for?”
“For everything you’ve done and will do to protect them.”
I stiffen at his words, not fully understanding his meaning. “I don’t follow.”
“I know, but you will,” he says with a half-smirk.
“And they call me cryptic,” I say sarcastically.
His smirk fades, voice dropping into something quieter. “Take care of her. Or so help me, I will find a way to haunt your ass.”
“She’s my fiancée. Of course, I will take care of her.”
“That’s not the she I was referring to.”
Oh.
“What aren’t you saying?”
“A great many things, Prince. But I leave you with this: there is room enough in her heart for two great loves. Don’t be the one to stifle that.”
“You have grown frustratingly vague in your old age,” I try to joke, but it falls flat.
“Come on, let’s go catch up with them. I don’t want to miss a thing.” He clasps my shoulder, ushering us forward and out the door.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
BREYLA
By the time we reach the tavern, my cheeks are flushed from the biting winter wind. It’s all worth it, though, if it provides a night of dancing with the people that mean the most to me. I hadn’t realized how deeply I’d missed Elijah and Ophelia until they arrived yesterday.
The tavern is warm and lively when the eight of us enter. I was surprised to see Darian relaxing with us today, considering the stick that seemed to be permanently present in his ass. When he followed us out to the tavern, my jaw nearly hit the floor.
Darian trails Rowina, a hand on her lower back, to the bar to order drinks as we settle in a booth along the wall. It’s warm enough that we can comfortably peel off the fur-lined cloaks and gloves. Dark wood paneling lines the walls, but paired with the gentle gleam of Faerie lights, it creates a very cozy environment.
I slide in next to Elijah, Ayden taking the seat on my right side, followed by Aurelius. As promised, a group of musicians occupies a raised area in the corner.
