Page 26 of The Sweetest Lies
But tonight, I don’t care.
Or should I say, my wine does not fucking care.
“I’m actually having a nice time. I’ll be staying for now,” I say with a smile I don’t even have to force. I should smile more often.
I’m good at it.
All that fake practicing has definitely paid off.
That same stupid smile stays in place even as Zilo’s glare hardens.
“Your aura is gorgeous when you're happy, Cers,” Grandma says between knitting and pretending to mind her own business.
Aww. Avian thinks my aura is pretty.
That stupid smile intensifies.
“Go inside. Please.” Zilo’s cutting tone is razor sharp.
Which is funny because he’s normally so damn dull.
“I don’t think I will,” I say before emptying my glass with a large gulp that leaves me refreshed and relaxed.
“Cersia.” Zilo growls like he’s alpha.
I’m alpha, bitch. My chin lifts, and I have to lift my head unnaturally high to even slightly look down my nose at him. I give him my best superior glance, but a hiccup slips out at the last second, and all that wine makes a reappearance and stings at the back of my throat before I swallow it back down.
“Ew.” I shake it off. “You know, maybe now is a good chance for me to spend some quality time with Nyra.”
Both men’s heads swivel fast toward my sister among the beautiful elite hell fae swaying to the beat of the drums.
“Not right now,” Avian whispers gently.
“Maybe I’ll see if Roman needs me.”
Zilo doesn’t even look toward his friend, who is walking side by side with the queen toward the castle doors. “Fuck no,” he says instantly.
“Maybe I’ll practice finding out what my beast is.”
“You mean that naked thing you do. No. Probably not the best time,” Avian adds.
“Then maybe I’ll go to my fucking room.” I slice the both of them with a look, and there’s a second of stunned confusion that lingers between them.
“Uh... yeah. I mean, if you want.” Avian nods slowly. Zilo also nods, but one of his dark eyebrows lifts high as he studies me with suspicion in his gaze.
I don’t say goodnight to either one of them. In fact, I intentionally pass them by without a second glance.
Because as soon as I’m out of sight, I scamper down the garden’s maze of shrubs. I tiptoe over the smooth cobblestones beneath my boots, and when the laughter and merriment is louder than before, I stop. And shove my hands through the thick, scraping shrubs to peek through. From within the poking branches, I spot my sister leaning into Vanitee.
The points of the glittering black wings at Vanitee’s back glimmer in the moonlight. Sometimes I forget how pretty they are until I’m not thinking about how much I hate her.
Like now, as I stare at the two of them. They each wear a faint smile that matches the other’s. They’re... happy together. Much happier than I ever remember Nyra being in a long, long time.
I... I should let her have this moment. My questions can wait.
She deserves happy.
Everyone deserves that minimal gift of peace in their life.
