Page 30 of The Last Wish of Bristol Keats
This was met with a flurry of snorts and curses.
An evil glint lit Rose’s dark eyes. “I’d like to see him try.”
“Who knows what might have happened if you all hadn’t been there,” Bristol said. “I was never so happy to see anyone in my life.”
Avery’s brows pulled together. “How did he know Maire was your mother?”
“A slip. I mentioned my father, and he put two and two together.”
“It shouldn’t matter who your parents are,” Sashka said. “You saved his fucking neck.”
“Yes, she did.”
The voice came out of nowhere, and they all jumped and turned.
CHAPTER 22
Tyghan stepped out of the shadows, flushed and breathless. He was speechless for a long graceless moment when they startled and stared. He felt like he had intruded on a private party. Which he had.
“I’m sorry to interrupt. I’ve been looking all over for you, and I—” His eyes froze on Bristol, and in a few fast steps, he crossed the plaza and pulled her from her seat into his arms, his trajectory unstoppable, like his heart would stop beating if he couldn’t hold her immediately. “Bristol,” he whispered into her hair. “I was worried.” One arm circled her waist and the other rubbed her back, trying to take in every inch of her—or maybe reassure himself that there was no wound from his brother’s knife.
“It’s okay, Tyghan,” she whispered. “I’m here.”
“I just needed to see for myself that you were all right.” He eased his grip and, forgetting they had an audience, kissed her, long and deep.
“Oh please, you two,” Sashka moaned. “Get a room.”
Tyghan released her and whispered to Bristol, “A room?”
“I’ll explain later,” she answered.
“We were just discussing you, Your Majesty,” Hollis interjected, lounging sideways, one leg slung over the arm of the chair, a large goblet sloshing precariously in her hand. “And how after today, we all deserve ruby-studded stords.”
“Swords,” Rose corrected.
“And the title of knight,” Avery boldly added.
The others concurred with affirming hoots.
“And a special squad title,” Julia said.
“Likeelite?” Hollis replied. They all fell into limp laughter.
Tyghan stared at them, surprised. He guessed the empty flasks on the table had something to do with their loosened tongues. He regained his composure, moving from worried lover to the much easier role of stern Knight Commander. He slowly scrutinized each one, his icy gaze resting first on Avery, and circling until he came back to Sashka, who seemed to sober under his stare.
Then he nodded. “I agree. You’ve earned that much and more. I’ll have Cully attend to it immediately. You’ll have your swords and titles by tomorrow.”
There was a brief moment of stunned silence, and then a round of cheers.
“And you’ll also get an apology from my brother. As you might imagine, he’s not well after all he’s been through. I’ve had a talk with him, and he’s remorseful. There will be no executions.” He turned toward Bristol. “He’s especially sorry for holding a knife to your throat when he should have showered you with gratitude.”
Bristol’s chin angled to the side, and a suspicious brow rose. “He said all that, huh?”
“Maybe I’m paraphrasing a bit.”
“What you mean is, you threatened to knock out his teeth if he didn’t apologize.”
Tyghan shifted feet. “Probably more like that.”
