Page 90 of Burning Ice
Mirel groaned. “Good Light.”
“Yes. I mean, his brother is the source of evil on this planet, but I didn’t save Theo just for him to end up with Aviel. When I tried talking to Moargan about it, he waved it off, saying it was an order given by his father. These Dariux – they’re crazy.”
They looked at each other and both burst out laughing. The sound loosened something in Mirel’s chest. Unexpected, breath-stealing warmth climbed through him, the kind of laugh that left him amazed that happiness could still fit inside him.
Cyprian set down the bottle. “Alright. Back to things we can change. The content of this bottle.”
“What is that?” Mirel eyed it suspiciously, the faint fizz tickling his nose with a sugary scent that made him wrinkle it.
“This is Kalla. Never heard of it? It’s delicious. Sweet. And there’s alcohol in it.”
“Alcohol?”
Cyprian frowned. “You’ve never drunk alcohol before?”
Mirel slowly shook his head.
“Well, then you’re about to experience something special. It’s a specialty from Tulniri, where I was raised.” Cyprian opened the cupboard, standing on the tips of his toes to reach two large flutes. He knocked one over, then swore when the rest came tumbling down.
Mirel’s hand shot out before he could think twice. Ice rose to the cupboard, holding the tumbling glasses in place. The reaction startled him more than the noise itself.
Cyprian turned over his shoulder. “Um, thank you? That’s incredible.”
Mirel flushed. Heat crept up his neck, a trace of the bond with Kylix still thrumming faintly under his skin. He shrugged. “It’s nothing.”
“Nothing? You’re amazing, Mirel. Just look at it. Shooting ice. You may have been hidden all those years, but since your arrival you’re all those cousins chat about in the Green Mansion.”
Really? Mirel wanted to ask, but he didn’t. Unease tightened his chest. Words locked up in his throat.
“Hey. I didn’t mean to make you feel uneasy.” Cyprian’s hand squeezed his. “But there’s no escaping me now. You’ve got to try the Kalla.”
The bottle opened with a loud pop and Mirel’s eyes darted from the cork that vanished into the air to the fizzy pink drink Cyprian poured into his glass.
“Congratulations, Mirel. To your bonding with the most terrifying soldier-boss-prince-man I’ve ever laid eyes on.” Cyprian grinned, then clinked his glass with Mirel’s.
“Um, thank you?” Mirel took a sip, then nearly choked on the sweetness and the fizz. Happiness bloomed up in his chest.
Cyprian smiled back, then laid a hand on Mirel’s. “Of course. Now, tell me about him. Kylix is like, mystery man. What’s he like?”
“He’s…” The words tangled with the Kalla and he swallowed them all away.
“Nice?”
“Hmm, not really.”
“Sweet?”
Mirel thought for a moment, then shook his head. “Not so much.”
Cyprian chuckled. “Okay… so what is he, Mirel? A beast in bed?”
Mirel flushed bright red. “N-no, I mean –”
“No?” Cyprian patted his hand. “I’m just kidding. But there’s got to be something good about him, right?”
“Yes.” Mirel exhaled through his nose, tapping his finger against the glass. His eyes flicked to the counter, then back to Cyprian. There was definitely something good about Kylix Zephyranth. The Imperial Prince was ruthless. A predator. Dominant, protective. And he had made Mirel safe in a way he had never believed he could be. He fed him, kept him warm, listened to him. Truly listened. And yes, being with Kylix, being chased by him, caught by him, being held in those strong arms, had made Mirel feel more desired than he had ever felt. That was a lot of feelings, but none his throat managed to share.
“I understand,” Cyprian said, voice soft. A quiet moment passed between them. The air thickened, full of words they both chose not to say.
