Page 81 of The Eye of the Fifth
He would not admit it audibly, but it was for her, for the sacrifices she had made for the oppressed, that he was about to embark on this journey that had the potential to destroy him.
Sunsi was a leader. She deserved to see her people freed. For his sins, he would give her that.
In the near-darkness, he reached out and wrapped his fingers around hers. They were gloved in leather and the movement seemed to surprise her, but her own hand closed around his. With the gentle squeeze that followed, he knew nothing more needed to be said.
Up and out of the Base, Gedeon followed her, closing the obscure hatch and carefully creeping up the narrow staircase that creaked beneath his feet.
The tavern should have been deserted by now, Sunsi had told him. All patrons should have finished their last tankards of ale and been well on their way to stumbling back to their homes.
But as she opened the door at the top of the staircase that led to the taproom, Sunsi froze.
A weight dropped through Gedeon’s stomach as a familiar, drawling voice rang through the deadened air: ‘I hope you do not mind the late hour, Captain. It has been a rather tiring couple of weeks and I found myself in need of a drink.’
It was then that Gedeon realised Sunsi did not just lead the Base, butownedThe Flaming Falcon above. It made sense, for the Base to be underneath the tavern, for there to be a direct access from such a high profile place, glaringly blatant yet overlooked.
Hiding in plain sight.
Sunsi recovered herself quickly, and walked out of the cellar as though seeing the crown prince in her establishment was a very ordinary thing. ‘By all means, Your Majesty,’ she said, immediately moving with ease to fill Sekun’s empty tankard with ale.
‘Drink with me,’ Gedeon heard his brother order her. ‘I don’t like to drink alone.’
Gedeon moved as quietly as he could to the top of the staircase, Sekun in clear view sitting at the bar. He looked as though he may have been drinking for a while, his gaze lazy yet intensely watching Sunsi’s every move.
‘Surely you would prefer to drink with your wife in the comfort of your own home?’ suggested Sunsi calmly, pouring a small amount of mead into a fresh goblet for herself, then rested against the wall behind the bar, as though to put as much distance between herself and Sekun as possible.
‘The Duchess Ysabell does not enjoy my drinking,’ Sekun said with a slight sneer. ‘What does a male have if he cannot drink with his own wife?’
‘You are the crown prince of Zarynth,’ Sunsi reminded him. ‘You have everything.’
‘Everything,’ Sekun repeated. He took a long sip of ale. ‘Not quite everything.’
Sunsi did not deign to respond.
Cocking his head to one side and leering at her as though she were a particularly succulent slab of meat he was seconds away from devouring, Sekun said, ‘There is one thing I have wanted for quite some time.’
Gedeon’s stomach lurched, and it was all he could do to not throw himself at his brother for the repulsive suggestion.
Sunsi stilled. ‘You forget yourself.’
‘Perhaps,’ Sekun agreed, then sighed heavily. ‘Still, I cannot seem to ignore my desires.’ He stood, the bar stool scraping the floorboards with a disturbing screech.
Emanating a danger as only a predator could, he stalked around the bar, closing the distance between himself and his prey. His hand came up, and the backs of his ringed fingers gently caressed Sunsi’s face. His own was mere inches from hers, his voice low as he said, ‘Will you do me the honour, captain? I know you harbour a softness for royal blood. I can… fill the void my brother has left.’
Sunsi’s expression hardened as she deliberately moved her face away from his hand. ‘There is novoid. The ale has addled your senses, Your Majesty. Perhaps it is time for you to seek your bed where yourwifeawaits you.’
Sekun only drew closer, laughing. ‘Are you not a servant of the crown?’ Gedeon could not see his brother’s face, but he could hear thecreeping smile in his voice with his next words, ‘Iamthe crown, Sunsi Norre.’
Grabbing the back of her neck, Sekun pulled her close and grazed his lips over her ear. ‘Perhaps my traitorous brother will come out of hiding when he hears that I have had his woman.’
Then he forced his mouth upon hers.
Red hot, furious fire flushed through Gedeon.
His brother broke the forced kiss and tilted his head to one side, his nose at her throat. He inhaled deeply.
Marking her scent.
Sunsi recoiled, but the grip around her neck was too tight.
