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Ten minutes later, Killian found himself roaming the streets of De Vesalis with Sera.
“See?” she cried, spreading her arms wide. “Isn’t this wonderful?”
Killian grunted a reply. It was far from wonderful in his opinion, with the drunk and rowdy tourists stumbling around. The roads smelled of vomit and ale, and the heat only made it worse.
“Oh, cheer up,” Sera urged him. “This might be your only chance to party in the City of Vice.”
Killian hoped she was right.
“This place looks fun!” Sera exclaimed, pointing to a tavern painted in black and red. A voluptuous woman stood outside in little more than lingerie, inviting patrons in.
“I don’t think—”
But before Killian could voice his disinterest, Sera had taken him by the hand and whisked him down the street.
“You’re just in time,” the lingerie-clad woman purred as they approached. “The dancers start soon.”
Oh, gods. Not dancers.
Sera looked absolutely delighted. She practically squealed as she pulled Killian into the dark tavern. It was difficult to see as they made their way to a table, but Killian couldn’t miss the women parading around serving drinks. They all wore corsets and undergarments, and there was a woman for every taste and fetish. Tall, thin, curvy, dark, pale—he even spotted a woman with a shaved head.
They settled down at a table in the corner, and Killian tried desperately to find a place to direct his attention that didn’t involve half-naked women. He feigned interest in the decor of the tavern, his eyes wandering from the black walls to the fine woodwork of the bar to the high ceilings. Long silken ropes dangled from the ceiling, but he couldn’t pinpoint their purpose.
“What’ll you have to drink, darling?”
A waitress with fiery-red hair had approached the table while Killian was busy studying the room. Her lips were painted to match her hair, and her scarlet corset was stark against her pale skin.
“Honey mead for me,” Sera ordered sweetly.
Killian cleared his throat and made sure to look directly in the waitress’s eyes as he said, “An ale.”
“Coming right up,” she replied with a wink and a toss of her hair.
As soon as she walked away, a handful of musicians began playing a seductive melody, and a commotion stirred above them. Killian looked up to see several lithe bodies strutting across a catwalk that ran the length of the ceiling—bodies that were entirely covered in paint. Each woman was painted a different color, and upon closer inspection…
Of course they’re nude.
Sera clapped excitedly as the women hoisted themselves onto the ropes hanging from the ceiling and began twisting their bodies in a choreographed rhythm. They moved with a precision and athleticism that rivaled that of Killian’s former soldiers, and he couldn’t help but be impressed. It might have been beautiful had they not been suspended directly over the patrons.
“Do you think I could learn to do that?” Sera asked, her eyes wide as she tracked the dancers’ movements.
Killian smiled wryly. “Well, you got me to come here, so I’d say you’re capable of doing just about anything.”
Sera glanced at him long enough to shoot him a smile before reverting her attention back to the dancers.
“One honey mead, and one house ale,” the waitress announced as she returned to their table. She set their drinks down and sashayed back into the crowd before Killian could ask to settle the bill.
Sera raised her chalice and indicated for Killian to do the same. He lifted his stein, and Sera clinked their drinks together. “To Elyse,” she said somberly, “whose sacrifice shall not be taken lightly.”
Killian shifted uncomfortably—likely Sera’s intention—but he drank to the toast. As much as he hated to admit it, Elyse’s decision to turn herself in was noble. It could never undo the damage that she’d done, the lives that she’d taken and the hurt she’d caused him, but it was the best possible outcome of the whole mess.
Still, as he took in Sera’s solemn expression, he couldn’t help but feel swallowed by empathy. For all her faults, Elyse had brought happiness to Sera, and others—Corin, Nina, and Privya to name a few. He wondered what a world without Elyse would be like.
It would be empty, his heart screamed at him, but he pushed the thought away.
He forced himself to relax, reclining slightly in his chair. The ale helped, its hearty flavor more delicious than he had expected. He was just starting to feel at ease when across the tavern, a silver-haired beauty caught his attention.
Chapter 30
