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“Two drinks,” I compromised, and she hooted.
“Sold!”
“You two sound like a couple of hyenas back here.” All of my ease dissipated with the sound of Jergin’s reproving tone. “Keep it down!”
I averted my eyes. “Sorry, Jergin.”
But like all good things, there was always a gray cloud hovering overhead. And at Maximo’s, Jergin was it.
“Screw you, Jergin,” Tristian mumbled under her breath, ignoring our boss entirely. She lifted her head and continued to work on her face, but I caught the gleam in her eye, as if she were conjuring a spell. My hand reached out to stop her from doing any damage. The last time, he had suspended her for three days, and I didn’t like being at Maximo’s without her—amusing as her retaliations could be.
“There are fans out there who want to come and meet some of you,” Jergin went on. “How would it look if they came in and heard you cawing and hooting like a bunch of crows?”
I swallowed and hung my head apologetically. “You’re right. We’ll keep it down.”
But Jergin wasn’t finished with his diatribe, and I glanced at Tristiana, who mouthed something I couldn’t understand.
Oh, no. She’s casting a spell…
“Are you aware that King Nyx is here tonight?” the manager asked. Tristiana’s mouth clamped shut before Jergin could wet his pants or start doing an involuntary pirouette.
“I just heard, yes.” I wished Tristiana would jump in and save me from the conversation.
“Imagine what he would think if he had to hear you two.”
“Okay, Jergy, we get the picture,” Tristiana finally said. “Shit. She apologized. What else do you want? A kidney?”
Jergin ignored her, much to my surprise. Usually, his quick temper would have him insulting her, and a small battle would ensure, allowing me time to sneak away to safety. But tonight, Jergin was focused on me. For the first time, I noticed a peculiar gleam in his eyes, as if he were looking at me for the first time.
“Have you met the king before, Maren?” he asked. I almost laughed, but when I realized he was serious, my brow wrinkled, and I shook my head vehemently.
“When? How? No… I wouldn’t really have any occasion to meet King Nyx,” I fumbled, wondering if he was taunting me.
“Hm.”
Tristiana and I exchanged a look.
“Hm, what, Jergin?” Tristiana barked.
“It’s just that Maren seems to have left quite an impression on him.”
A shiver rushed down my spine, and I gaped at my boss. “What does that mean?”
“He enjoyed your performance tonight.”
“Oh…” My cheeks were on fire, and I didn’t know where to look. Tristiana leered at me while Jergin peered at me like I was a bug under a microscope. “Tell him I said thank you?”
I didn’t know what else to say.
“No,” Jergin replied with a grunt. “I won’t be doing that.”
“You’re such a prick, Jergin,” Tristiana growled. “Go away, so we can get dressed. Everyone’s waiting for us.”
“You’re going to tell him yourself,” Jergin continued, as if my friend hadn’t been speaking. “He’s expecting you to meet him in his box in fifteen minutes.”
At first, the words didn’t quite register, and I merely stared at Jergin. It was Tristiana who squealed and snapped me back to the present. “The King wants to meet Maren? In person?”
“Keep your moo-cow voice down!” Jergin hissed. “Have you no discretion whatsoever?”
