Page 50 of Only Flames Remain

The flapping of nearby wings sent me into a crouch, bracing my hands against the stone beneath me to balance.

Enora doubled over cackling. “I’m sure it was only a bat.”

“We are in Gothryn for gods’ sake,” I reminded her.

Her eyes cast skyward as she searched the darkness. “Good point.”

She grasped my arm and brought me closer to her side. We stuck close to the buildings, safely tucked beneath the overhangs and awnings of the shingled roofs. An unfamiliar sensation filled my gut, unease clenching tightly in my chest. It felt as if we were being watched.

“We need to get off the street,” I told her.

She grasped my hand and all but dragged me as we ducked into the nearest open doorway. It was a tavern, the smell of ale filling my nostrils and the raucous laughter of its patrons drowning out any sounds haunting the midnight air. The room was filled with tables and booths, the bar running along the back wall crowded with patrons. I followed Enora as she made her way through the bustling crowd.

Enora didn’t draw any attention with her pointed ears, but many faces turned my direction as we passed through the throng of fae. I pulled my dark hair in front of my shoulders, effectively concealing my rounded ears from prying eyes. From the looks of it, this didn’t appear to be a place that humans frequented.

This bar was filled with Vireth.

I swallowed hard, biting back my apprehension as I sidled up next to Enora at the bar. She ordered two drinks, and while the barkeep gave us a long, unnerving stare, she did serve us. We took the ale gratefully and made our way toward one of the empty booths on the left-hand side of the tavern.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted,” Enora said, falling against the burgundy leather of the seat and letting out a humorless laugh.

“Tell me about it,” I replied, doing the same.

The first sip of ale was smooth as honey going down the back of my throat, a pleasant burn blooming in my chest. I had expected the summer night to remain warm as it did in Myros. The air tonight remained balmy and humid while a chilled breeze pulled in from the north.

My gaze drifted around the bar, interested in cataloging the differences between our two kingdoms. Gothryn had proven to be a much wealthier kingdom thus far, even if Ravenwood was a small town to form the basis of any observations. This town, and this kingdom, were vastly different from Majur. Of that much I was certain.

A blush flushed my cheeks as I noticed a Vireth fae with a human draped across his lap, his lips pressed to her neck. It was odd seeing him feed like that, right out in the open. I hadn’t assumed that was typical behavior. It still felt as if it were something that should occur behind closed doors.

I met Enora’s gaze, and she gave me a knowing smile over the top of her ale that only just turned up the corner of her lips. I took a hearty sip before returning the heavy mug to the tabletop.

“I didn’t find everything I needed tonight,” I told her.

“But did you find enough for…you know.”

I cast her a warning glare.

We didn’t know who could be listening. Despite the deafening roar of the drunk patrons, Vireth hearing would allow anyone close by to eavesdrop on our conversation easily.

I shook my head. “None of this will work for that. It has to be…unexpected. Something that has no indication that it came from Myros. I would prefer Larkspur or Oleander. I am not sure they are native to Gothryn, though. I need time to study. Perhaps you could help with that during your time in the library. If I have free time during the daylight hours, I would like to go out and explore. Potentially harvest what I can find. Though, I am not sure what my current commitments look like to the crown prince…schedule wise.”

Enora scooted closer to me, leaning over the table between us with her hands tight around her own mug. “What is he like?”

I took another sip to buy me time as I thought. “Arrogant. Unexpected. But…elegant, in a way. Very refined and controlled. His presence is…commanding. He is also quite the neat freak.”

“Really?” she asked, drawing closer, “tell me more.”

I shrugged. “There isn’t much more to tell. I’ve only cleaned his room once. I did meet his sister which was…unexpected. He had a human waiting for him as I was leaving to retire for the night.”

Enora’s eyebrow shot up. “How scandalous.”

“I didn’t expect him to hide his comings and goings from me. What does he have to hide after all? He is Vireth and the crown prince. He requires blood to live.”

“But was she…” Enora waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

“Yes. She was, indeed, a courtesan—if that is what you are asking.”

Enora smirked. “What does he look like? I haven’t yet seen any of the Blackwater princes.”