Page 51 of Only Flames Remain

“He has dark hair. Ebony—like a moonless night. So dark it’s almost blue. He’s tall, well over a head taller than me. His eyes are dark umber, almost black. The color of that liquor you like back in Lysvarin. He is broad, large wings the color of a raven.”

My gaze had fallen to my mug of ale as I spoke. When it drifted back to Enora once more, her expression was smug.

“So…what you’re telling me is that he is gorgeous?”

I shook my head, thoughts immediately traveling to Kallias. Kallias was fair, with blond hair and the same scratchy stubble. But he wasn’t…striking in the same way. His features were softer.

Where Kallias was gentle, Sorin was all sharp edges.

Kallias didn’t have that dangerous undertone that set alarm bells off in my mind the way Sorin did. My mouth opened to speak, but Enora interrupted me.

“Admitting he is handsome doesn’t mean you love Kallias any less.”

I took another sip, my face scrunching up. “Then yes, the prince is handsome.”

Before Enora could tease me further, a skirmish caught our attention. My gaze was drawn toward the bar at the back of the tavern. A tall Vireth fae with short, curly hair was engaged in an argument with a shorter Vireth with red, wiry hair. He grasped him by the front of his tunic and drew him close, whispering something into his ear. The other man shoved him off as his friends encircled him.

Tension was thick in the air as the crowd quieted to watch. It was moments away from breaking out into a physical brawl.

“That’s our cue to leave,” Enora said, downing the remainder of her ale in three enormous gulps.

My eyes widened but I did the same, forcing the burning liquid down.

I moved to stand, but the crowd had pushed forward to watch the fight as it escalated. They were now blocking our way out of the booth and to the exit. It was near impossible for me to slide out of the leather seat without knocking into someone.

“Excuse me.” My voice was small among the din of the crowd, even to my own ears. I cleared my throat, trying again. “Excuse me!” I moved to squeeze by the woman in front of me. As I stood, I was knocked backward, sprawling back against the sticky tavern floor.

My mouth curled in disgust as I drew to stand, my hands covered in a mysterious dark liquid.

“Aye! Look what we have here!” A man with short, cropped hair pointed. “I know you!”

I shook my head, gaze darting to Enora’s. “You must be mistaken. If you’ll excuse me…”

He slapped a hand against his leg, his ale sloshing over the rim of his mug to spill onto the floor before me. “You are that human! What’s her name…” He turned to his friend, snapping his fingers. “The human! You know the one.” He continued pointing as I pressed my skirts down, wiping the liquid from my skin and attempting to make myself small. Invisible.

I shook my head. “If you’ll excuse me.”

I felt Enora’s hand steady against my back, gently pressing me toward the exit. The moment I moved, the man’s hand shot forward quickly, grasping my upper arm tightly. I tried to step out of his grip without causing a scene.

“You’re hurting me,” I said through gritted teeth. “Please, sir. If you wouldn’t mind.”

“Elm! Look what I found here!” A group of more Vireth had gathered around us, their attention drawn from the earlier fight to the commotion now focused on us.

“Aye! I know her!”

“That’s her! Look!”

“Prince Kallias’s whore!”

“Isn’t she a pretty little thing! I say we take a turn with her…”

I recoiled, but the man wouldn’t let go of my arm.

Enora’s hand shot forward, attempting to pry his grip free. It was no use; he didn’t even budge. Not even beneath her superior Veytari strength. The man didn’t even cast a cursory glance in Enora’s direction. Her gaze flitted about the tavern, searching for help. There was only Vireth in every direction, and we were drawing more attention by the second.

“Please, sir. You have me confused with someone else…” I tried my best to make my voice sound commanding among the uproar of voices in the tavern, but it was futile.

He drew me toward him, pressing me against him as his other hand curved around my bottom.