AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No, you don’t.”
I meet her eyes.
“The truth is, I’m a woman who loves a challenge. And here was this man, coming into my palace, acting as if he were untouchable. I mean, he literally didnotwant to be touched. Wouldn’t even shake my hand!” Her head moves side to side in disbelief. “So, sure, I flirted with him, and I invited him tomy room. And he stopped by…but do you want to know what happened?”
“I don’t need the details,” I mutter. The nerve of her.
“When he came to my room, he told me he wasn’t going to sleep with me. In fact, he specifically came to my room torejectme.”
My eyes stretch and my jaw drops a bit. “Wait…so, nothing happened?”
“Other than a long, long chat about the things he was going to change about Blackwater, nothing happened. But I can tell you what happened for me?”
“What?”
“I developed a deep respect for Caz that night. Never had a man been so certain about what hedidn’twant. I always come across these arrogant men boasting about the things they have, or the things they want or can steal, but never a man who is so passionate about what doesn’t interest him.” She huffs a laugh, as if tickled by the thought. “It’s how I knew Caz was different. He’s not like other Vakeeli men. He’s more, and my dear, he’syours. He is literally bonded to you. No one can take that. Not even the queen herself.” She places a hand on my shoulder, smiling. “Now please quit your moping, my love. This side of you isextremelyboring.”
I laugh as she stands and strolls across the room toward the balcony with the others.
Seventy-Six
CAZ
After I’ve packedwhat little I brought with me, I leave my room at Luxor Inn, giving Killian’s door a knock as I pass it.
He opens it, eyeing me through a crack, before pulling the door a bit wider.
“Heading down for a bite. Coming?”
“I’ll meet you downstairs,” he says, standing taller.
I cock a brow and try to look over his shoulder, but he blocks my view. My eyes move to his again. “A Luxorian? That’s a new low for you, Kill.”
“She’s only visiting Luxor. She’s from Kessel.”
“Where’d you meet her?”
“At the bar, now fuck off. I’ll be down in a minute.” He shuts the door in my face as the woman giggles, and I huff a laugh, pulling out a bloom from my pocket and sparking it.
I enter the pub after marching down the stairs, grateful it’s mostly vacant. Most people are shuttling into this place at nightfall, filling up on tonics and stuffing their faces with greasyLuxorian food. This morning, there’s a maximum of four people, all drinking tea or eating at tables, and the barman.
I bob my head at the barman, who nods back with hesitancy, before sitting at a table in the corner. A waitress approaches, her hair silver, dressed head to toe in black.
“What can I get you?” she inquires.
“A whiskey and toast will do, thank you.”
She nods and takes off, walking behind the bar to a door leading to the kitchen.
The barman cleans out a glass, eyeing me again. I pull from my bloom, eyeing him back. Then he sets his glass down and walks around the counter, and I slide my hand to the gun at my waist.
“Don’t worry. I’m not coming over to cause you trouble,” the barman announces, then he extends an arm, offering me a hand. “Name’s Harold.”
“Nice to meet you, Harold.” His extended hand lingers, and I inhale again before stabbing out my bloom. “Might as well put that hand down. I don’t shake with strangers.”
“Oh.” Harold drops his hand and stands up straight, dusting himself off.
“Why are you staring at me, Harold?”
