AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The heads of his onlookers craned to follow his long strides. The crowd parted like the sea as he made his way towards me. I couldn't help but roll my eyes, watching them before I rose to greet him.
"Perhaps there'd be some merit in?—
Another peal of high-pitched laughter accompanied by a masculine rumble stabbed my ears again, making my jaw clench. Malekai lifted a dark golden brow as a grin tilted the corner of his mouth.
"— finding another place to sit… Or another pub, entirely," I finished, head throbbing.
Malekai leaned around to peek at the Erosyan female and her client before looking back at me.
"But they're having so much fun… Perhaps we should join them?"
My hand lashed out as Malekai shifted, gripping his large bicep as I spoke through gritted teeth.
"Don't. You. Dare."
I downed the rest of my drink and slammed the empty glass back on the table. The burning warmth of it sliding down my throat helped relax the tension in my neck that throbbed at the base of my skull and had begun to radiate behind my eyes.
Malekai tsked, cooing to me in a husky voice.
"Always such a curmudgeon, my darling."
My eyes narrowed sharply.
"When was the last time I stabbed you?"
Malekai's eyes twinkled with mirth. "Too long ago, I'm sure."
"You almost sound like you want me to stab you."
"I thought you'd have realized a long time ago that I'm a devout sadomasochist."
I huffed a laugh, shaking my head at him. "You aresotwisted."
Malaria's voice dropped to a husky purr. "Nothing wrong with a little pain and pleasure, sweetheart."
Sweetheart.
He was, quite literally, the only male who had ever dared to call me such an endearment. The only one I'd ever let beyond the wall I'd systematically built over the years that could even feel comfortable calling me such a soft name. Admittedly… I fucking loved it when he did. After so many yearsof literallyfighting to survive, I longed to trade in my sword to become soft, tender, and pretty.
A familiar heat that only he inspired coiled low, but I merely pursed my lips and narrowed my eyes as if to say,touché. Malekai gave a hearty chuckle as I swiftly turned, throwing the hood of my cape over my head.
Malekai and I wandered the serpentine, cobblestone footpath along the River Atratus' black waters. Named after the Kingdom through which it ran, it was one of the only relatively safe places in the city beneath the Queen's palace. Not many dared to venture near the waters of the Atratus because it was a notorious dumping ground for the 'recently deceased'. The Atratus had a way of making things disappear. How exactly, no one precisely knew, but that seemed to only add to the fear the Atratus inspired.
Not that Malekai and I had any reason to be fearful. Despite the crime that plagued the city, Malekai was well-known and feared as the Queen's general. And I, thankfully, still possessed some relative anonymity by comparison, thanks to the fact that not many knew my face. I would find no small amount of satisfaction in ridding the world of one more twisted opportunist looking to prey upon 'vulnerable' females.
My gaze snagged on a dark, hooded figure in the distance facing the stone riverbank’s wall. Dressed in the rich black robe of Mors’ acolytes. They hadn't noticed our approach yet. I slowed, silently nudging Malekai and nodding towards the figure. We came to a stop, watching. Their back too broad for us to see what it is they're doing.
Taking a piss, maybe?
It would be a little unusual for one of those zealots to be doing something so uncouth.
The acolyte turns and scurries across the street, where another of the hooded acolytes waits.Technically,we should have done something about it. Vandalism was something Zurie didn’t take kindly to, but… Neither of us actually cared.
Not to mention, they made my skin crawl.
The acolytes disappeared down the alley. We soon reached where the acolyte had been standing to discover they’d painted Mors' symbol in white, stark against the dark stone.
An inverted torch with wings.
