Page 30 of A Broken Promise (the Freckled Fate #1)

30

T he warm, late autumn sun was welcoming the ever-rushing city residents. The still, chill air was the only reminder of last night’s pouring rain. The smell of pastries and coffee greeted us as we walked past the small shops of Svitar.

“Gods, these beignets are going to be the death of me,” Priya moaned as she threw another piece of fried pastry in her mouth. It wasn’t long into our walk before she pulled out the snacks Ratika had packed for her.

I should’ve known better than to think Priya would wait even an extra day, even an extra hour, before heading out far into the Royal lands to kill Bornea Miteno.

“It could be weeks’ worth of journey though,” I said to her when she’d barged in bright and early that morning. With winter quickly approaching, I wasn’t sure Priya was aware how far deep in the gods’ forgotten lands we were going. It could take us months to find him. To which she snarkily commented, “That’s why I am bringing my laundry girl with me.”

Now packed, we were walking on the busy streets of Svitar. My eyes were still glued to the utmost beauty and luxury of the city. It would never stop to amaze me. Every day I was out, each ancient street I walked, it imprinted forever in my mind. The intricate details, the neatness of architecture and contrast, the never-ending variety of colors perched up in small pots and flower beds along the walking path. It was breathtaking.

“Shit,” Priya swore. I turned my head to her and burst out laughing. Powdered sugar from her accidently dropped pastry now spattered on her dark brown suit, landing straight onto her crotch and leaving a bright white, round mark on it. “You laugh all you want, but let’s just hope you know how to get powdered sugar out of these leathers,” she sneered as she tried to shake off the remaining sugar from her suit and fingers.

I laughed while sneaking one of the beignets for me as well.

“Where are we going anyway?” I said as we were approaching the oldest part of the city, the Motra’s Square.

“I have to talk to some people before we head out.”

We approached a grand building straight across from a giant fountain portraying Destroyers on horses, with their swords and burning arrows pointed forward. Water droplets now turned like glitter, covering the sculpture. Though made from real gold, I secretly wished it would rust.

“This way.” She motioned to the small alley leading to the back. My heart sank in slight disappointment as we stepped into a poorly lit alley instead of the main entrance to the grand building. Even in the morning daylight, the shadows covered our steps and the temperature dropped noticeably thanks to the icy rock.

Without knocking, Priya walked in through a smaller black door. The carved stone steps were slightly more worn out as I took each step down the curved, sharp angled staircase.

A large open room welcomed us. A restaurant of sorts, I thought at first, with round tables and nice dark chairs, yet further down, a spacious platform surrounded by gold lounge couches. A stage.

Even with large chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, the room's lighting was dimmed. I followed Priya to the long, dark, cherry wood bar.

“We are closed,” a smooth male voice shouted from the shadows .

“Oh, go suck one, Florian,” Priya shouted back and dramatically rolled her eyes.

“Priya!” the tall slender man with long auburn hair behind the bar cheerfully called out. “Long time no see.” Florian smiled wide. He put a towel on his sharp shoulder and pulled out two shot glasses. “Always good to see my favorite partner looking alive and well.” He grinned with satisfaction seeing the irritation on Priya’s face. His teeth were perfectly white against his slightly tanned skin. His long, straight hair was neatly tied in a low half ponytail in the back.

“So nice of you to bring me a gift.” He mischievously smirked at me, taking my hand and landing a soft kiss on it. Priya impatiently growled near me, and he held my hand a second longer. Whoever he was, he got under her skin like nobody else could and he enjoyed that. “So, who is the new eye candy with you today?” He pointed with his sharp chin towards me and winked with his bright hazel eyes. “New girlfriend of yours?”

Priya smirked as if remembering last night.

“No, but she really wishes.”

Baffled, I opened my mouth to object, but Florian continued.

“So, she is on the market then. Interesting.” He now stared at me, his eyes intriguingly poking and probing me already. I bit on my lip, just slightly fighting the urge to smile back yet the corners of my lips still curved up as he ran his thumb down his chin, those eyes teasing me.

“Did you run out of whores here that you’re getting so desperate, Florian?” Priya shot back a snarky smile and took a quick shot of whatever drink he poured into her glass.

“What can I say, whores are fun, but I am a sucker for a diamond in the rough.” He winked and I stifled a small, girly laugh. Though, by the look of his eyes, he knew that.

He poured another shot.

“My new creation. We call it the Devouring Destroyer. Becoming quite popular these days,” he said as he lit up the clear liquid and a bright silver flame sparked in the cup. Priya rolled her eyes hard and quickly drank hers. I froze. My eyes pinned on the flames .

He must have noticed my unmoving body and the dread stirring up in my eyes.

“It won’t burn, I promise,” he said, his voice comforting as he ran his hand through the flames quickly.

“Hmm.” Priya's eyes were now on me, as I fought the utter panic crawling up from within.

“It’s okay, beautiful,” Florian said as he took the shot and drank it whole. I finally exhaled, shoving down memories that those silver flames called back in. “Not your cup of tea and that’s okay. Just wait until you try this. And this time, no fire needed.” He gently smiled as he turned to the bar and poured in a few cocktails in a tall cup.

“How is the business?” Priya asked, getting up from the chair.

“It’s been doing great, especially since people are still so tense after that Rebel bust a few weeks back. It has been quieter here, but demand on deliveries has been through the roof,” Florian said, squeezing a small piece of lemon. “Pesky little pests or not, those Rebels are good for business.”

“Rebels my ass, I told you that new stuff is good shit.” Priya smiled like a cat, content with whatever Florian reported.

“What can I say, you are never wrong.” He winked at her.

Priya smiled but flipped him off with both hands. Though she was completely and utterly annoyed, I had never seen her as relaxed and comfortable with any man as she was with Florian.

“I am off to see the old man and convince him to chop your head off.” Priya took a few steps down the hall. Florian chuckled but nodded.

I stood up, unsure if I were to follow.

“Try to keep your panties on while I am gone.” Priya looked at me and waved goodbye with her hand before I could say a thing.

“Not if I have anything to do with it,” Florian shouted at Priya’s back.

“You know I am not mute, right?” I rolled my eyes at him, smiling. Florian was charming and he very well knew what his presence and his flirtatious looks could do to a woman. He truly enjoyed seeing the light blush on my cheeks. I sat on the barstool, tucking in my hands under my thighs.

“So, she does speak after all.” He grinned.

Florian leaned towards me on the counter. His long sleeve, white, button up shirt was crisp, top buttons completely unbuttoned showing just a peek of the large floral tattoo across his smooth chest. “What are we going to do with you today?” he purred.

I eyed the bright pink drink in a fancy glass he now set in front of me, pretending to ignore his not so stealthy stare.

“So, what is this place? What do you do here?” I finally dared up to look at his seductive smile. His thick brows raised in amusement.

“She is a player after all... and here I thought we were just merely exchanging smiles.” He smirked even wider. “Good move, gorgeous, good move.”

Confused and somehow feeling slightly embarrassed, unaware of what just happened, I awkwardly took a few sips of the bright drink.

“Wait, you really don’t know, do you now…” He opened his mouth wide, almost stifling a laugh. His long fingers ran along the edge of the cherry wood counter slowly. “Aww precious, which rock did you crawl out from?” He drew out his words, speaking to me like a child. I clenched my jaw in annoyance. For a second there, I flashed back to being an embarrassed six-year-old seeing a tavern for the first time, being confused and laughed at by the other kids when I asked if it was the church.

“So, are you going to answer my question or is stupid flirting all you are good for?” I asked, sipping on my juicy drink.

He chuckled and leaned back on the counter, tugging on the towel on his shoulder.

“So, you are aware we are flirting then?” He smiled from ear to ear. “This is the Queen’s Palace, beautiful, the most famous and desirable place in the whole lands of Esnox…Upstairs.” He pointed to the ceiling. “Is where most of the formal stuff happens, where the Royals come for their events and gossip and here,” he gestured to the space behind me, “is where all of the actual fun happens, and I just simply work here. ”

Something about him saying “simply work here” with that devious look on his face told me it was more complicated than that, but before I could ask another question, he continued.

“I’d ask if you were satisfied, but then you keep wiggling on that chair like that with your hands there and those tight leathers, and I am guessing you haven’t been satisfied in a long time.” He smiled wickedly, knowing exactly what he was implying. “More questions, little thing?”

I froze, even stopped breathing, so as to not make another move on this stupid chair. A tint of flush and a little bit of that embarrassing heat ran through me. I tried not to smile but failed. I suddenly related to Priya’s urge to flip him off, as he bit his lip just slightly.

“Well, I guess now we know that flirting is the only thing you are good for after all,” I shot back, but also stood up, refusing to sit in any chairs anytime soon.

“Forgive me, my lady.” He bowed melodramatically and then grinned wide as he looked from underneath his eyes. “My tongue is usually much more useful doing other more pleasurable things than talking.”

I chuckled, biting my lip just a bit. Florian had no shame. Absolutely none. He slowly licked his lips without breaking eye contact.

“And what if I am already in a relationship?” I teased him back, narrowing my eyes. Fine, two can play this game.

He smiled wide. That wicked, cruel, teasing smile of his. “And who says I am against sharing?”

I couldn’t take it anymore and just laughed. This man was totally out of control.

“Oh, my gods, you really never quit, do you?” Only a second after his face turned even more devilish, I realized what came out of my mouth.

“That’s what they always say,” he added, laughing.

“I’ll give you that one. I deserved it.” I smiled but my eyes went back to the long hall where Priya disappeared.

“She is okay, and she will be back soon,” he gently said, turning his face to the hall .

“Is it that obvious?” I said, leaning against that chair.

“You keep looking down that hall every other second so yes, it is, but I promise she will be back anytime now.”

“Thanks.” I nodded, relaxing my face.

“Thanks for what?” His face turned gentle, soft.

“This is the second time you’ve tried to calm down my nerves and I appreciate it.”

“Oh, so I am good at more than flirting, after all?” He teasingly smiled. His eyes creating small wrinkles in the corners.

“I wouldn’t go that far.” I rolled my eyes.

“So, you are new to Svitar then?”

“You could say so, yes.”

I had been in Svitar for a while now, but the city was grand, and I still hadn’t explored even a half of it.

“I must show you around. As amazing as this place is, there is so much more to this city that will absolutely blow your mind in all senses of the word.”

I laughed, gods, my cheeks were starting to hurt from smiling too much.

“I—"

“Hide your cock if you want it still attached to you, Florian!” Priya’s loud voice roared down the hallway. My heart jumped in surprise.

“All hidden now,” he shouted back, without breaking his eyes away from me.

Priya’s figure emerged from the dimmed hallway.

“Ready?” she asked, running her eyes up and down me, as if checking if anything was out of place.

“Um, yes,” I said, glancing over to Florian in silent goodbye.

We were almost by the door.

“Wait, I didn’t get your name,” Florian asked from behind the bar.

Priya rolled her eyes, stopping just for a minute and turning her head to him.

“Gods, Florian you are honestly a dumbass, you didn’t even ask her name? Hell, and Heavens above, It’s Finn. Her name is Finn, like a fish fin .”

I fought a laugh. I wasn’t sure which of Priya’s nicknames I preferred more, Freckles or Fish Finn. Florian ignored Priya’s remarks.

“When you come back, me and you, fish Finn, are going out!”

I didn’t know what changed in my heart in the moment, but I turned my face to him as I spoke confidently.

“Okay.”

“Then it’s a date.” He smiled and ran the towel down the bar.