Page 73 of A Fate in Flames

“Hi, Jasila,” I said, forcing a weak smile.

She rolled her eyes and examined her nails, as if I wasn’t even worth looking at.

Theo and Tavrik emerged from their rooms just in time to fall in step with us.We were late.The hall was already alive with the sounds of feasting and conversation.

Dalkhan was lounged on his throne, looking every bit like the king he was.A woman leaned close, her body curving towards him like a flower bending to the wind.She whispered something in his ear, her lips nearly brushing his skin.His eyes darkened visibly even from the distance, roaming over her with wicked hunger.

The firelight glinted off the chains and relics that hung low on his chest, casting shifting shadows across his skin.His hair was partially tied back, the dark strands that had come loose were damp from the heat of the hall.

“Who’s that woman?”I whispered, sliding closer Mira.

Mira followed my gesture—just a quick flick of my fingers because I wasn’t about to stand there pointing like an idiot.

“Oh, that’s Iznia, a favoured of the king,” she whispered back, our heads straining towards each other.

“Favoured?”I repeated, brows furrowing.

“You know—” She cleared her throat, looking around to make sure no one was listening.“The king has many women, but Iznia is a constant… a favoured.”

“Oh.”My teeth caught the inside of my cheek.

Iznia was breathtaking.Her golden skin seemed to shine with inner light, her clothes resembling my own yet somehow more revealing, hugging her full curves, accentuating her figure.Her long auburn hair fell perfectly down her back.

When Dalkhan’s gaze finally landed on us, I dipped my head instinctively but curled my fingers into fists.I refused to let him rattle me further.Theo and Tavrik forced their bow, turning sharply and muttering curses under their breath as they walked away.

We found a place to sit, and soon enough, the tension eased.

I tried to focus on Jasila, forcing myself to compliment her fighting.Trying to pry my way into her good graces.It wasexhausting.I was all but kissing her ass.

She gave me nothing in return—literallynothing.

I gave up with a sigh, shifting my attention to Theo and Tavrik as they swapped stories with those around us.

“Youare a soldier?”A man—Kaseer, I would later learn—asked Tavrik, lifting a dark brow.

“Is that so hard to believe?”Tavrik cocked his head, the scar on his cheek dancing as his lips quirked.

“You’re just so—”

Kaseer braced his elbows on the table, cradling his sharp jaw between his fists.The firelight accentuated the toned muscle beneath his ebony complexion, his honey-coloured eyes shining with mischief.

“—ordinary.Like watching water boil, except the water never actually boils.It just sits there… being water.”

Theo exploded with howl, nearly choking on his drink before slapping Tavrik on the back with such force he lurched forward.

“Why areyoulaughing, pretty boy?”Kaseer grinned, grabbing his drink and throwing his head back as he downed it in one go.

The banter was playful, fuelled by the free-flowing wine.

“He called youpretty,Theo.”I chimed in, wiggling my brows.

“I don’t blame him for noticing.”Theo gestured to his face with a sweep of his hand.“I’mgorgeous.”

Kaseer’s laughter boomed across the table before he thrust his arm forward, clasping Theo’s hand in his.“I like this one.He’s either extraordinarily confident or spectacularly delusional.Both are equally entertaining.”

Jasila’s rigid posture had softened when Tavrik mentioned he was a soldier.

“You should spar with me,” she suggested, a feline smile on her lips.“I promise I won’t kill you.”She twirled the stem of her cup between her slender fingers, the movement hypnotic and somehow threatening.