Page 49 of A Kingdom of Fire and Fury (House of Embers #1)

As relieved as I was to get out of training for tomorrow, I wished I’d be able to join patrols.

But the point of the mission was to see if I attracted gryphons which meant I was essentially grounded.

I sighed from my spot by the campfire. Umara lay behind me, blowing smoke at my back to express her irritation.

When the others returned, she actually blew flames my way.

I scowled at her. “I didn’t ask to fall down or be bait.

” She blew another flaming ball at me right in the face. “I didn’t make the plan!”

Umara growled low and dipped her head on her paws. Her eyes remained alert, scanning the area. I knew she was worried about the gryphons. She wouldn’t fly away, even if it’d be better for both of our moods if she did.

Kieran smirked as he put away our leftover dinner—deer meat he’d hunted earlier as well as some dried fruits. “If you all insist on drinking, I won’t be cooking anything in the morning nor will I go easier on you in training. Consider that your motivation to not be a moron.”

“I need a drink to bear this,” Aurelia grumbled.

Nimue smiled and grabbed some cups from Ben’s satchel as well as several bottles of shocha. Ben watched with an exaggerated pout and glanced at Kieran pointedly.

Kieran’s jaw flexed. “Do you want to be put on watch duty second? I’ll gladly sign you up for the middle of the night.”

“No,” Ben said with another exhale.

“At this point you’re asking for punishment laps.” Nimue snickered and handed me a mug full of shocha with a wink.

Kieran barked at us not to drink around the fire, so we moved away from it and gathered in a half circle outside of our campsite after grabbing some logs to sit on. I looked up at the night sky and all the stars glittering down. Was Clara looking up at them right now?

“No getting sad.” Nimue nudged my side and smiled. “It’ll work out, Selena.”

I took a gulp of shocha, grimacing at the taste. Luck was never on my side. I wouldn’t count on it. But Nimue was right. At least I had the shocha to dull my worries.

“Another round!” Ben called and grabbed the bottle from Nimue. He refilled all our mugs and stopped before Gareth’s empty one. “Drink with them. Let me live vicariously through you.”

“I’ll pass.”

“Come on. For me. Please, Gareth?” Gareth huffed and held out his mug. “Yessss,” Ben cheered as he filled it to the brim. “No one take a sip yet. We need to do a group sip! Even, you, O Fearless Captain. Don’t be a stick in the mud. We’ll drink water.”

My brows shot up when Kieran moved from his spot against the tree and strolled over to us. Kieran swished his hand, and a canteen appeared in his and Gareth’s hands. I almost couldn’t believe what I was seeing. With Ben’s urging, we stood in a close circle.

“To figuring shit out,” Ben cheered, and we pressed our mugs and canteens together. I swallowed another large gulp, relishing in the burn and fuzziness that followed.

After that, we sat back down. Kieran moved to my right with Gareth by his side.

Nimue sat on my left. Ben continued to play barkeep and made sure to fill our drinks.

The tension in my shoulders eased with each sip I took.

Fuck worrying about my fate. For tonight, I’d shove it all aside.

And with that in mind, it was easier to smile and laugh with the others.

After a while of joking around, Ben returned from his trip to his tent with a guitar in hand. “You can’t have a party without some music,” he said.

Gareth blinked, his blush obvious on his pale skin. “But you can’t play.”

Ben grinned broadly. “But you can.”

Gareth’s blush deepened. His eyes wandered to Kieran, whose leg kept brushing mine.

I had no clue what those two were communicating, but it ended with Gareth nodding and taking the offered guitar.

He set down his mug and began to strum the strings.

A calm melody washed over our group, but it ended abruptly when Ben booed .

“Beautiful, but not tavern music. Don’t make me start singing.”

Gareth laughed. “We wouldn’t want that.” This time when he started again, it was to a more upbeat rhythm.

“That’s more like it.” Ben strode over to Nimue and offered his palm.

Nimue laughed but took it. As they danced around us, off beat but energetic, Nimue began to sing.

My lips curved into a smile. She had a nice voice, one that immediately drew our attention.

Even Aurelia paused her pouting to watch.

Watching them all laugh and have fun… “I didn’t think it’d be like this.” I gave into the urge to stretch my legs out and further bumped my leg against Kieran’s. I laughed. Who would’ve thought these nobles could party?

“Don’t go overboard,” Kieran warned. But it wasn’t like that first time at the tavern. There was no harsh judgment. Only concern.

I took another gulp. “I know my limits.”

He arched a brow. “Do you? Because I won’t coddle you if you surpass them.”

I tried to smack his shoulder but missed, and my hand hit his thigh instead. “S-shut up. That proves nothing.”

“Of course.” His tone was drier than the desert.

I flicked his ear. Or rather, tried to. I missed again and hit his hair. My world wobbled, but Kieran reached out and wrapped an arm around my waist to steady me. I bit back a pleased sigh at the touch. “Don’t let go.” I leaned my head against his shoulder and sighed. “It’s too warm right now.”

I shimmied out of my coat, lamenting when Kieran pulled away. Once I tossed my jacket to the ground, I grabbed his arm and placed it around me. My shirt was so thin and lightweight, it felt like he was touching my hip. More.

“You’re only proving my point, you know.”

“Shut up.” His shadows left him cool to the touch, and it felt fucking amazing against my heated skin.

I cuddled up further against him. If he wanted to back away, he could.

But he didn’t want to. I didn’t either. I smiled against his neck, a fire kindling in my core.

Fuckkk. I needed to focus, or I’d do something I’d regret.

Drunk me wasn’t the most sensible. Heaving a sigh, I looked at Nimue and Ben.

You’d think Ben was the one drinking, but he didn’t need alcohol to have fun.

Gareth watched them with fond eyes, strumming his instrument mindlessly.

“I’ve never done this before. It’s nice. ”

It was always me looking after my sister, being not just her sister but her mother, her father, and her doctor all in one.

There was no time to relax or cut loose.

Or even to have friends, really. The closest I’d come to was with Brynn, but even then, I’d been too terrified of losing a sitter for Clara to truly let myself go.

“There’ll be more nights like this when things settle.” Kieran’s grip around my waist tightened. “I’ll make sure of it.”

“You better, Captain.” I pulled back to grin at him. “ And I want us all drinking next time.” My gaze lingered on Kieran’s lips. Gods, I wanted him so badly. But he didn’t want me. And I didn’t know if I could trust this man.

“Alright, I’m taking a break,” Nimue said and plopped down next to me.

I jumped and pulled away from Kieran, who let his hand drop. Nimue grabbed her mug and sipped at it. “Fucking gross,” she said and took another drink.

The music stopped. Nimue and I chatted for a while about random things.

Kieran remained silent, studying the trees for any potential threats.

I turned my head and fought a gasp. Gareth sat in Ben’s lap, shoving his tongue down Ben’s throat.

The sounds of their lips smacking together were absolutely sinful.

And fucking gods, Gareth was grinding on Ben’s lap.

“Holy Family.” I resisted the urge to point at them. “Since when was that a thing?”

Kieran snorted.

Nimue laughed so hard she nearly tumbled into me. “Gareth’s a horny drunk. They have an arrangement.”

A loud moan made my eyes widen. Ben swallowed Gareth’s cries, gripping his hair in one hand and his waist in the other. “Shit. Are they going to go to the tent?”

“Eventually.” Nimue snickered.

Before I could respond, my stomach twisted.

Oh fuck. There wasn’t a moment to spare.

I jumped to my feet and rushed into the woods.

The others called me, but I couldn’t focus on them.

I had to get away, to make it in time. My knees buckled, and I vomited into the soil.

My stomach lurched, my nose burned, and my mouth tasted awful.

I heaved again, spraying more vomit. My eyes watered.

Something brushed my shoulders and then gathered my hair back. Thank the gods. My hair was so long, it would’ve gotten into the vomit. Maybe it already had. But who was behind me?

“You’re absolutely ridiculous,” a familiar warm voice said. Kieran.

I tried to say something but threw up instead. My temples throbbed, and I wanted to get away from the smell, but I was sure if I so much as moved, I’d throw up again.

“I did tell you to control your drinking.” Kieran rubbed my back with his other hand. His cool touch was a balm to the fire that raged under my skin.

My eyes watered. It wasn’t just because I hated throwing up. No one had ever done this for me. Whenever I’d gotten sick, Clara was always sick too. And I had to keep my distance from her, to make sure my illness didn’t worsen hers.

My heart squeezed painfully in my chest. “You can go,” I croaked between vomits.

“Don’t be a moron.” He rubbed another circle in my back. “Of course I’m staying.”

That broke me. An ugly sob wracked my body. I retched a few more times, but nothing came out. All the while Kieran stayed, holding my hair and rubbing my back. Pathetic tears trailed down my cheeks. He had no idea how much this meant to me.

“Is it over?” Kieran asked after a couple minutes.

When I nodded weakly, I thought that was it. That he would go back, but those gentle hands pulled me up. I leaned heavily against him, and he wrapped an arm around my waist as we walked back to camp.