Page 25 of Lana Pecherczyk

“Good point.” Cielo stared into the distance for another minute before his lips stretched into a wicked smile. “Fine. I’ll steal something. Someone needs to show you how to do it properly.”

Manfri crowed excitedly and clapped his friend on the back. “Then afterward, we’ll celebrate in town, boast about our new fortune, and get laid!”

Well-damn, it had been a while since they’d ventured into Cornucopia and flirted with the ladies. He habitually said silly things around attractive women, such as comparing their eyes to his favorite blue crayon from childhood. What gives with that? If they rejected him or if he flirted with the wrong mated female, he felt like a complete floater, but Cielo always knew how to put the mean ones back in their place.

But the real ones that had Manfri’s heart palpitating, his tongue dry, and his cock tingling like a tinger, were the females who challenged him. The ones who never backed down—from a prank, a fight, a dare, a kiss. No matter how wild Manfri became, they held their own. They pushed him toward the deep end but then jumped in first.

In truth, he wanted another best friend.

Chapter

Eight

Three days of brooding had accomplished nothing. River circled his opponents in the Summer Palace courtyard—Aeron, Jasper, and his son Aspen—while his thoughts spiraled into darker territory.

Blake wanted nothing to do with him. Not that he gave a shit. He had places to be. Eyes to peck out. But Ash still hadn’t arrived. Jasper denied knowledge of the item Ash believed worthy of trading for the cryptex. The Great Murder loomed a week away, and every day of delay carried consequences.

“You going to stand there staring, or will you toss that dagger at me?”

Jasper stood thirty feet away, sweat gleaming on his muscular chest, sword hanging heavy in his hand. Beside him, Aeron leaned on his great sword, amusement dancing in his eyes. Prince Aspen sniggered from a nearby bench beneath a rose-covered trellis.

Fuck them.

River dropped his dagger and unhookedPeacemaker. The chakram was designed for versatility. Split the circular blade into a crescent in each hand for close combat, or release thefull circle in a brutal, long-range attack. He’d once sliced clean through troll neck with this beauty.

His fingers hesitated when the cool metal touched his palm. Nothing felt right anymore. He returned it to his belt and muttered, “I need a drink.”

Turning his back, he strode to a wooden table near the palace entrance where refreshments glistened in the afternoon light. No booze in the carafes. What kind of palace was this?

I hate you.

Blake’s words sliced through his mind, sharper than any dagger. He couldn’t blame her. He hated himself, too.

She had ahusband.

He poured himself a stupid lime drink.

Of all the Well-blessed Guardians, River’s mate was the only one already in a relationship. Not that he cared if her heart belonged to someone else. It should make it easier for him to walk away, to hunt down Cloud at the Great Murder. To get that thirst for vengeance out of his system and move on with his life. Or die.

She spoke weirdly.

She smelled fucking good. Like floral nectar baked in sunlight.

So good.

He glared at the clear blue sky and silently cursed the Well for his continued misfortune. What had he done to deserve this?

His triad tattoo itched, signaling an incoming message. River slammed his cup onto the table and peeled back his sleeve as Ash’s scrawl appeared in his forearm flesh.

Can’t do it. Go alone.

Disappointment punched River in the gut. He focused on dampening his emotions through the mate bond—something Jasper had mentioned was possible a few days ago. Riverimmediately practiced how to build mental walls, though they crumbled whenever his focus slipped. Better than nothing.

His claw extended, pressed into his skin, ready to change Ash’s mind. Nothing came out.

Aeron and Aspen continued sparring, leaving River to his thoughts. Jasper prowled in circles on the patch of lawn, his shaggy, unkempt hair flopping in his golden eyes.

“Come on, crow,” he bellowed. “You wanted to train, so let’s do this. I don’t have all day.”