Page 54 of Of Nightmares & Fire (Elusive Umbra #1)

Chapter forty-two

Astraea

Mavros greets us with his arms outstretched and a wide smile as we enter the tavern.

He wraps me in a tight hug before leaving, his arm slung over my shoulders as he guides us through the place.

It is alive with energy, and it seems the whole town has gathered here tonight.

Even though it must be late, children of all ages run around tables, laughing and playing.

The joyous atmosphere catches me by surprise.

I don’t realize I’m scowling until Zinya is standing in front of us.

“What did he do?” Zinya asks. The way she's looking at me is curious and probing, as though she is looking at everything I don’t say, causing my scowl to deepen with my confusion.

“What?” I ask, looking at her, then to Mavros and Colette.

“You look pissed off. I only assume Kyros did something to cause it. He has a way with being a bit of a hardass. He seemed to be in a similar mood earlier. Do you want me to give him shit?” She laughs, and my gaze jumps around the room looking for said man. I shake my head.

“I haven’t seen him, actually, since we arrived.

” I say, shaking my head, and Colette looks at me with a keen eye.

Likely picking up on my subtle tells; the way I chew on my lip or wring my hands.

She’s always been akin to understanding what I’m feeling.

Sometimes even before I do. “I guess I’m just perplexed at the energy in the room.

Is this a celebration of something?” Zinya blinks as though she’s surprised that I don’t know. Then she tilts her head back and nods.

“Oh, well, I forget you don’t know the culture of the people outside of the palace.” She says, and I flinch, frowning at her words.

“It’s not for lack of wanting to know. I was not allowed such liberties.

I was only the means of securing an heir for the throne.

Not actually sitting on the gaudy chair with all the power.

My father felt I had no reason to know much of anything that went on outside of the castle.

” I respond derisively, feeling a little defensive.

I would love to know about the people in the kingdom.

Especially those who are under our rule.

I tried. It's one of the reasons the library was one of my favorite places.

The history of our land fascinated me, even though I know I only had some of it.

I always listened to what I could through guards passing or palace help gossiping, but not everything was clear .

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.” Zinya responds, and I can see the truth behind her eyes.

I didn’t mean to get offended. “While the palace celebrates the victory of taking the throne all those years ago and, if I understand correctly, your birthday.” She clears her throat.

“The Neer, or ‘The Kru,’ as some of the crown loyalists call them, celebrate in remembrance.” I thought the Neer and the Kru were two different types of people.

Apparently that was a misinterpretation of gossip.

I wonder how much I don’t actually know.

“A celebration of life.” Mavros cuts in.

A stern look on his face. “In memory of all that was lost.” My throat is tight, like I have started swallowing my own tongue.

All of their eyes land heavy on me. While I know what they are saying doesn’t really land on my shoulders, I feel as though it does as an extension from my father.

Even though I never had a say in any of what he did.

“Not everyone in the palace celebrates a victory.” Colette says softly as she threads her arm back through mine, and I look at her with a small frown.

“I don’t know if I should be here. It feels wrong to be who I am and interfere with such a meaningful celebration when it's my father who caused the loss in the first place.” I whisper, hoping that my voice is small enough that no one else within earshot can hear.

“On the contrary, princess, I think you being here now is good. You can see firsthand who the people are that your father kills.” Another flinch shakes my body at Mavros’ words.

I can tell that these people mean a great deal to him, and my brows drop.

Zinya elbows him in the stomach with a stern face, and he huffs out a breath.

“Do they celebrate this way in Diemos too?” I ask.

Zinya, Mavros, and now Viltarin all share a look.

A conversation seemingly passing between their eyes.

I always feel like I am on the outside of a long story when they are all together.

This seems to have Mavros more serious than I have ever seen him, and when he rakes his hand through his white-blonde hair, Zinya answers my question.

“Mavros, Kyros, and I are not originally from Diemos. We are native to Eathian. We all lost our families in the Great War. Queen Phaedra took in many orphans after the carnage left us without anywhere to go. Gave the refugees families and purpose. So, I guess, to answer your question… yes. In a way much of Diemos does, because Queen Phaedra has extended her hand over us when the true royals fell.” Zinya says, and even if she didn’t intend it, I feel as though I have been punched in the stomach. All the air now knocked from my lungs.

“I'm sorry. I—” My heart races so quickly that I fear it may burst as I think about everything. I knew what my father did was horrible. It was for me too, but I was a child when it happened. I guess I didn’t think so much about what happened to those who lost everything they ever knew too. I can’t swallow.

“Breathe.” Cole steps in front of me, blocking out my view of everyone else.

My blue eyes latch to her green ones, and when she takes a deep breath, so do I.

I mimic her breathing, the way she closes her eyes, and as we grip each other's arms, I feel the panic in me lowering.

Slowly, it eases from my limbs, and my grip loosens before I finally open my eyes.

“Thank you,” I tell her with a small smile.

“Hey, regardless of all of that. I think it shows who you are to be here right now. Freely choosing to do what you’re doing.

” Mavros says, his charm back in place and a sad sort of gleam in his eye.

Zinya looks at me pained before nodding and chewing on her lip as though something else is bothering her.

“Enough of all this heavy shit. Let's drink. It is a celebration after all. Your birthday too? What better reason to get wasted.” He slings his arm around my shoulders and starts steering me toward the bar.

“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea,” I say, laughing a little nervously.

“Psh, all my ideas are better than good; they’re great.

” He pulls out a stool and gestures at it.

“Sit, princess. Let’s get you fed and fucked up.

” He says before he tips his head back with a cackle, slapping the bar to get the attention of the man behind it.

“Duscan, let me have your best tonight. This one is with us.” He says, and the man, Duscan, drops his mismatched eyes to me.

“Great divine, how did you manage to attract such a beauty to this rundown village?” Duscan asks as his oddly colored eyes travel every inch of my face and then lower.

He appears to be older, close to the same age as the twins, perhaps a little older even, but he looks as though he hasn't always been a barkeep.

The scars on his face and arms show that he has seen a battle or two that couldn't be from just some drunk bar fights. He runs a hand through his chestnut hair as a roguish smile lifts the corners of his mouth, then quickly falls from his face. A sudden warmness blankets me from behind, and the way Duscan’s eyes jump over my shoulder at the same moment his smile falters, I know who must be standing behind me.

He tilts his head respectfully in greeting.

“Duscan.” Kyros’ deep voice vibrates through my body, curling my toes, but I grit my teeth in defiance. I’m upset with him.

“Lord Kyros, I was just admiring the new beauty your brother has just introduced me to. She is something special, isn’t she?

” He says, and I feel Kyros get closer to me.

His warmth presses against my back as one hand comes out to rest on the outside of my arm.

Cole watches where his hand rests and then looks back and forth between me and Kyros.

“More than she realizes.” He says, and I turn my head, finally looking at his hand.

I let my eyes follow the corded muscle wrapping the length of his arm until I meet his gaze.

The shadows seem to cloud there, and Duscan finally clears his throat, breaking the spell I was entrapped by, gaining my attention once again.

“My apologies, Lord Kyros, I didn’t realize she was spoken for.” He says with his voice low.

“She is not spoken for, but she is right here and can speak for herself!” I bark out, vexation heavy in my tone at once again being talked about as though I am not right in front of them hearing the entire conversation.

All my life it has been the same, but I won’t be that demure princess that my father always wanted me to be.

The fire in me was stifled as a child, but I am no child anymore.

I am a woman, and I feel the ember wanting to blaze.

I shrug off Kyros’ touch, and when Duscan places a tankard of ale in front of Mavros, I don’t think twice before snatching it.

I bring it to my lips and let the cool liquid fill my mouth.

Over and over I gulp down the sweet yet bitter drink.

I don’t leave a drop left when I slam the metal cup down by its handle with a loud bang.

Cole’s eyes are wide, but I see the smile she is trying to hide with her lips rolled between her teeth. Mavros isn’t holding back anything. He is gleaming, not looking at me, but at Kyros. Zinya, too, watches the man at my back to see what his response will be.

“As I recall, you were very animated when you said just the opposite. I believe your exact words were, It’s all yours—” Kyros says, bent down so that his breath puffs out at my ear, but loud enough that those around us hear every word.

I spin around so quickly that the stool I sit on goes falling to the floor, and everyone takes a step back.

I rear back, my body twisting to give my hit power, but before I am able to land the strike across his face, he grips me by the wrist. Holding it between us, he steps in closer. His eyes narrow, then drop to my lips.

“Well, I can see why you are so enamored by her.” A man says, stepping into view.

He crosses his arms, looking between Kyros and me with a wide smile.

He is tall, nearly as tall as Kyros and Mavros, but where they have stacked muscle, he is lean.

His eyes are green, bright, and wild with something I can’t interpret.

Kyros stiffens as the man extends his hand out to me.

“My name is Rowan. It’s a pleasure to meet you. ”

“Astraea,” I say, as I jerk my hand from Kyros’ grip, meaning to place it in his, but Kyros lets out a near-animalistic growl, taking my hand back aggressively before he threads our fingers together, dropping them to our sides as he faces the stranger.

Rowan smiles with all of his teeth before narrowing his eyes mischievously at Kyros and lifting his arms, palms out, in submission.

“Very well, my friend.” He winks at me, much like Mavros has in the past, and Kyros’ hand tightens around mine.

“I need another drink,” I mutter under my breath, yanking my hand free from the possessive ass at my side. What the hell is happening? Colette looks at me with her brows raised as she straightens the stool I knocked over. I shake my head. I don’t even know what to tell her at this point.

“Seems like it.” She says, offering me hers. I take it. Though it’s not ale. The liquid in the tin cup stings my nose as I lift it to smell. The noxious liquid makes my eyes water, and I squeeze them shut, shaking my head before knocking it back with one large gulp.

“Well, shit. I guess you are ready to get fucked up after all.” Mavros laughs as I cough from my burning throat. Kyros takes the tin from my hand, and I look up at him. He keeps my gaze as he reaches behind me, placing the tin on the bar.

“Another, Duscan.” I can’t help but swallow hard as his chest brushes mine.

He tilts his head so his lips brush the shell of my ear.

“You want to let loose tonight, Shula? Fine, but I made a promise to you, and I keep them. Fight it, if that’s what you think you have to do, but we both know it's not what you want.” I place my hand on his chest; heat radiates from him and through the connection of our bodies.

As his breath blows out over my ear, that heat surges and instantly pools at my core.

I placed my hand here to push him away, but even as I think about it, my fingers curl in the fabric of his tunic, and I pull him closer.

His black eyes ensnare me, and he looks as trapped as I feel, but then I remember.

I remember how he is still keeping secrets and has yet to tell me what the man from the desert was talking about. I let him go.

“Kindly, fuck off, Lord Kyros.” I sneer as I pick up the tin cup that was just refilled and saunter off, hooking my other arm in Zinya’s.

She scoffs a laugh as a smile as wide as her eyes takes over her face, and she looks at Kyros and strides away with me.

Mavros is right; it’s time I let loose. I've spent a lifetime under tyranny, and I’m finally free.

The people who I’m surrounded with now have suffered, and though they don’t know it, I have hurt just as much as they have from the touch my father has placed on this kingdom.

I was a prisoner, stuck in an hourglass, but the sands have run out, and I can finally break free.