Page 14 of Winds of Darkness

The other was as soon as people saw his eyes swirling with the ashes and smoke, they quickly realized what he was, and that always brought about a gambit of reactions. Some wanted to employ him. Some wanted to fuck him. Some wanted to fight him. All of them annoyed him.

Which is why he snarled a warning when the barkeep brought his mug of ale over and someone else dropped some coin onto his table to cover his tab.

“Do not accept that,” Rayner growled, reaching for his owncoin. He didn’t even bother to look at whoever was attempting to buy him a drink. He didn’t incur debts, and he didn’t accept favors or kind gestures. Such things always ended up turning into debts in the end.

The barkeep glanced from him to whoever was standing at the table, wiping his hands nervously on his apron. “Sorry, sire,” he finally answered. “I must accept it,” he added, quickly swiping up the coin and bowing before he scurried away.

The bowing was perplexing.

Until someone slid into the chair across from him. Then it made perfect sense.

Bright amber eyes stared back at him, soot-black hair falling over his brow. He wore a dark red short-sleeved tunic, gold and copper threads embroidered along the collar. The male braced his forearms on the table, a faint arrogant smirk tilting on his lips.

The Prince of the Fire Court.

Chapter 4

Rayner wasn’t sure what he had done to garner the attention of the Fire Prince, but he knew better than to speak first in these types of situations. If he was going to be accused of something, he didn’t want to implicate himself for the wrong thing. If he was going to be asked something, he didn’t want to give any illusion that he was the type of male who took part in friendly conversation.

“You are an incredibly difficult Fae to track down,” the Fire Prince said, that arrogant smirk kicking up even more.

Rayner didn’t say anything in reply. Just continued to stare at him from beneath his hood. He twisted in his seat at the sound of another chair being dragged over before a female plopped unceremoniously into it. She huffed loudly, crossing her arms, a red-gold braid hanging over her shoulder.

“How do you even know it is him?” the female drawled, signaling the barkeep for a mug of ale.

“I have eyes in my city,” the prince answered, golden eyes still fixed on Rayner.

He held in his scoff of amusement.Eyes in his city. Fae were naturally stealthy. Light on their feet. Keen senses. But few could move as he did. Few could hide in the ashes and hear things not meant to be overheard. Only the Wind Walkers were comparable, the winds carrying secrets to them. But the only known WindWalker had recently been killed in a war he didn’t care about. It was yet to be seen if her daughter would be blessed with the gift.

“Lower your hood,” the prince said.

“I’d rather not,” Rayner returned, and the prince’s brow arched.

“Do you know who I am?”

“Of course I know who you are.”

The smirk became a full grin now. “Good. Then a formal introduction on my end is unnecessary.” When Rayner said nothing, he pressed, “Am I to simply call you what you are then, or will you deign to share your name?”

“What do you think I am?”

The Fire Prince leaned in closer, his voice dropping low. “I think you are someone who sees and hears everything, yet is never seen himself,” he answered, echoing Rayner’s thoughts from moments ago. “I have been trying to find you for over a decade.”

“I think you have mistaken me for someone else, your Highness.”

“Sorin,” he said. “Call me Sorin, and I am certain I have not mistaken anything. I rarely make such errors.”

Arrogant prick.

Silence fell among them as the barkeep arrived again, placing a mug down in front of the female. He also placed a glass of amber liquor in front of Sorin. When Sorin held out more coin to the male to cover the drinks, the barkeep tried to decline. He said the drinks were on the house, but Sorin insisted, shoving far more coin than required into the male’s hand.

Rayner watched the exchange curiously. The female’s grey eyes flicked to the prince for a moment before she picked up her mug and took a deep drink without a word of gratitude. The prince didn’t seem to care. His attention already settled back on Rayner. He seemed to sense Rayner’s question despite not being able to see his face.

“I would introduce her to you, but it seems unfair for you to know both our names when we do not know yours,” Sorin said.

“She is your consort then?” Rayner asked.

The female spluttered, choking on the drink she’d just taken.