Page 87 of White Raven

“I have no money.” Onyx shrugged. “And you owe us for putting up with your shit.”

“Oh, then make my bet twenty,” Brynn told the boy.

“Fifty marks?” The boy sputtered.

Bjørn wagged his head in a no, peering between his friends, but they both stared back at him.

“Fine.” He huffed, his shoulders dropping as he handed the boy the money.

“Renyx better win or you both owe me,” he protested.

“He will.” Onyx flicked his chin to their friend in the ring. Renyx swung his arms around, warming up. His muscular lean body, covered in tattoos and scars, was taut with anger. His expression was deadly, like he was begging for violence, pleading to release his anger and pain.

“You got this, Ren!” Brynn shouted out to him, pulling his focus to her for a moment. Seeing her seemed to only add fuel to his fire, bouncing him on his toes, his beautiful face contorting in a frightening determination.

The server pushed through us with a tray of drinks and sausages, my nose wrinkling at the scent while my stomach rumbled with hunger.

“Skjønnhet!” Bjørn cheered her presence. “You are my savior!” He shoved a sausage into his mouth, the grease dripping down his bearded chin as he grinned ear to ear, winking at her. Somehow looking charming instead of vulgar.

“You are such a brute, Bjørn Larrsen.” She smacked his shoulder.

“Well, you clearly know my name, do I get the honor of yours, sweetheart, since I’ll be waking up in your bed tomorrow?”

“You’re a beast.” She laughed again.

“I hope I can be later.” He slugged down the contents of the drink, grinning wider.

She batted at him again, but peered over at Onyx, her eyes glinting in lust. “And what about you?”

“Ugh,” Brynn gagged, watching the woman turn her flirtation to Onyx.

“What about me?” Onyx took the cups off her tray, handing one to me, scooping up a few sausages.

My back stiffened as she scoured Onyx. Her side glances at him were not playful like she was with Bjørn. They were pointed and leading. “I’ve heard you’re a beast too.”

“Seriously?” Brynn sighed louder, wagging her head in annoyance.

“Oh, I think my brother here can provide what you need much more.” Onyx shoved down a sausage in hunger, his attention going to me, completely dismissing her. “I know you don’t like meat, but it’s all there is for now.” He dropped a sausage wrapped in oily paper into my hand.

The barmaid’s expression pinched, a frown dropping her smile, but she turned back to flirt with Bjørn before walking away.

I stared down at the cooked mutton in my hand. When I was a child, I befriended many of the animals down in the barn only to have them on our dinner plate later. Once I had snuck in and watched my favorite lamb being slaughtered; his cries still rang in my head.

No one ever detected or cared I wasn’t particularly fond of eating meat, including my father or Sarina. It was embedded into our culture, the base substance for every meal, the item we sacrificed for a ritual. Our realm was proud of being carnivores. It showed wealth and prosperity. An advancement from our ancestors who were opportunistic eaters, scavenging for anything they could to fill their bellies.

But Onyx had noticed.

“Wagers are in!” The stocky man regained the room’s attention, cramming the invigorated crowd closer to the ring. A body rammed into mine with force, knocking me forward, spilling the food and drink from my hand back onto me. Mead splashing onto my face and soaking into my clothes, the grease from the sausage staining down my skirt.

“You okay?” Onyx grabbed onto my arm, holding me steady as he snarled back at the crowd, getting them to step back.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I brushed at my clothes, irritation sputtering up, feeling trails of liquid tracking down my chest. “I just want to find a towel to wipe this up.”

Onyx’s teeth gritted, looking from me back to where his friend was starting to box his opponent.

“I can get it myself.”

“I’m not letting you go on your own,” he snapped, peering over the room.