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“Ha! That’s probably it, then. Alis’s from the Darklands.”
His eyes widen. “The Darklands?”
“I’m a Frejr,” I clarify.
I see his casual interest switch to something more purposeful. “Indeed? It’s been some time I’ve meant to sit down and talk with your clan. To my knowledge, you don’t make much use of your shoreline.”
“Our shoreline might be a little perilous.”
“But you could protect it, yes?”
I consider his question. I suppose we could, if we wanted to.
“See?” He grins with the thrill of the hunt. “Now that’s what I’m talking about. If I can fish in the gulf between your north and south islands? I’ll have an empire.”
“You already have an empire,” Reiks reminds him with a chuckle. “Alis, you think you can arrange a meeting between Fin and someone who can look into it for him?”
It’s never been my place to talk about that sort of thing, but I’ve heard Mar do it enough times to know what to say. “You drop me a raven, and I’ll talk to my aunt as soon as I see her. Promise.”
We’ve made one capitalist very happy, and we move on to the next target. Reiks coaxes, cajoles, consoles, and generally bullshits his way into the hearts of his guests. He has a kind word for everyone and remembers the most minute detail about their lives. I get to see from the front row how he became a beloved, golden prince, despite being so sneaky. It’s an incredible skill. He’s a spider and he’s woven a web everyone flies into without hesitation. I can only admire it.
Triva finds us and delivers my frosted blue glass with a steaming cloud of dry ice. The first sip has me licking my lips.
I glance at Reiks’s cloud and wince. It’s thick and pearly white. “That looks like cum.” The words are out before I can stop them.
Reiks coughs, choking on his vile drink, shocked chortling bursting out.
“Sorry.” I take his drink before he spills it all over his shirt. “It kinda does, though.”
He manages to stand up and stop the eruptions of laughter, though he’s still chuckling, so I hand him the drink back. “Oh, no. I’m never drinking that again. You have it.” He lifts his hand and Triva reappears shortly. “I’ll have something else, anything else, really, please.”
Rolling my eyes, I hand him my drink and try his. At least it’s as delicious as mine, gross appearance notwithstanding.
“Enjoying that, are you?” He’s suggestive and far too amused.
I have to admit that this party isn’t nearly as bad an ordeal as I thought it would be. Maybe it’s the drink, the place, or even the company, but I relax after a while. Triva replaces our drinks as fast as we ingest them, and after the sixth or seventh Revel, I do start to feel a light, pleasant buzz. They must have been stronger than I thought.
Unless…
I don’t carry a watch, and right then, I regret it. “What time is it?” I ask, suddenly concerned.
“Let me ask.” He raises a hand and Triva materializes shortly after. I don’t see a watch on her wrist, so I tense, dread gnawing at my core. “Do you have the time, dear?”
Triva retrieves a small stone from a thigh sheath and checks it. “Eleven thirty, sir.”
I glower at Reiks, all of my good humor evaporated. Hepromised. He said he’d have me back home by midnight. “I’m out of here.”
I don’t even wait to hear what he has to say: I rush to the door.
CHAPTERTWENTY
THE MISTAKE
The crowd’s thick with gyrating bodies far tipsier than they were when we first arrived, so while they move to let me pass, my progress is slower than I need it to be. I want to be out of herenow.
“Alis, wait.” I ignore Reiks. “Our car’s parked close by. It’ll be faster if I take you.”
That’s not entirely true: hovercraft are slow as all purgatories in the city, especially when the people take to the streets to celebrate. Our journey on the way in proved as much. I might not be as practiced a runner as I am a swimmer, but I’ll take my chances on foot. And away from him. I desperately need to be away from him right now.
