by Alyssa Breck
“That would be fine,” Silver said as he shrugged out of his long coat and draped it over the wooden chair’s back.
Silver sat down and reached for a roll. He didn’t move to make conversation with Alayah which was odd for him. They had incredible sex and meaningful conversation at the monastery. Therefore, she didn’t understand why he was giving her the cold shoulder and barely spoke to her since they had left.
Xavier returned with three glasses and two pitchers of beer. Alayah raised an eyebrow at him. “Thirsty much?”
“Hey, we’ve had a long day. I want to unwind.”
“That’s one thing we can agree on,” Silver said between bites of his bread.
Xavier filled the three glasses and slid one to Silver and one to Alayah.
He raised his. “Cheers.”
“Cheers,” she said and took a sip.
It didn’t take the two men long to plow through two of the pitchers of beer while they were eating a much-deserved meal.
“At least, my dad didn’t turn away a group of women asking for his help,” Silver said. His words were slightly slurred.
Alayah could tell that the guys were drunk but a bit of bonding between them was what they needed to stop bickering. Or so she hoped because they kept accusing each other’s fathers.
“Well, my dad made sure I was an heir to his throne instead of dropping babies all over the kingdom.”
Silver rolled his eyes. “My dad is a great leader with many women. What’s not to admire there?”
“Are you planning to be like him?” Xavier asked and grinned as he looked at Alayah. “Do you want to be one of his concubines?”
“Shut up,” Silver ordered, slamming the glass on the table. “Don’t even look at her.”
“You’ll have to remove my eyes because I won’t stop looking at her,” Xavier slurred and winked at Alayah.
Alayah grabbed Silver’s arm before he threw his beer at Xavier. “Stop acting childish. Xavier has been nothing but respectful, and he’s helping us.”
“Do you like him? I think you do. Maybe you want him to join your harem,” Silver grumbled.
“Does she have a harem? Interesting.”
Alayah looked at Xavier and then at Silver. “You are being impolite,” she muttered to Silver.
“He doesn’t care about you like I do,” Silver protested.
“You have no idea how I feel about her. You are judging me because of what my father did.”
“Aren’t you doing the same?” Silver retorted.
“I have no beef with you as long as you don’t harm Alayah.”
Silver rose up. “I’d never hurt her. I’m not my father.”
“I’m not my father, either. Let’s just agree on that,” Xavier said, smirking and filling Silver’s glass. “Stop being an ass and just drink.”
Silver flopped on his seat. “The beer is good.”
Alayah took a roll and ate it. “Coffee is better.”
Xavier shook his head. “Coffee doesn’t get us drunk and happy.”
“Nope,” Silver agreed.
Arching an eyebrow, Alayah questioned, “Why do you want to get drunk and how does that make you feel happy?”
Xavier shrugged. “It just does. Alcohol numbs our thoughts. If we don’t think, we are happier. Dumb people are happy people. Never noticed that?”
“We have alcohol, too. But we just drink it when we are on the surface,” Alayah explained.
“My father likes whiskey,” Xavier spoke. “I like beer better. Or moonshine. Ever drank moonshine, Silver?”
“We have better stuff than that in my kingdom. We can all go there once this quest is done and throw a big party.”
“I don’t think your father would like my presence there,” Xavier said. “Or Alayah’s.”
“Screw him.” Silver raised his glass.
Xavier snorted. “You are all right, after all.”
“Why wouldn’t his father want me in his kingdom?” Alayah asked.
“Nothing you need to worry about, beautiful.” Silver leaned closer to her face, and she recoiled from the smell of alcohol on his breath.
Xavier tapped his shoulder. “How many siblings do you have?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“I’m curious.”
Silver looked at the ceiling and moved his fingers with his hand in the air. “Twenty since the last time I was there. He has a new concubine, though.”
“Twenty siblings, dude! Do you remember all their names?” Xavier asked, relaxing in his seat.
“I do.” Silver snorted. “We all have color names.”
“Colors?”
“Yeah. Why do you think my name is Silver?”
Xavier shrugged. “Weird.”
“Why don’t you have more siblings?”
“My mother died when I was still young. My father never remarried. True love and all.”
Silver nodded. “It must have been lonely.”
Xavier’s expression went somber. “Yeah, it was lonely growing up without any siblings.”
Silver clapped his hand on Xavier’s shoulder. “You can be my brother. What’s one more when you already have twenty, right?”
Xavier held onto his glass. “You’d do that for me? You’d be my brother?”
Silver smiled. “Of course, I would. Can I refill your glass, brother?”
“Why, yes, brother. I’d very much like that.”
Both men laughed when Silver missed the glass and poured some beer on the table.
“Well, damn it. Let me try again.”
“Let me help you, brother.” Xavier reached out to steady Silver’s hand as he poured the beer. That time, he made it into the glass.
Alayah couldn’t believe her ears. She never imagined these two would end up as buddies, brothers even. She shook her head and finished her first glass of beer and nibbled on a piece of bread.
Her sirens were seated at another table. Lyra sat on Marina’s lap, and Rose was sidled up to Dawes. The two teams definitely meshed well, and Alayah was grateful for that. Dissension in the ranks was bad news for everybody. But, they all wanted the world to be healed. They had a common goal.
While Xavier and Silver were nurturing their newfound bromance, another drunk in the bar started yelling at a guy. His words were so mangled that Alayah had no idea what the two men were arguing about. Then, a beer glass flew through the air and landed next to Rose’s leg.
Alayah’s senses piqued. She was always ready for battle, but she’d avoid it whenever she could. One guy threw a punch at the other, and his fist landed with a thud on the man’s jaw.
Ouch.
When the drunk guy stumbled back and fell against Rose, Dawes stood and grabbed the man by the back of his shirt. “Watch what the hell you’re doing.”
All hell broke loose.
The drunk guy threw a punch at Dawes, and Rose slugged him in the face. The man fell back and hit his head on the corner of the table.
Suddenly, glasses and ashtrays were flying through the air. Dishes were smashed on the hard floor. People were grunting and howling like wild animals as they grappled to the floor.
Alayah sighed. All of this was so unnecessary. Silver had disappeared from his seat and was steadily banging a man’s head against the bar.
A tall guy wearing a black beret charged toward Alayah, and she jumped out of her chair to avoid his hefty body slamming into hers.
Spittle had formed at the corner of his mouth as he breathed like a beast. He reminded her of a bull about to attack. Before he made physical contact with her, Xavier stepped in between them and knocked the guy out with one hit.
Alayah walked to stand beside Xavier. “Nice shot.”
He snaked his arm around her shoulders. “Thanks. No man messes with you. Ever.” He unexpectedly planted a kiss on the top of her head.
Silver rushed over. “I’m sorry, I didn’t see him coming this way. Are you okay, Alay?”
“I’m fine. Xavier took ca
re of it.”
“That won’t happen again,” Silver muttered. “I will always take care of you.”
Xavier stood in front of him. “Are you sure you can?”
Xavier’s words were an enigma to Alay, but Silver’s eyes became sad, and he stumbled back.
“I got you,” Xavier said, grabbing his arm. “You can’t take your liquor.”
“Screw you,” Silver spat.
“Just stop being an asshole. I’m trying to help you …” He wasn’t able to talk more because a glass flew over their heads, and he had to push Silver down and out of the way. “You are my brother now. I’ll take care of you, too.”
Silver pushed him back. “Asshole. I don’t need your help. Just make sure that no one touches our girl.”
“It’s our girl now, is it?” Xavier smirked.
“What is happening?” Alayah asked.
“Silver is drunk,” Xavier explained, looking back. “And we should get out of here unless you want to blow off some steam and kick some drunk asses.”
Alayah looked around and saw the confusion. “Nah, I’m good. I’m too tired.”
“I want to fight,” Silver slurred. “Fight me, Xavier. The winner leaves and never comes back.”
“What is he talking about?” Alayah asked as she reached for Silver’s arm and stopped him from trying to escape Xavier’s hold.
“Silly things. Don’t mind him. He has no idea what he’s saying.”
“You want to steal my girl,” Silver accused, stabbing Xavier’s chest with his finger.
“She was mine before you met her,” Xavier said.
Alayah sighed and grabbed both of their arms. “Let’s get out of here before more drunks try to hit us.” She dragged them up the stairs while Xavier helped Silver coordinate his feet to climb the stairs.
“Where are we going?” Silver asked, through hooded eyes.
“To sleep,” Alayah answered. “We have a long road ahead of us tomorrow.”
“But I want to fight.”
“You’ll fight some other day,” Xavier said. “I wanted to drink and look what happened? Now there’s no beer or glasses.” He chuckled and stumbled.
Alayah turned around and held them before Xavier and Silver fell on the floor. “What the hell am I going to do with you?”
“Whatever you want, darling,” Xavier answered.
“It was a rhetorical question,” Alayah mumbled.
“I think Silver is out,” Xavier said, looking at the prince. He shook Silver’s face. “He’s sleeping.”
“He’s lucky.” Sighing, Alayah circled her arm around Silver’s waist, and she and Xavier pulled him to his room.
Seconds later, they were collapsing onto the bed. Xavier chuckled and got up. He removed his cape and fell back on the bed, beside Alayah.
“It’s not safe for you to go to your bedroom right now. Let’s stay here and sleep. Or do you want to talk?”
Alayah looked at him and then at Silver. “Did you mean what you said downstairs?”
“What did I say?”
“You said that Silver was your brother.”
“He was the one who wanted me to be his brother.”
“He’s lonely. He might pretend he’s not, but he is.”
“I’m lonely, too,” Xavier mumbled. His hand reached for her face. “You are pretty.”
She smiled. “You’re such a smooth talker.” Slapping his hand away, she warned, “I’m with Silver, you know that.”
“You don’t mind having more than one partner, so I don’t mind if you are with him.”
Alayah arched an eyebrow. “You don’t mind sharing?”
He cocked his head. “I want my woman to be safe. It’s a dangerous world, and Silver is not so bad.”
Alay looked at Silver. “It’s not just him. I have someone else.”
“You are a busy girl.” Xavier snorted. “You are too pretty. No wonder men fall head over heels for you.”
“Don’t be silly. I’m plain normal.” She yawned. “I’m too tired to talk.”
“Then, let’s sleep.” He rolled to her side and closed his eyes, placing his arm over her.
Alayah looked from Xavier to Silver. She was between them and wondered how it would be if Silver wasn’t so jealous of her and Xavier.
“Silver is … different when he’s drunk.”
“Everybody is when they are drunk,” Xavier mumbled and grunted. “I wanted to be drunk. Drunker than this. I can’t catch a break.”
Alayah raised her hand and caressed his hair. “Just be quiet and sleep. We are here beside you.”
He smirked. “This is nice.”
Silver moved and groaned as he reached for Alayah’s body and brought her against his chest. “Pretty siren,” he mumbled.
“He doesn’t let you go even in his sleep,” Xavier protested.
Alayah giggled. “You two are incorrigible.”
Xavier moved closer and snuggled his nose against her hair. “I’ll keep you safe. You can trust me.”
“Keep me safe from what?” she asked.
“From anyone who wants to hurt you.”
“Okay.” She grinned and closed her eyes.
Between them, she let her body relax. The events of the day took their toll on Alayah, and she drifted into sleep.
Chapter 34
The journey after leaving the Jolly Tavern was exhausting, but they hadn’t found any more Titans along the way. Only a few caravans of homeless people who were trying to find a safe place to live.
Silver had mentioned that it was there that they were going to change to horses and camels. A few of his men would take the aircraft back to base and report to his father, the King of the Depths.
Alayah had no idea if it was wise to travel with fewer men. But the more people, the more attention they would draw toward them. She had started the journey with four warriors. She had no idea when she got used to having around forty armed warriors and two powerful mages with her. The fact was that she felt safer with Silver beside her. Even Xavier had proven his worth and commitment to the cause. He’d bicker with Silver, but the White Mage’s son had his heart in the right place. It didn’t hurt that he was unbelievably hot, and he seemed rather interested in her well-being. On the other hand, Silver had become quieter and smiled less. Maybe the pressure was getting to him, but Alayah couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.
The fact that Silver didn’t join her in her bedroom the night before they all left the inn was a big red flag. Is he tired of me? His actions and words didn’t point in that direction when they were in the Sacred Monastery. She believed they had something special. Guess she was wrong.
Traveling through the desert was dangerous and tiring. Alayah decided to pay more attention to the other sirens. They were having a hard time enduring the heat. The first few nights, they slept together after eating around the fire. Silver kept to himself, and Xavier liked to tell his stories before everybody went to sleep.
The nights were chilly. Before the sunrise, Alayah used her powers to gather water and feed the animals. Xavier always woke up before everybody else. He helped her with the horses and the camels, making the task a lot more fun. Alayah liked the horses and thought they were intelligent creatures, but she didn’t know what to think about the camels. They frightened her even if they were docile and not threatening.
From time to time, a sandstorm would form, and it slowed them down. Black birds often flew in a circle on the far horizon.
“Vultures,” Xavier said.
The siren looked at him and his horse. She didn’t hear him coming closer. “What?”
“The birds that you are seeing. They are called vultures. They feed on corpses. Something is dead out there.”
Alayah nodded.
“Are you okay? You barely talked today.”
She shrugged and glimpsed back at Silver as he happily chattered with a few of his men. “I’ll survive.”
“If all goes well, we’ll arrive at
the Enchanted Waterfall tomorrow.”
Alayah looked at him. “What’s that?”
“I’ve never been there before but, according to legends, there’s a place in the desert that has a waterfall that forms a lake. It’s the last oasis, according to the map. No one knows where it comes from. The water, I mean. If I had to guess, there are grouts underneath the rocky mountains, and the water comes from there.”
“We are good on water for now.”
“I know, but I was thinking that the waterfall would be something worth seeing … and swimming in.”
The siren shrugged. “I guess.”
Xavier silenced himself for a few moments. “Are you sad?”
“Why do you ask that?”
“I couldn’t help but notice that Silver Wind seems to be keeping his distance from you. Have you fought? A lovers’ quarrel?”
“I have no idea.” She looked back again. “I thought everything was fine until the other night.”
“It’s probably for the best.”
Alayah snapped her eyes at Xavier. “Why would you say that?”
“Once this quest is over, he’ll go back to his kingdom, and you’ll need to take the stone to Madeira.” He looked at the blazing sun. “Then you might want to come back to dry land and visit me at Elys. What do you think?”
“Are you flirting with me?”
Xavier smirked at her. “Aren’t you curious about who your father is?”
Alayah’s hand went to her necklace. Her fingertips caressed the cold surface of the gem. “How would I find out? I have no idea where to start looking. Plus, I have people who love me back home.”
Xavier leaned down on his saddle. “A boyfriend? I thought that Silver was your boyfriend.”
“Omin doesn’t mind that I have other lovers.”
Xavier gave her a lopsided grin. “That’s good to know. So, are you in an open relationship? Does Silver know?”
“Yes. I told him everything before … I have no idea what’s wrong with him lately.”
“Maybe he doesn’t like sharing. Did you tell him that you weren’t going to leave your boyfriend for him?”
Alayah sighed. “He knows that Omin is very important to me. He wouldn’t ask that of me.”
“Maybe he just wanted to have a bit of fun with you. Either way, it’s his loss. You just need to move on. Maybe find someone else to keep you company on the cold nights.” Xavier glimpsed at her and smirked.
