My stomach turned at the thought of enslavement. The Fae prince had mentioned chains. Anger lit deep within me. My people, magic-born, had been enslaved by the Hesstians for a thousand years before the war that ended it. Now the Fae wanted to bring further suffering to my kind? I would fight to my last breath before I’d let that happen.
“Thank you for the information,” I said and went back to my table.
The old man lifted his mug to me and nodded. Taz plopped into the seat across the table and pushed a metal cup before me. “It’s honey mead. Not as good as your family’s but it will suffice.”
I took it into hand and watched the door. I hoped Zyacus would show soon. While we waited, I explained what the old men told me of the blood moon and the Fae. He slugged down his entire mug without a word, but his eyes said enough. “That’s—unsettling.” His voice hardened. “But we’re Delhoon, we’ll find a way.”
His words were kind and encouraging, and I knew we had to find a weakness in them. We couldn’t do a thing to stop the Winter Prince today and he was just one.
An hour went by and our drinks had emptied and refilled twice. My head felt light and my body fuzzy and warm. Here I was lecturing Taz on drinking too much and I’d had three myself. I pushed my mug away. “We’re done drinking. I’m going to get us some food.” I stood and made for the bartop where I could get us something.
While I waited to order, two large men pushed their way to each side of me. Elbows rubbing against mine, they talked to each other like I wasn’t even there. They actually laughed about a servant being attacked by the birds and how they got stuck in the woman’s hair. How rude. And clearly they don’t think the bird attack is a notable issue. I groaned when the man’s drink sloshed over the side spilling on my hand. Ugh and after fighting with the man in the street earlier… Holy unicorn, the men in this place drove me mad. I didn’t know how Zyacus could be such a charmer and raised in this kingdom. Although not long ago my opinion of him was quite low.
I shoved my forearm into the man’s side to my right when he bumped me for the third time.
He looked over and grinned, probably half drunk. “Hello there, beauty. May I know the name of such a fair maiden?”
I gritted my teeth. “No you may not.”
“Don’t be like that.” He put an arm around my shoulder like we were best friends. His breath reeked of alcohol. “I’m Leith. Castle guard, at your service.”
At first I didn’t notice the royal seal on their chests but now that he introduced himself, it was glaringly obvious. What were guards doing about drinking after they’d just been bombarded by wild birds?
“Wait,” the guard on my other side leaned forward on the bartop to look at me. His red-brown eyes and big smile seemed familiar. “I know you.”
Shit.
In a low voice, he said, “You’re Princess Visteal.” He grinned and spoke like he was in on a secret. Truly he was. As much as I didn’t want him to know me, I was grateful he was at least quiet about it.
I shook my head. “You’re mistaken.”
He narrowed his gaze. “No, I’m quite certain. I know you from academy. My name is Anchor. Prince Zyacus and I had a class together.”
What were the chances that I’d run into someone from the academy here, right now? My luck seemed to be finicky this day. My eyes slid around to nearby patrons to make sure no one listened to us. They all appeared to be preoccupied.
I slapped the guard’s hand that hung at my shoulder. “If I were her, then I’d tell your friend Leith to get his arm off me now before I cut it off.”
Leith only laughed hugging me tighter. “She wouldn’t be here in Hesstia in the Thirsty Pirate. There’s no way.”
“Oh, but she is here,” said a deep voice from behind. I smiled knowing who it was. “And if you don’t get your arm off her then I’ll be the one severing it from your body.”
The guards whipped around and stiffened. I slowly turned and leaned back against the bar. Ha, stupid guards. They’re in for it now.
“Prin—” The guard’s mouth slammed shut and it looked like he was struggling to open it again. Zyacus must have gotten his magic stone back after all.
“Ah, ah, you know better than to address me that way here,” Zyacus said, taking a couple steps closer. His light blue eyes flicked to a couple standing nearby who now watched our little group.
Sweat glistening on Leith’s forehead, his jaw relaxed and his lips parted. “I, uh, meant no disrespect?”
Zyacus held his hand out to me. I placed my palm in his and moved to his side.
“I told you,” Anchor mumbled.
The Prince kissed my hand and put an arm around my waist. “When she told you to release her, did you?”
Cheeks reddening, Leith stammered, “Well, I was just—”
“You were just being disrespectful,” Zyacus finished. He stepped close enough to put his mouth near Leith’s ear.
I couldn’t hear what he said but both guards stood straighter and they quickly found the door.
The couple that had been watching us went back to their drinks but their eyes kept drifting our way. Who else could command the guards like that? They would, at the very least, know he was in a position of power, if not the prince. I wondered if his presence would cause as much of a disturbance as mine did in Delhoon.
I tilted my head toward the bar, hoping nothing bad would come of this. “I was trying to get something to eat.”
“Leave that
