Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 120029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
My jaw drops, and I glance at the bartender, seeking aid, or at least confirmation that this eerily handsome man is someone I should hear out, but the worker’s hiding behind the shelves, and my personal experience in hospitality tells me he’s avoiding my gaze on purpose.
With no help coming, I shift in the chair to face him and nod. What should I say?
Oh, he didn’t mention you?
No, that’s mean girl kind of talk, and I’m nice.
Also, far less of a catch than this guy, especially in my plain jacket and sneakers. Could I not at least still be wearing the cloak? That would have felt like getting to wear your high school boyfriend’s varsity jacket.
“Hi? I’m Nate…”
Amrath frowns a little, the expression strangely exaggerated, as if he’s looking with compassion at a rabbit caught in snares. “I’m sorry if my approach seems abrupt, but he might come back any moment now, and you deserve to know what he surely hasn’t told you.”
I’ve been here before.
Jealous exes sending me DMs, or approaching me with the purpose of messing up my budding relationship, but at the same time, this is a whole new ball game. I’m no longer in Kansas, and if something goes wrong, I won’t be able to cut off Tristan.
My face goes aflame.
Shouldn’t Viola and my grandparents have warned me instead of enabling this crazy venture? That’s what loved ones are for when you go all cock-struck and make reckless decisions.
“I’m all ears.”
Amrath puts his hand on mine, as if in concern. He’s not my type, but I have to acknowledge that his skin is insanely soft. “Tristan can be very charming when he wants to, and he is now surely courting you, so you don’t back out of becoming his Dark Companion. Your wedding is most likely planned for the next full moon, am I right?”
Wait. Wait, wait, wait… I could back out of becoming the Dark Companion of the cold-as-ice guy? Would Tristan then be free to pursue me?
And the fact that this is what I got from Amrath’s warning tells me I have it bad for Tristan.
Oh heck… I’m being so reckless…
“I—maybe?”
“All I’m saying is don’t expect a bed of roses after that. Tristan’s known to get awestruck by the fresh new thing, then never sticking around. And don’t think I’m just saying that as some scorned lover. I wouldn’t go back to him if he promised me rooms next to his at the castle. As a human, you can’t know any of this about him, so I’m giving you the warning others, and there are many, might not, worried to end up on the pointy end of his temper. I am not afraid.”
“His temper?” I repeat without thinking. Maybe this should have been an inside thought, because my question triggers a flash in Amrath’s eyes, and I put both my hands around my glass just to do something with them. “What do you mean?”
“Well, do you think he carries that sword for show? He’s fought no less than three duels outside this very tavern. And one inside, just last year. One over a game of dice he cheated at, another when a lady he pursued chose someone else, oh, and that latest one? He simply got furious that the truth of his biggest failure was mentioned. Do you know why he’s now a Nightcloak and not the Lord’s guard?”
This is far too much information to take in at once, but I shake my head, because Tristan might be back soon, and if the real him is nothing like the man he presented himself as so far, then I need to have all the information I can get. But what then? Could I just… go back?
Of course, Amrath could be lying to smear Tristan’s reputation. I might have been brought up sheltered, but I’m not naive anymore.
“Why?”
Amrath’s beautiful big eyes light up, and he grabs my other drink as if I offered it to him. It would be too awkward to take it back, so I say nothing. “His one job and purpose in life was to protect the crown prince, yet he let Prince Kyranis get mauled and eaten by wolves, too much of a coward to step in and put his life on the line when push came to shove.” He’s getting so heated I’m worried he might spill the drink. “So don’t put your trust in him whether it comes to protection or love. Just because you’re his promised? He’ll just find a new one if you die.”
Oh, he hates Tristan. And that story about this ‘Kyranis’? Awful, but I’ve read enough romantasy books to be wary of taking the first court politics intel at face value.
This is my moment to keep my cards close and only play them once the time is right, but deception isn’t in my nature, and if I am to exist in this new reality, I can’t betray everything I am, even for a promise of love. “What did he do to you?”