Chosen Fool (Forever Evermore #5)(4)
Eventually, he stated calmly, “I won’t be sleeping in our room tonight.”
I withheld the snort, but I took another large drink. “The fire or the air?”
Cool words. “Both. They’re sisters.”
“Ah.” I chugged the rest of my wine, pulling on my white solace of protection with iron gloves. I managed a smile—for his sake. “Enjoy yourself.”
Green, quiet eyes stared into mine for an extended amount of time. “Okay.”
Not okay. “Okay.”
With a hard jerk, he pushed off the bar and wiped a rough hand over his mouth.
Sin turned from me.
No matter my self-protection, my heart broke a little more as I watched him walk away—again. What was a fleeting moment of pleasure for him was another slivered fracture to my soul. I knew one day my heart would shatter completely, right along with his.
Swallowing hard, I grabbed the bottle of wine I had already purchased, knowing full well what was going to happen tonight. I strode calmly from the establishment without glancing at anyone from our group, wherever the f*ck they were standing throughout the place, and exited with my bottle of alcohol.
I headed straight to my room to drown my—usually—ignored agony.
It was going to be a long damn night.
Chapter Three
“Caro?” King Collins asked loudly. “Did you hear me?”
I snapped my gaze in his direction. He sat to my right at the large breakfast table. I was pretty sure he had caught me scooting my food around my plate. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
Blue eyebrows furrowed, but he detailed with calmness, “I was telling you and Aria that we’ll be going into town today. To shop.” His lips curled in amusement. “Since everyone’s idea of a vacation isn’t skiing.”
I made my lips curve believably—I’d had plenty of practice at this—and nodded graciously. “I thank you. And my body thanks you.” I took a sip of my water. I didn’t have a hangover today due to the use of my powers a few days ago. “That sounds much more enjoyable.”
Done playing courteous, I turned my attention back to my plate, returning to scooting my food about. My thoughts grudgingly reverted to the fact I should probably eat since my body had taken a beating yesterday, with more to come I was sure, since there was only so much shopping a group like ours could handle. Sighing silently, I lifted a forkful of eggs that were now cool and that would undoubtedly taste like rubber. But I almost dropped it as King Collins again interrupted my musing, saying loudly, “Caro? Are you listening?”
My lips started to pinch, but I quickly schooled my features and peered up. “Yes?”
There was a long beat of silence around the table, awkward enough I wanted to squirm on my chair, as King Collins’s eyebrows furrowed even further. But he once more spoke steadily, “I asked you where you would prefer to shop today.”
“Oh.” I tilted my head slightly as if in thought, pretending to care. “I prefer second-hand stores or even antique shops. However, I think I’ll let,” I flicked my eyes to the quiet Prodigy Vampire, “Aria decide, since I’m sure her tastes will better suit everyone here.”
“Thank you,” she replied instantly, her eyes running over my features. When her attention finally altered to King Collins and King Zeller, her eyes sparkled with genuine happiness. “I’d love to visit one of those glassblowing stores we saw on our way here. Or even the fudge maker’s shop. The smell coming from there was marvelous.”
A flash of blazing green hair in my far peripheral vision caught my eye.
I instantly cleared my throat and pulled the white peace around me, my composure that had been absent most of the morning, while I took a few hurried bites of my food. I was satisfied my breakfast looked well-eaten since half of it was squashed under a waffle. I rested back on my chair, taking a large drink of my water just as Sin walked up to our table.
He ran a hand through his still wet hair, murmuring unobtrusively to the table’s occupants, “Sorry I’m late.” He rested his hands gently on my relaxed shoulders, bending to kiss my cheek before taking the seat next to me—the one I had saved for him. The light conversation started again after the polite pause for his arrival.
I tilted my head at the plate in front of him. “I ordered your normal.” Placing my glass on the table, I wagged my eyebrows at him and stated in made-up humor, “We’re going shopping, so you won’t be able to make fun of me today for face-planting.” I popped a grape into my mouth from my plate, which almost made me choke as I swallowed it, feeling like the size of an orange. I asked behind a fist, “What’s my tally up to now?”
Sin’s lips quirked as he placed his napkin on his lap. “I didn’t see you most of yesterday but from what I did, you definitely hit the four-digit mark.” To anyone who didn’t know him, his smile would look real.
My eyes widened. “Wonderful. My goal in life is accomplished.” I flicked a finger at him. “That is impressive since I haven’t broken a bone in all this time.”
“Certainly impressive.” His gaze darted to my plate before he turned his attention to his own cooling food. He spoke with the gentlest whisper. “Eat the rest of your breakfast, love.”
Inhaling shallowly so it wasn’t obvious, I lifted from my stress-free position. I began eating, every wretched bite going down in a grotesque chunk. I didn’t show it. My actions were aloof and natural as they should be.