A Kingdom of Blood and Betrayal (Stars and Shadows #2)(46)

I stared at him as I tried to catch my breath. As I tried to think about what he had just done. He could've easily won just now and had everything he had been asking for, but he chose not to.

It was his fate as much as it was mine, and he still chose not to. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell Thalia to miss. To tell her to let them win so I had no choice but to make good on the deal I had given him, but I couldn’t force myself to say it. Not before she grabbed the coin in her hand and launched it toward the mug. It bounced twice before clinging against the glass, and I heard her scream of victory ring out through the pub.

Everyone around us cheered and celebrated, and Evren grinned at me as if he was happy that we had won, but I couldn't stop the sinking feeling in my gut. Was I not happy that we won?

“Well, it appears that you won.” Evren moved closer to me and lifted my hand in his. “But it wasn't a total loss. You still owe me that kiss.”

“And you owe me one as well.”

“True.” He pushed forward until his thighs pressed against my knees. “Should I lay you back on this table and give you your prize now?” His hands dropped to my thighs and pressed against the fabric of my dress.

My breath caught in my throat as I thought about what he was saying. As I thought about how badly I wished the rest of this pub would just disappear so he could do exactly what he was telling me.

“Here.” Thalia shoved a glass of wine in my hand, and she couldn't hide the grin on her face. “Whatever you did to mess Evren up, I am forever grateful in your debt. I have never been able to beat these two.”

I shook my head gently. “I didn't do anything.”

“Don't let her lie to you, Thalia. She did far more than even she realizes.”

Thalia looked back and forth between us, and there was a spark of mischief in her eyes as she watched us. “Come on. The moons will be at their fullest in a few minutes. We should get outside.”

Evren grabbed my hand and helped me down from the table, and he didn't drop it even as we walked out of the pub. Sorin led the way with a defeated pout on his face, and I couldn't help but laugh.

“Go ahead, Adara.” Sorin shot me a look. “You might as well celebrate because this will be the one and only time you all beat us.”

I laughed again as we pushed through the crowd, the streets had gotten busier since we entered the pub. Everyone was taking to the streets to watch the moons, and their prince stood amongst them.

He didn't move to push his way to the front or demand an audience to notice he was there. He simply stood with his people and looked to the sky as he searched for the moons that promised prosperity.

He moved me in front of him and pressed his chest against my back. “Any moment now.” He wrapped his arms around me and held me against him.

I could feel people watching us, dissecting our every move, but I couldn't bring myself to push him away.

“The twin blood moons are considered a bad omen in the human lands,” I whispered the tale I had been told for many years to distract myself from the way my hands trembled before me.

Evren scoffed and pushed a bit of my hair over my shoulder. “And what exactly do they think happens with the blood moons?”

“Vampyres.” I smiled up at him over my shoulder. “It is legend that any human that isn't locked away in safety during the twin blood moons would be taken by a vampyre who is being driven mad with thirst.”

Evren chuckled as if the thought was ridiculous. “So what? You all bar up your doors and spread your salt in an effort to keep us away?” A chill ran down my spine as I simply nodded my head.

“That's exactly what we do.” I stared up at his jaw as he searched the sky. “But I'm assuming neither would actually keep you away if you wanted in.”

He looked back down at me, and his eyes seemed darker than only a moment before. “Princess, there isn't a single thing in this world or the next that could keep me away from you.”

I let out a breath as my magic flared inside of me and my heart raced to an erratic beat.

“There.” Evren pointed to the sky, and I pulled my attention away from him for long enough to look up at the moons. Both were perfect circles, still mostly the cream color that normally hearkened our skies, but ever so slowly the tent of blood pushed along the bottom surface.

“In the Blood Court, the double blood moons is our season of change,” Evren spoke softly against my ear as he still stared up at the sky. “They are a sign of what is to come. But the moons don't determine our future, princess. It is up to us to make something of the prosperity they give us.”

The vampyres that surrounded us were gasping and taking in the moons. Some held their hands up toward the sky, while others simply took it in with wishful eyes.

“I want to show you something,” Evren whispered against my ear, and a tremor ran down my spine.

“Okay.” I nodded as he took my hand in his and pulled me toward him. He led me through the crowd, and almost none of them paid us any attention as we got lost among them.

He pulled me through the crowd, and I didn't question where we were going. I simply held my hand in his and let him pull me to wherever he wanted me to go.

We broke through the line of people, and I lifted the hem of my dress with my other hand as we moved down one of the side cobblestone streets. Evren looked back at me with a smile on his face, and my stomach fluttered as I watched his joy.