Before I Let Go (Skyland #1)(30)

“Evren’s room.” Thalia smirked.

I rolled my eyes and pulled Evren’s black shirt over my head and tucked it into my trousers. She knew it belonged to him, but she didn’t tease me about it. I wondered if she knew how badly I needed this small connection to him even when I shouldn’t. I turned away from her as I tucked the crescent moon necklace into my breasts and shook out my hair.

“Okay. Let's get this over with.”

Thalia opened the door and waved me out. “Don't ruin our fun. Sorin will be with us, and I promise we’ll have a good time.”

“What exactly is going on with you and Sorin anyway?” I looked over at her, and she fidgeted with her hair until it was partly shielding her face. “Are you two having sex?”

Thalia swatted my arm and shushed me.

“Ow!” I laughed as her eyes widened.

“Would you be quiet?” Thalia looked up and down the hall, but there was no one around us. “No. I am not fucking the captain.”

“So, what?” I rubbed at the spot where she had just hit. “You’re trying to tell me this is all just built-up tension between the two of you?”

Thalia snorted out a laugh. “Something like that.”

I grinned as we finally made our way to the entry. Sorin was standing near the door talking to a few of his guards, but his gaze landed on Thalia as soon as we came into view. She was wearing her normal trousers and shirt, but they fit to her body like a second skin. If that girl carried a weapon, I had no idea where she hid it.

A wicked smile appeared on Sorin’s face as he looked back and forth between us. “Are you two ready?”

“I'm not exactly sure what I should be ready for,” I said without meeting his gaze.

He laughed before dismissing his men with a small nod. “You’ve been in the Blood kingdom for almost a week, and you haven’t left your room unless it’s to train or eat. If you're going to be a part of this kingdom, you need to actually experience it.”

My gut hardened and my magic flared inside of me, but I tried to focus on calming myself, pulling it back into the center of my chest just as Thalia had taught me. He spoke so easily about me becoming part of this kingdom. “I don't know that I want to be a part of this kingdom.”

It was the truth. I didn’t know what I was doing. I couldn’t make sense of what I wanted. The thought of leaving hadn’t run through my mind because I couldn’t imagine surviving in a world where I didn’t know if Evren was okay.

Sorin’s smile fell as my words sobered him up for a moment, but he quickly recovered.

“You know Evren isn't the only thing this kingdom has to offer.” He wrapped his arm around mine and pulled me to the door. “Not only do we have extraordinarily handsome captains, but we also make amazing wine.”

“You're quite full of yourself, aren't you?”

Thalia snorted from my other side, but Sorin only grinned.

“It's not being full of yourself when it's the truth.” He winked at me as we stepped through the door.

The sun was already sinking, and dusk was replacing its light.

“Come on.” Sorin tugged me forward, until I had no choice but to keep up with him. “What would you like to see first?”

Everything. The answer was on the tip of my tongue. I wanted to see all this kingdom had to offer. But at the same time, I wanted to see it with Evren. Even through my anger, I knew that this kingdom was his world. It was special to him, and I felt guilty for seeing any of it without him by my side.

“I don't know.” I shook my head. “You two decide.”

Thalia and Sorin leaned forward and looked at one another, and both grinned at the same time. That should've worried me, but I couldn’t get the small thrill to leave my gut.

“The Olde Vine,” they both said at the exact same moment and laughed softly. I had no idea what The Olde Vine was, but I had a feeling for the two of them to like it so much, it probably wasn’t the most respectful place in the kingdom.

Sorin continued to lead me through the street, and I smiled at all the people who were bustling down the cobblestone road. The Blood kingdom was alive with street sellers and performers and people falling in and out of pubs. There was a laughter that carried onto the streets, a vivaciousness that couldn't be hidden, and my marks buzzed under my skin as I took it all in. They were all watching us as we walked, and I fidgeted with my shirt to try to hide my insecurity.

“Do they know who I am?” I said softly to Sorin, and he smiled down at me.

“Of course, they do.”

Just at that moment, an elderly man crossed our path, and when his gaze connected with mine, he faltered for a second. My gut turned, worry fueling me, but the man simply bowed his head as if he was showing me respect. This man, who I could only assume was a vampyre, was showing respect to the Starblessed girl who hadn’t earned it.

“Hi, Rhion.” Thalia stepped forward and wrapped her arms around the man, and he let out a small chuckle.

“Thalia, my girl. I thought they were never to let you out of that castle.” A smile beamed across his face.

“You know me.” She grinned at him before she pulled back an arm’s length to look over his aging face. “Work, work, work, then I play.”

The old man laughed, his chuckle aged and full of spirit. “If only I was about two hundred years younger.” His hands squeezed against her arms, and I could see the amusement lighting up her eyes. “I would've stolen you away from this captain back there.”