Before I Let Go (Skyland #1)(45)

“Oh my gods. That was so close.” Thalia clapped her hands, and Evren simply grinned at me.

“My turn.” Evren grabbed his silver coin and moved in front of me to line himself up. He hardly thought of the task before he launched the coin down the table. It bounced once before it landed perfectly in the mug, and he turned back toward me with a wide grin on his face. I couldn't stop myself from returning it.

“Lucky shot, prince.” I crossed my arms as Thalia grabbed her coin and launched it toward the mug just as Evren moved around me.

“Did I forget to mention that I was skilled at this?” He chuckled as he faced me. “Sorin and I used to play this game as often as we could to get away from our studies.”

“So you made me place a bad bet already knowing the outcome.” I cocked an eyebrow at him. “That's not very princely of you.”

“I never said I played fair, princess. Especially not when it comes to you.” Thalia’s coin landed in the mug, but I couldn’t concentrate on anything other than him. “I'll play as dirty as a need to.”

Sorin threw his coin, and it barely made it in. Sorin rubbed his hand along the back of his neck as he released a deep breath, and Thalia laughed.

Evren held another coin in my direction. “Your turn, princess.” He was staring at my mouth, and I couldn't bring myself to care about the stupid game. I couldn't think of anything other than the way he was looking at me, and what it would feel like to have his fingers pull this dress from my skin.

“Stop trying to distract my teammate.” Thalia slammed her hands down on the table. “Do not make me separate you two.”

Evren held his hands up in defense as he laughed. “I'm not doing anything.” He smiled at Thalia, his charm in full force, but she simply rolled her eyes.

Before he could turn back to look at me, I focused on the mug and tossed the coin on the table with more force than last time. It hit the table once with a loud thud before bouncing and landing straight in the mug.

Thalia’s mouth dropped open, and I squealed so loudly I was sure that I scared some of the patrons. But it didn't matter, Thalia came toward me, and the two of us slapped hands in celebration.

I turned back to Evren, and he was watching me with a smile on his handsome face.

I held up a finger. “So far, you only get one.” He laughed and looked toward the mug. “The game is still young, princess. The first team to make it to ten wins.”

I cross my arms and grinned to him. “And right now, we’re tied.”

He moved closer to me even though it was his turn to go. “Would you like to sweeten the bet?” he whispered against my ear.

“How so?” I swallowed deeply as the smell of him overwhelmed me.

“If I win, I get your hand, and you take my last name.” My gaze slammed into his, but he was being serious. He was saying it so calmly as if we weren't betting our future on a game of silvers.

“And if I win?”

“Whatever you want. If you win, I promise to give you whatever it is you want.”

“Even my freedom?”

His throat moved as he swallowed hard, and his gaze searched mine. I expected him to take it back, to tell me we weren't going to do this on a game, but he surprised me once again.

“If that's what you choose.” He nodded. “You don't have to decide now, but I'll give you whatever it is you choose.” He held out his hand, and I stared at it. “Do we have a deal?”

I slid my hand into his before I could talk myself out of it, and his tightened around mine.

“Deal.” I felt his magic zap through me. Not just his, ours. Our magic combined, solidifying the wager I had just placed, and Evren's gaze darkened as if he found pleasure in my magic touching his.

“All right, princess. Let's play.” He took his silver coin and threw it against the table. It bounced once before once again landing perfectly in his mug, and I cursed under my breath.

Thalia shot a look in my direction before her gaze slid to Evren. Did she know? Was she more than aware of how foolish I was when it came to her prince?

Evren barely paid me a bit of attention for the rest of the game, his focus solely on winning, and mine was on my anxiety as I watched Sorin flip his coin in the air. The score was nine to eight, and I had been the only one to miss my shot the entire game.

“It was fun playing with you ladies.” Sorin laughed before catching his coin back in his hand. “But you all should practice before going up against us again.”

“Just go.” Thalia crossed her arms, and Sorin chuckled before launching the coin toward the mug. It bounced once, twice, a third time before making its way toward the mug. My magic flared inside of me as if it knew the deal I had just made. The foolish, reckless deal.

I stared at the mug and the only thing that could run through my mind was please don't make it.

The coin hit the lip of the mug before slowly rolling across the edge, and I felt like everyone in the entire pub was silent as we watched it. It rolled and rolled until it paused, standing on the edge with perfect balance, before slowly falling over and landing on the table.

Silence rang out through the pub before Sorin destroyed it.

“That's shit!” He looked between the three of us. “Which one of you used your magic to make sure I didn't make it?”