Frost and Flame, Foes in the Dark (book 2)

Chapter 8 The Brother

Sen leaned back in the chair with a sigh, wiping away the tears that had escaped his eyes. Ceva stared him straight in the face, or to be exact, she watched his glowing eyes. Giving her a charming smile, Ceva almost fell off the balcony.

He could hear the young princess speak but ignored her while he perused his surroundings. The Relevis had peculiar views on festivities. Shouldn't a festival be dedicated to drinking and song, not bloodied bodies? The smell of blood hardly made Sen excited. "Where is Sidastir?"

"Are you well, Draconis? I did not mean to horrify you," uttered the princess with a frown while she tried to see what shocked Ceva, but Sen hid his eyes.

"Why lie, princess? You had every intention to scare me since I highly doubt you are foolish enough not to know that torture and executions would hardly win by trust," laughed Sen, ensuring that his voice sounded human. Peering at his face, the princes grew rigid at the sight of his eyes.

Where they terrifying? Sen thought they were beautiful. Ligh two little stars in the night sky. Far better than the humans dull color.

His eyes caught the movement of Alacer and with a velocity far above that of Akana, Sen rose and grabbed onto Alacer whose hand had darted to the sword-hilt under his mantle.

Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Sen started to put pressure on Alacer's hand. The hand started to crack, and with a grimace, Alacer let go.

"So rude, to draw your sword against the one you are supposed to protect, or did the phoenix princess lie about this as well?" asked Sen, turning towards Victoria whose visage was far from its original innocent expression.

"Will you harm me?" she asked, giving him a perusing gaze as to try and detect his lies.

"Who are you?" Ceva suddenly sounded, the voice uncertain of the answer. Akana had not told her about him, a fact Sen took as an insult. Scolding his brother in his mind, but Akana just ignored him, still trying to get his initial shock under control.

"I am Sen. Akana's far more charming brother, and I won't harm you," Sen peered at ALacer who was rubbing his aching hand. "Much."

"I'm only here because Akana did not appreciate the princess idea of amusement," Sen leaned closer to Alacer, taking in his scent. Releasing a burst of harrowing laughter, his original voice of a thousand voices came through as he saw no reason to hide it.

"I must agree with Ceva. You are peculiar. I smell the scent of death from you. Guards rarely drench themselves in death. No, you are something else-"Sen's thoughts were interrupted though as someone stormed onto the scene.

With a smile, Sen turned toward the panting Sidastir who had frozen on the spot. He first looked shocked by Akana's closeness to Alacer, giving him a sharp glance, before Sidastirs glance turned to Sen, realizing that his eyes were glowing.

"Sen, release him!" said Sidastir, a tad uncertain what was truly going on.

Sen raised his hands as if to surrender and took a few steps back giving Sidastir a joyful smile. "My beloved husband, have you come to keep me company?"

Magnus entered the scene with a concerned look on his face. "What's the matter with Akana?"

Apparently, he didn't either know of Sen's existence. Irritation started to rise inside of Sen as he realized that his existence was completely unknown. With a pout, he glared at Sidastir.

"Sen, I think it's time to leave this to Akana," Sidastir muttered, making Sen's foul mood even worse. Everyone wanted Akana, but no one wanted him.

Sen released a huff," I have just gotten out! The phoenix princess might be a horrible host but I know how to amuse myself."

Turning around under Sidastir's shouts of discontent, Sen grabbed onto Ceva. Feeling her magic, taking a sip and jumped with her in his arms as he let the wind guide him from roof to roof during his escape. Only slowing down when he found his target, a rowdy tavern, as he released a glaring Ceva. He noticed that she seemed to have considered stabbing him with a dagger, she had hidden in her toga, during the journey but seemed to decide against it. Most likely because she was afraid of hurting Akana. Akana, always Akana.