Abyss - Book Five of the Alpha Series - MxM

Chapter 12

"We live in a brothel for months, and you don't even glance at a woman. We are here for an hour, and you're gawking at this guard as if she held the promised land on her chest." I only have one man to accuse; I'm not responsible for the other three. 

Tomas gropes his chest absently as if he held the globes himself and imagined what they felt like.

Verando sighs at me, calculating his answer, I'm sure. "Come now. That was a ridiculous amount of acreage that woman possessed."

Tomas nods, "Aye. Quite impressive, really. Wonder who she inherited from; if she has a relative and is open to exploration."

Reid is beat red from the two of them, and frankly, I'm embarrassed as well. Tonic seems indifferent, as if somehow he'd gained enlightenment and was no longer interested in the chests of well-endowed women.  

I hear Ana chuckle, and I'm appalled at her. She composes herself, straightening though unable to wipe the smile off her face.

"I'm sorry, Nic, they're men. It is kind of funny."

Not quite in the mood to listen to the validations as to why they chose this particular dinner party to misbehave, I excuse myself for some air by one of the nearby windows. An overreaction, perhaps, on my part, but then I felt betrayed by their security with the situation to allow themselves the freedom to be entertained. 

Trapped in this persona, I had no room for such actions, and it stung to see that I was the only one not having any fun. Begrudgingly, I feel his presence before I see him, and I pinch the bridge of my nose as I down another glass of wine and gratefully accept more.

 "Your Majesty." Haryek greets.

"Who let you in?" 

"Kymil." He smiles broadly. With such a snake in our immediate group, I don't understand why we needed Mr.Balan. Haryek was plenty capable of making horrible decisions that only suited himself. "I see you're working with the mafia."

 He gestures around us, defensively cradling his wine with his free hand. I can tell he's mildly intoxicated, but truthfully, so am I. The drinking problem I had developed when I got home from the school of Solomonari had slowly started to resurface, the more dinner parties I was invited to. 

I'd been quite indulgent this evening on an empty stomach.

I shrug at the question; it truly wasn't my doing, and I wouldn't shoulder the blame. "Verando's idea. Mr.Balan really couldn't be allowed to stay at home anyway, so he's here. I don't know how much protection the mafia offers, though, considering we were ambushed this afternoon."

Haryek snorts, allowing a small laugh. "Well, of course you were, this is their last chance to kill you. I'm shocked you're partaking in the wine, though I suppose there aren't many people here who would dabble in poison." He gestures to my outfit. "Who dressed you?"

"Loan." I frown. "Are you suggesting that the mafia organized the raid?"

Haryek purses his lips, unimpressed. "Oh, honey, I have no idea. Politicians are vile creatures, and you're not exactly making yourself the most likable person among those you wish to abolish. The people may love you, but you did kind of take away all these people's slaves." He grimaces, as if there was a major flaw on my part. 

"You look like you've seen a ghost with these light colors." Haryek casually touches my sleeve. "I mean, if you were an elf-" He gestures to his own 'beacon of light' outfit, before offering me a turn so I might admire all of him. "But it's not... sexy. A king should be sexy!" 

I try not to make a face as I greet a passing couple. Haryek watches me with a thoughtful expression, snatching a bottle of wine from a servant and gripping the cork in his teeth, he pulls it off, spitting the cork onto the ground, and filling my glass. "Look at you. So grown up that you're not having any fun at your own party, don't take things so seriously, Nic. Maybe you should drop Loan and let me take a crack at your outfit tomorrow? You deserve to look good, you did... sort of... earn this."