Sovereign - The Dark Sorcerers: Book 2

Chapter 17: Magic Mail

Rowan

At some point, I must have decided that napping next to the bucket was more practical than getting up from my bed five or six times at night to empty my stomach. In my drunken brilliance, I had even grabbed my pillow to sleep on the floor, so that I at least lay comfortable. Not that I remembered when I had done that. Hell, I didn't even recall walking back to my room.

And that was just the first stage of drowning myself in the Royal Palace's exquisite wines. The next stage started when I cracked one eye open and had to shut it again as dreary morning light pinched my pupils with the viciousness of a dozen needles. It took me several more minutes to attempt waking up once more, successfully this time. Still, my head throbbed like someone had hit it with a heavy hammer—repeatedly.

Pressing the heels of my hands against my eyes as if I could sober myself up with it, I straightened up and peered at the white, clinical sheets on the bed. My gut clenched when I noticed they were tangled up, and I panicked as all kinds of thoughts of what my drunk self might have done rushed through my head. Then I saw a red ponytail fanned out across one of the many pillows. My heartbeat slowed down its pace.

Contrary to me, Gale never suffered from nausea when he had drunk himself into oblivion. He merely passed out sometime during the evening and slept like a rose for the entire night. Until he woke up the next morning, because his hangovers were even more brutal than mine.

I nudged his side and he grunted, slamming an arm over his eyes to block out the sunlight. "Wake up, Gale. You're in my bed."

"What?" He bolted upright, an abrupt movement he immediately regretted when the headache kicked in. "I helped your mother carry you here last night. I suppose I passed out myself not long after that." Groaning, he rubbed his temples.

"You... carried me?" How embarrassing. It had been a few years since I had last been that drunk. "I didn't ... do anything, did I?"

"With me?"

I burst out laughing, although the sound made us both cringe again. "I'm not your type, Gale. I meant with a girl."

"Not as far as I know, mate. Rest assured." I exhaled a slow, controlled breath and he put a hand on my arm. "Your loyalty to the Sorceress is admirable."

"It's been my only good trait lately," I sighed. "By the Light, why didn't you stop me from having more wine?"

"Rissy tried, but you said it helped you forget, so she gave up."

Had I really said that? I opened my mouth to ask Gale what more nonsense I had talked when the door opened and Rissy's shiny, blonde head appeared in the doorway. She carried a silver tray with two glasses of water and a bottle of Anti-hangover potion.

"Good morning, boys. I'd say you both look well today, but I'd rather not lie to you." She flashed us a broad grin, gloating at our misery. Her voice was too loud.

"Yeah, morning to you too," I grumbled, stumbling off the mattress. I halted in front of her and swung a threatening finger in front of her face. "Before you start lecturing us on our irresponsible behavior, I'd appreciate it if you gave us that potion first. My head is about to explode."

She chuckled and handed me the bottle. Uncorking it, I took a large sip; the vague, sweet taste of it was a soothing balm for my sore throat. I closed my eyes while I waited for the pain to fade. "Thank you."

While Gale gulped down his own portion, Rissy's smile faltered and her eyes met mine, large and serious. The somber expression made my stomach churn more than the alcohol had. "Now that you're more or less sober again, I have some bad news to tell you."