“Yeah, yeah. Don’t get all judgy with me, Mr. Royal Guard,” Diogo grumbled with a dismissive wave of his hand. “I ain’t hurting nobody with this one. The goods aren’t that expensive, and the customers get to claim they bought something from Brightspire, which ain’t a lie.”
At the most basic level, it was the truth. The problem was that Ilon was known for putting all its artist-made goods through rigorous checks and approval ratings to make sure that the country maintained the very highest quality of products. The country had a reputation for producing the very best, which was why everything from there was so damn expensive.
Inferior goods leaking out damaged that reputation.
Considering how Erya citizens were being treated by Ilon right now, though, Adrian couldn’t bring himself to feel too bad about that tarnished reputation.
“Have you had any trouble?” Adrian asked, softening his tone. Diogo was right. He had no room to judge considering his own past.
“Nah. I’ve lived here off and on for ten years. I know how to sound like I’m from here, and most people in the neighborhood recognize me. If they knew I was from Stormbreak, most of them have forgotten by now.”
Adrian shook his head and chuckled. “You’re a fucking lunatic.”
“Really? You’re gonna call me that when you’re the one who’s running around with the—”
“Shhh, lower your damn voice!” Adrian said, hitting his friend hard with his elbow. Sending one last glare at Diogo, Adrian shoved to his feet and took a step inside the apartment to find Caelan still stretched out on the lumpy floral sofa. His face was relaxed and his breathing was slow and even in sleep. Nothing had disturbed him. Maybe sleep was good for him.
“Come on. He’s fine. You know I wouldn’t let anything happen to him,” Diogo pressed. At least he kept his voice down a little more than earlier.
And yes, Adrian believed him.
With a sigh, Adrian left the doorway and dropped into his chair. There was a knot of anxiety resting right on top of his heart that wouldn’t leave him. Probably not until he got Caelan safely to Eno, Drayce, and Rayne. Yes, Caelan had the power of four gods coursing through him. The man could easily protect himself, but it was also clear that the gods caused plenty of problems for Caelan on their own. If something happened to set Caelan off, Adrian wasn’t sure he could calm the king. At least, not as well as Drayce could.
“Seriously, though, what are you thinking? You’re going to get yourself killed!”
Adrian leaned close to Diogo and dropped his voice. “And here I thought you were a big supporter of the crown.”
Diogo gave Adrian a hard enough shove to tip his chair over onto two legs. Adrian barely managed to catch himself from completely falling on his ass.
“Prick! You know I am!” Diogo snarled, his face twisted up with anger. “But I also believe in self-preservation. Why am I going to risk my neck for them?”
“Maybe because they’re risking their necks for all of us?” Adrian snapped. “You think Queen Amara wanted to die protecting your sorry ass?”
His friend’s expression crumpled, and his shoulders slumped. “No, but I mean, wasn’t that her job? What she was born for.” He tilted his head toward the sliding glass door and the living room. “Same as him.”
Adrian snorted and slumped in his seat. Now that was a miserable way to think about Caelan’s life. His entire purpose in being was to die for all of them. But first, he had to be tortured by a bunch of crazy gods as he marched to his death. Fuck that shit.
“Look, A, I don’t mean to sound so heartless, but it’s not like he lives all that bad of a life in the Towers, right? And the people appreciate everything he’s done for them. But this kind of crazy, risking-your-life thing, that’s what he was born into. I’m not saying that it doesn’t suck for him too. It’s just that you’ve got a choice. You’re smart. You’re a survivor like me. Why would you put your neck out like this when you don’t have to?”
He lifted his shoulders in a small shrug. “Maybe I want something more than surviving.”
There was no mistaking the cut of disappointment that burned in his chest. A little in his friend, but also in himself. He’d thought the same way not all that long ago, and it was embarrassing to realize. A lot of his mentality had been like Diogo’s. Fuck the world. So long as he was safe and getting a slice of the action, what did the rest of it matter?
“A—”
He waved a hand at his friend, stopping his words. “Don’t worry about it. I get it. There’s some sense in what you say, but I believe in what I’m doing. That’s enough for me.”
“Maybe.” Diogo paused and licked his lips. “But you know, you could always return to the game. You disappeared and everyone knows you didn’t break the code. Didn’t rat on anyone. You could walk away from all this shit and come work with me. It’s an easy gig and good money. We have a long history. You saved my ass plenty of times. I’ve got no problem cutting you in.”
His smile returned, a little weary but there. He was touched. Not tempted in the least. But he was freaking touched that Diogo was trying to watch out for him.
“Nah. I’m good. It might be dangerous, but I’m actually enjoying it. I feel good about myself when I get up in the morning, and I’m seeing some interesting places.”
Diogo lifted his eyebrows, silently begging for a few more details, but Adrian bit down on his tongue to keep the words from spilling out. Diogo would love to hear about what he’d seen on the Isle of Stone. Of course, the man would almost immediately make a run for the coast and steal the first boat he could land his hands on to make for the home of the dragons. He wouldn’t be scared at the threat of claws and massive teeth. He’d face that for the promise of untapped riches that could be sold in Erya. Freaking con artist.
As if by magic, memories of Haru danced through his brain. It was as though every time he thought of the Isle of Stone, that damn dragon crossed his mind. Haru would take one look at Diogo and eat him alive. Maybe not literally, but the dragon would have fun playing with him.
No, Haru was not allowed to meet Diogo.