Arthur nodded slowly, giving him a look as if he was trying to figure out how exactly Cyrus functioned, down to the bone. “Yes, I understand that…” He patted Cyrus on the shoulder. “I think she’d be a fool to not choose you. But the moment there’s any weird business – if she comes crying to our doorstep – you can bet I will hunt you down.” He said it in a joking, carefree way, but the glow in his eyes suggested something slightlylesscarefree in the delivery.
“I understand.” Cyrus attempted a smile. “I don’t plan to hurt your little girl. Don’t worry.”
“Hm.” He patted Cyrus once more, before seeing him out of the apartment. The old man stopped at the staircase, not wanting to expend his limited energy going down, and Cyrus waved him goodbye.
Out of curiosity, Cyrus checked his phone, which, contrary to his sister’s recommendation, he’d kept on.
There was a message from his brother. “We’re getting engaged!”
Another message: “Frederick wants his fighter to challenge The Lonely to a fight in the arena in two days. Dad says it’s not going to be rigged. But I think you should consider very carefully about whether or not you want to win it.”
Cyrus glared at the text message, all the happiness and warmth in him crystallizing to ice at the words. So, it wasn’t enough that he had to fight with his father on his, and only succeeded in a favorable arrangement thanks to Sasha appealing to Torag’s ego – but now he needed to fight his brother on the same thing. His brother and his fancy new Infernus wife-to-be, and all the nightmare family that followed suit.
The first thing he did was phone Aleera. She took a little time to answer, and when she did, she sounded rather… drunk. “Yes? What is it, dear brother of mine, calling at this godforsaken hour?”
“Our brother is what’s up,” Cyrus hissed. Then, not wanting to vent on Aleera all at once, he added, “The dinner was great. Wish I could’ve stayed longer. Sasha’s family’s really nice and they cook great food. The dad thinks I’m into her.”
“You aren’t?”
“Well…” He sighed. “Hopefully yours was fun.”
“Yeah, yeah, very fun…” Silence came, followed by a giggle. “No, no, stop, I’m on the phone…” She cleared her throat. “So, uh. Yeah, just chilling. Nothing weird going on here. You mentioned something about our other brother?”
Cyrus decided he didnotwant to know the exact details of whatever his sister was doing. In all meanings of the word. “He’s engaged to the Infernus woman now. One of the Infernus people, Frederick – wants to fight The Lonely. In other words, me. And our dear brother sent me a message advising me to lose the fight.”
“Thatasshole.”Suddenly Aleera sounded less drunk than before. “Oh, my God, I am going to go to his house and set it on fire. Our dad isokaywith you winning, in fact, he’s hingedeverythingon you winning every fight – and now this asshole wants you to lose? Is he dense or just an idiot?”
“Isn’t that the same thing…?”
“You know what I mean.”
“He couldn’t even wait for this day to be over. And my mom freaking texted me at the start as well. They tell me not to come and then reach out just to make my day a little worse. I swear, once we’re wealthy enough, I’m cutting everything. I’m just done with them.”
“Good. Now… obviously, you’re not going to lose. But I’ll let Imogen and Balys know about this. Maybe we can get a little extra security if you’re planning to do the fight.”
“Yep. I am.”
“Okay. Now, don’t phone me again. I need to enjoy the rest of my evening…” She let out another uncharacteristic giggle, and Cyrus decided to hang up.
A little reassured from his sister’s words, while still seething about his brother, Cyrus entered the hotel, checked himself in, and hung out in the reception for a little bit since it provided a nice little alcove for browsing his phone or looking out of the window into a garden fading because it was fall. He got a beer from the bar and just sat there, thinking about the day. Wishing desperately that his family could be even for a second like Sasha’s. How much better it must be to live like that. To actuallyshowlove, instead of burying it so deeply that people forget what it’s meant to look like.
He thought of the glances he gave Sasha during the dinner and when they played cards together. How she reacted when he brushed over her knuckles. He closed his eyes, dreaming of it, looking forward to the days to come.
The hotel doors opened. He opened his eyes to see the newcomer and almost spilled his drink in surprise. There, walking in with a blazing purpose and dedication, was Sasha herself.
In the hotel. His heart leaped with frenzied excitement.
Chapter Nine – Sasha
She soon spotted Cyrus, lurking in an alcove. He smiled at her, the kind that suggested he had somevery specificexpectations, seeing her there.
She had very specific expectations too.
Part of the reason for coming here was madness. Another part was excitement, fueled by the alcohol in her blood and the charged glances they gave each other throughout the evening. The way his eyes had dilated, looking at her. The way she wished several times that it was only them in the world, alone, with no one else talking or bothering them.
They went to his hotel room after Cyrus paid for an extra guest. She shrugged out of her coat but barely had left it before hands touched her on the shoulders, turning her around.
“You have three seconds to leave. If you’re still here afterward, this night is going to get… interesting.” His eyes were molten with desire, and she shivered from the touch.