“Just go.” Zayden smiled, following after him towards the tavern’s lavatory.
We shared in a laugh as they kept walking then there was a moment of silence that followed.
“Well—” Adele said with a quick breath. “This wasn’t so bad. What’d I tell you?”
“The night’s not over yet.” I replied.
Jaylyn nodded her head to agree and looked quickly towards the doorway they disappeared into. “Have either of you noticed—”
“Yeah.” I cut in. “They do seem a little different.”
“Oh, good. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one.”
“Probably just because we’ve never seen them like this before.” Adele explained. “You know, this is probably the most fun they’ve had with us. Well, as a group. I’m not talking about private fun.”
“Yeah, I suppose that could be true.” I said. “They feel more comfortable here.”
Zayden walked back to us and sat himself on the couch with me. It was very unusual and we looked at each other oddly.
“Zayden.” Adele said, leaning forward a little.
He looked up while lighting another cigar at the same time. “What?”
“What are you doing?” I asked with a smile while leaning into him.
He looked down at his cigar quickly. “Oh, I’m sorry. Do you mind?”
“Not that.” Adele said with narrowing eyes. “Why aren’t you sitting with me?”
Zayden looked between Adele and I really quickly a few times until he figured it out for himself and got right up. “Oh, shit. Whoops! Sorry. That was the closest couch.”
“It’s all right. Feeling okay?”
“Yeah. Masterly.”
He took another hit off his cigar then a drink from a glass in front of him and Troy quickly skipped to us, speaking in a fast voice. “Anyone need a fill-up?”
Jaylyn looked around at the table. “I don’t think so. Our water looks fine.”
“Okay.”
He was about to turn but Zayden sat forward quickly and shouted to him. “Wait!”
“What?”
He downed the glass he had in front of him and instantly set it back down while looking up at Troy. “I could use one now.”
“All right. I’ll be right back.”
“Hey, where’s Darius?” I asked, stopping Troy from leaving again.
He looked up towards the lavatory and shrugged his shoulders. “Thought he was right behind me.”
He walked off before I could stall him again and I had my eyes in the direction Darius should have been coming from. “I better make sure he hasn’t passed out.”
“Okay.” Jaylyn laughed.
I walked off to find him and first found his upbeat voice. “Looks like I’ve been leaving all them to you!”
Another man laughed and I don’t know what made me eavesdrop but I did just around a corner instead of showing myself. “Shit though. You’re missing out. I heard you actually came here with someone.”
“Yeah.” Darius sighed like he was admitting it was true. “Just the chick I knocked up.”
My eyes narrowed and started turning red. I couldn’t help it. I had to close them so no one would see.
“Ah, shit. There’s always one that ruins all the fun, isn’t there? I never thought it’d happen to you though.”
“It was coming someday. Just sooner than I’d like.”
“Well, there’s still that chance that the baby won’t come to term. You’d be the lucky bastard to get a break like that.”
Whoever this man was, I hated him and it only got worse. My eyes started to water when I heard Darius laugh to what he said and had to turn away. I couldn’t listen anymore; I couldn’t stay here. I hurried back to where the others were and tried keeping in my emotions while I reached for my jacket.
“Did you find him?” Adele asked. “Is he passed out?”
“I wish.” I went straight for the doors to get away.
It started out all right but it has turned out to be the worst night ever.
Chapter 41
Jaylyn
Ruby looked upset about something and just left without explaining.
“What was that about?”
Adele and Zayden both shrugged their shoulders and I looked down towards the bar when I heard Troy talking to Phil.
“Just this for now?”
“That ought to do it.”
Phil took out a tray for the glasses and Troy quickly turned around to a woman’s excited voice shouting his name. “Troy!”
He smiled bigger when he saw a brunette woman with curly hair rush towards him, completely unaware that I was watching because he never looked up towards me. “Marina?!”
They wrapped their arms around each other and the girl had a tight grip around him. “You’re home! I was hoping I’d find you here.”
They parted still with that heavy excitement to see each other and I didn’t like it. “What are you doing here? I thought you left.”
“I did for a month but no other place is like home and no other place has you. I’ve missed you.”
Troy smiled and they hugged quickly again. I had no idea who this woman was but would certainly like to find out. “Damn, it’s good seeing you. You have to catch me up. Phil! Send up the tray to Zayden and give me two more rounds.”
“Sure thing, Troy.”
I leaned back on the couch when I watched Troy walk to a table for two on the first level with this Marina girl and I had to look away.
Adele and Zayden had their attention on each other and didn’t even notice me sitting alone. Time started to pass.
It seemed Darius has moved off to the other side of the second level, caught up in conversations with others because he never came back and Troy was still distracted by Marina through laughs and drinks down on the first level.
The night for me was now going downhill and I got up with my glass to get a refill of water. I walked down to the bar, practically passing Troy but he didn’t even notice. I acted like I didn’t notice him either and sat on a barstool. “Could I get another water please?”
Phil reached for my glass. “Sure thing. You sure I can’t get you anything else?”
“No. Just the water is fine, thank you.”
Phil watched me as he poured another glass and set it in front of me. “You came here with Troy, didn’t you?”
“Ah, yeah.” I took a glance back at him still in a happy mood while he was around Marina. “Like he would notice. I’m basically here to just watch him.”
“I see. Hence just the water.”
“Yes. Do you know who he’s talking to?”
Phil glanced back and started to smile. “Ah, that’s the lovely Marina. She and Troy have been coming here for as long as this old mind can remember.”
“You mean, they’re together?”
“Everyone would say it for them. They’ve always been seen together.”
“I see. They do make a beautiful couple.”
Phil nodded. “Troy has always favored her the most.”
I let out a quiet sigh from that news and got up from the bar. “Thanks for the water.”
“Of course.”
I left the glass full and sitting there on the counter and headed back up to the second level, getting my jacket. “I’m just going to—” I looked over at Adele and Zayden but they weren’t paying attention. Their lips were locked together and I just turned away. “Never mind.”
The night was over for me and I just wanted to go home but for now, the palace would have to do.
Chapter 42
Adele
I didn’t think this was so bad. Zayden was really into kissing while he was drunk. I almost couldn’t wait to get him back to the palace later. I didn’t think he was so drunk that he couldn’t perform but I soon got my answer to just how drunk he really was.
We parted after minutes of having our lips locked with heavy breaths, Zayden’s being heaviest and he grazed the side of my face while looking in my eyes. “I ca
n promise you two things. One, this will be the best night of your life while being just another great one of mine and two, the chances of my remembering your name is unlikely so don’t get hopeful.”
I laughed like it had to be a joke. “Zayden, it’s me.”
He backed away like he was trying to focus his clouded eyes so he could get a better look. “I know you?”
I was getting a little angry at this point. “Ah, you better.”
“I’m sorry. Have we done this before? Then you must know the routine. I’ll let you start whenever you’d like.” He leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes.
I huffed in even more anger and tossed my water in his face as I got up.
Zayden was startled by it and sat up. “Hey, bitch! You must not be drunk enough.”
“You’re right about that.” I raged, grabbing my jacket. “I’m not. Goodnight, your majesty.”
I walked off and made my way alone all the way back to the palace. No one important saw me come back and I went back up to our room, slamming the door shut.
Rift was jumped awake but when he saw that it was just me, he put his head back down like I didn’t matter. I was okay with that. I had bigger problems and let my emotions go. I threw myself on the bed fully dressed as my tears fell. Thinking that Zayden didn’t even know who I was started to terrify me and I fell asleep that night on the soaked pillow with those thoughts taking over my dreams.
Chapter 43
Jaylyn
Morning came slowly and I woke from my completely unplanned night. I stretched in bed and felt the empty place next to me. My eyes shot over and I saw that Troy had yet to come home. Tears came to my eyes in an instant to think of why he didn’t and I had to sit up to calm myself down from my gaping breaths.
The door opened without a knock and I quickly scurried around to make it look like I didn’t just wake up and wiped my eyes with haste. I was hoping it was Troy coming back with our breakfast. Maybe he woke up before me but it wasn’t him. Izin stood just a few feet in with his hand still on the door knob. “Morning. You both must be up. Good. Where’s Troy?”
I tried keeping in my emotions but it was clear on my voice when I spoke. “I don’t know.”
Izin’s brow creased and he stepped in the room farther. “Are you okay? What do you mean, you don’t know?”
“He never came home last night.” A tear rolled down, soaking my already damp face.
“Last night?” Izin got to the end of the bed and sat himself on it.
“Yeah. We all went out after the dinner because they wanted to have some real fun and—”
Izin sighed deeply before I could have finished. “I should have seen that coming. It’s all right, Jaylyn. It’s sort of a habit of theirs. You don’t need to get upset about it.”
“You don’t know the half of it. I remember Ruby leaving first. She seemed upset about something but didn’t say. Then I left not long after because I was being completely ignored and I don’t know about Adele but she’s alone right now in their room.”
Izin sighed again and lowered his head, bringing up his hand to rub across his brow. “All right. Don’t worry. They just need a talking to. I can fix this. Not the first time.” He got up off the bed and started heading for the door.
“Izin?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
I hesitated for just a second but my words soon came out quick and harsh. “I don’t want to see him.”
“What?” He asked it like he was just trying to understand it.
“Troy. I don’t want to see him.”
“That bad?”
“He forgot about me to be with another woman and I think he stayed with her last night.”
Izin nodded through a heavy breath. “Okay. That’s completely understandable as to why but I have to bring them back here. We still have guests that they know they need to show respect for and thank them for their visit before they leave.”
“Okay. I can see that.”
“I’ll make sure he’s kept busy for a while but you’ll have to speak with him at some point. Things may not be as bad as you think.”
I nodded to his assurance and let him walk out of the room. I hoped he was right but just thinking of Troy with Marina made me angry and sad all at the same time. Had we been a lie from the beginning? Troy clearly felt something for her from seeing their meeting and even though I wanted to, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Chapter 44
Izin
I made my way back downstairs to my room where Kathryn was still asleep in our bed. I smiled to seeing her and walked over to her side, carefully sitting down next to her. She had yet to wake up until I gently grazed the side of her face with the back of my fingers.
She started to smile and reached for my hand while she opened her eyes. “Up early, my love?”
“It would seem so. There’s something I need you to do for me.”
Kathryn became more awake when my voice became more serious and she started to sit up. “What is it?”
“Go to Aleks and alert him about what’s happening. The boys have made another night-out mistake that I need to go take care of. I’d like the two of you to stay here and be sure that our guests don’t catch ear of this. This is a family matter that doesn’t involve them.”
“Okay. Are they okay?”
“They may be now but that may not be the case when they see their wives. The girls are the only ones who made it back last night.”
“Oh, Izin. No.”
“It’s all right. They’ll fix it their own way but not without consequence. We’ll need to make sure our guest remain unaware while they gather to return home.”
She nodded again and started getting out of bed. “Okay. I’ll get Aleks up.”
“Good. I’m going to get the boys. I know exactly where they are. I don’t know what’s going to happen when they get back but whatever it is, I’d like it to be done quietly. I’m not sure what state they’re in right now but I hope they wish to fix what they’ve done.”
“They will. Go. I’ll take care of things here.”
“I know you will.” I got up off the bed and kissed her lips gently. “Hurry and get ready.”
Kathryn nodded as I left the room and got a horse prepared to leave. Three soldiers were seen as my personal escorts through the city while I made my way to the tavern but I already knew what I would be using them for, knowing my boys.
The walk was quiet but we approached the sleeping tavern and I let myself in. I had my eyes fixed on the bar ahead where the barkeep was cleaning to prepare for the next evening’s activities.
When he saw me, he immediately stopped what he was doing and bowed. “Your majesty!”
“Where are they?”
My voice even made the nerves of a man my age quiver and he pointed up to the second level to the left of the bar with his eyes. “There.”
“Is anyone else here?”
“No, your majesty. Just them and their guests.”
“Good. Leave us.”
He bowed his head and hurried to get around the bar and scurried towards the door.
My eyes turned up at the second level and I walked stiffly towards the stairs, going up them slowly with the three soldiers following quietly and obedient behind me.
There they were; passed out asleep on the couches they’ve spent their night on, each with a woman cuddled close to their side. Zayden had a young blonde under his arm, Darius had a waitress laying against him and Troy was leaned comfortably against the woman I would assume Jaylyn saw him with. Both her arms were on him, resting on his chest.
I stood at the foot of the table with scorn on my face to see what my sons have done. The family had been dishonored by this and I couldn’t let it last another second. I flipped the table in front of me to its face and all the glasses fell to the floor, shattering.
The women jumped awake from their sleeping state first and saw me standing with my soldiers. Fear took them and they all bowed their h
eads at the same time and spoke as one. “Your majesty.”
“Please have these ladies escorted home before I’m forced to charge them with adultery.” I said, speaking to the soldiers while my eyes were still fiercely on the women.
“What?” One was confused and tired. The soldiers walked around me and one started pulling her away from Troy. Still lost from reason, she resisted. “No. Troy!”
He was next to wake from being moved by the commotion. “Huh?” His eyesight cleared and he saw the girl being taken away first. “Marina! Stop!”
“No! Get her out of here!” I said in a louder voice, making the soldier continue to get her to her feet.
Troy saw me and sucked in a breath. “Father.”
“Is this what you traded your wife for?”
Troy just stared at me. Someone had to say it and I think he finally remembered. “Oh, no.”
“Your wife?” The woman was being pulled towards the stairs and had her moistened eyes on Troy. “You’re married? But I came back for you.”
“I’m sorry.” Troy muttered. “Just go. It’s okay.”
A tear came out of her eye as she was led out of sight last behind the other two women.
Silence filled the tavern once the doors were closed and Troy leaned himself back on the couch with a heavy breath, shifting his eyes towards me. “Father, I’m sorry.”
“I’m sure you are but I’m not the one you’re in trouble with this time. Get them up.”
Troy looked to his right at Zayden and Darius and threw a couple of pillows at their faces. “Hey. Wake up.”
They started to wake and Darius moved around, wondering what hit him but opened his eyes first to see me. “Father? What are you doing here?”
“I was about to ask you the same question along with how your night was away from your wives?”
Zayden felt next to him and the spot where the young blonde laid was still warm from her presence. His eyes widened and moved towards Darius and Troy.
“I’m afraid so.” Troy nodded.
Broken Road (Fate's Intent Book 7) Page 19