Bloodbound: The Alliance
Chapter 45 - 49

Chapter 45: Chapter 49

Vance POV

The red walls of the city and various buildings are constructed in red sandstone. Marrakesh comprises an old fortified city packed with vendors and their stalls, which houses one of the biggest traditional markets. A major economic center. The region of Marrakesh is like a desert in character with semi-arid temperatures, hot and humid.

The ramparts of Marrakech, which stretch for at least nineteen kilometers around the medina of the city. The walls are made of a distinct orange-red clay and chalk. The corner-pieces are embellished with floral decorations. This ornamentation is framed by three panels marked with an inscription from the Quran.

I thought my father would be eager to escape the punishing heat, but he has fallen under the thrall of this place. He even orders the entire convoy to take a detour so we can enjoy the market. My father and Mayor Du Pont pair up and meander away to browse the stalls, followed by two guards. The rest of us clump together by force. Silas and Luciano walk shoulder-to-shoulder behind Avara and I whereas Landen dawdles behind the four of us on his own with his black shades on. The pathways are packed with sun-kissed people, some even leading mules by their reins.

Souk SKelseyrine, which sells everything from brightly coloured bejewelled sandals and slippers and leather pouffes and kaftans. Other stalls display hand-woven baskets, natural perfumes, knitted hats, scarves, tee shirts, and Ramadan tea. Between the four of us, Luciano and Silas are the only ones engaged in a riveting conversation. Avara has been on a call since we descended. Considering the unending interval, I’m certain she’s talking to Kelsey. I know she misses her and wishes that she could’ve come along. I know I do. I cast her frequent looks, a radiant expression with a smile so luminous, speaking excitedly with enviable elation.

"Who she talking to for so long?" Silas asks from behind us.

Luciano snorts. "Kelsey, who else?"

Momentarily, they both rush past me to glomp down on Avara. A web of arms around her from the playful ambush.

"Kelsey, that you?" Silas hollers towards her phone. "We miss you, babe!"

Avara’s face suddenly turns fierce, and she shoves them away with unexpected aggression. She shakes her head and walks a couple steps ahead to send a clear message that her conversation is private. Luciano and Silas exchange looks, acting unaffected as they resume their stroll, eyeing an extensive collection of babouches and belts.

Landen sidles my flank, exuding an air of mischievous intent. "I’m sure her phone call has broken some kind of world record by now."

"You more than anyone know how women like to talk," I mutter back.

"But she isn’t talking to another woman."

I busy myself, pausing at a stall that boasts arts and crafts which offer a range of leather goods, textiles and carpets. Fortunately, the vendor is too busy wrangling some other tourists to hassle me.

"Don’t act like you’re not curious."

"She’s entitled to her privacy," I say, folding my arms behind my back and moving on. "And is allowed to have friends, male or female."

"You speak to any of your female friends that long? You know as good as I that any guy who pays a girl his undivided attention like that is a girl he wants to fuck."

I come to a jarring halt. "How do you know she’s been talking to a guy?"

He searches the crowd until he finds her again, steering my gaze to Avara in the distance.

"Are you kidding? Just look at her... I’ve never seen a smile so bright."

***

The wrought-iron gates to the estate open grandly, revealing an ornamental garden centered around a large water reservoir surrounded by orchards and olive groves. And a large collection of luxuriant plants, including cacti, palms and bamboo. The uniformed staff awaits at the front entrance. Once the cars stop in a line before the staircase, they move fast to take out our luggage. Avara offers to help but they dismiss her. Instead, she follows one of them to her allocated room.

My father climbs out, flicking his wrist to check the time.

"The tailor should be here within the hour to get your measurements."

I lift a quizzical brow. "You’re choosing our outfits for the party?"

"A pivotal occasion that will serve as a precursor to the momentous event of your matrimony. I will not allow for any further mishaps, no matter how miniscule. So yes, I’m choosing everything. With Mayor Du Pont’s input, of course."

"Of course," I repeat dryly.

He pricks me with a glare, then flags over a particular guard, and they go up the steps.

Landen draws to my side, truly like the devil on my shoulder.

"What?" I snap, unprovoked.

He lifts his hands in mock surrender. "I come in peace."

We walk up the staircase together, ornate with colorful mosaic tiles.

"Proposal jitters got you in a bad mood?"

I heave out a breath. "No, Landen. I’m fine."

"Really? The way dad be talking to you, I wouldn’t think so. That look of sheer disappointment is usually reserved for me."

"So what, you want to torture me some more?"

He lets out a mischievous snicker, clasping a hand on my shoulder before it slithers around my shoulders.

"Quite the opposite. Abdul, one of Bahadur’s mates. He told me about an opium den not far from the imperial city."

I push his arm away to stop at the top of the staircase, staring at him, astounded. "You want to go do drugs?"

"They have whores, too."

I frown, turning to leave, but he catches my shoulders just in time.

"I’m only kidding." His hand thumps my chest. "You are a little too tightly wound up, big bro. Which is why you need to hang with me some more so I can loosen you up. Why don’t we explore the streets of the city for ourselves? We can go grab a bite, get a drink or five."

My annoyance eases back to show me the truth of how I feel. And spending some one-on-one time with him does appeal to me. We haven’t done that in a very long time and I’m quite starved of entertainment. And even though Landen knows how to piss me off like no one else... he also is the only one that knows how to show me a good time like no one else.

He looks back at me impatiently. "You done deliberating?"

I crack into a smile and nod. "Yeah... let’s go."