Read Online Storms of Lazarus (Shadows of Asphodel, Book 2) by Karen Kincy - Free Book Online Page A

“Technically.”
    “Quite right,” Konstantin said, missing the wink.
    “We don’t have to play for money,” Ardis said. “We could play for peanuts.”
    “We don’t have any peanuts,” Wendel said.
    Inspiration struck Ardis, and she couldn’t stop grinning. The heat of the schnapps glowed from her belly and warmed her skin.
    “When we Americans invented poker,” she said, “we also invented a few spicier versions. Ever heard of strip poker?”

Wendel, who was drinking his second shot, spluttered and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
    “Yes!” Wendel said. “Yes, we should definitely play strip poker.”
    Ardis rolled her eyes. “I’ll beat you, Wendel.”
    “I love a challenge.”
    She didn’t mention that strip poker was a popular game at her mother’s brothel in San Francisco, but Wendel should know better.
    “What are the rules of strip poker?” Konstantin said.
    “You play for clothes,” Wendel said.
    Konstantin squinted. “I don’t need any more clothes.”
    Everyone but Konstantin laughed, and the archmage looked so red in the face that Ardis touched the back of his hand.
    “Every time you lose,” Ardis said, “you lose some of your clothes.”
    Konstantin tugged on the wool scarf at his neck. “Well. I see. Though I do appear to be wearing quite a few articles of clothing.” He articulated his words so carefully that he must have started feeling the alcohol.
    “I’m game,” Wendel said. “Are you, archmage? Feel like losing today?”
    Konstantin narrowed his eyes, then smiled thinly. “Oh, I won’t be the first one out.”
    Ardis laughed. “Himmel, are you in?”
    The captain shoved his chair from the table. He rummaged in a shelf and returned with a deck of playing cards. Himmel tossed the cards to Ardis. She caught them and started shuffling them on the table. Wendel watched her with a vague smile, and Konstantin toyed with his shot glass. Krampus continued preening.
    “Is anyone a poker virgin?” Ardis said. “Speak now or forever hold your peace.”
    Himmel and Wendel shook their heads.
    “I’m familiar with the general theory,” Konstantin said.
    “Five-card draw,” Ardis said. “The ante will be one piece. If you fold, you strip. If you bet more and lose, you strip more.”
    Himmel nodded. “Sounds fair.”
    “I’ll deal.” Ardis tapped the cards on the table. “Cut the deck, Archmage Konstantin.”
    Squinting, Konstantin split the shuffled deck in half. Then Ardis took the deck back and dealt everyone five cards facedown.
    “First round of betting,” she said.
    Konstantin let out a puff of air. “I may be a virgin, but I know how to play.”
    Wendel laughed, his eyes sparkling, and Himmel struggled to keep a straight face. Konstantin sighed and reached for the bottle of schnapps, but Himmel slid it out of his reach. The captain caught the archmage’s eye.
    “Slow down there,” Himmel said.
    “It’s only two shots,” Konstantin said.
    “Of schnapps.”
    Konstantin snorted. “I’m not inebriated.”
    “Yet.” Himmel curled his mustache. “Feeling reckless?”
    Konstantin met his stare. “Possibly.”
    Wendel stole the bottle and helped himself to a third shot. He knocked it back.
    “Are we playing or not?” he said.
    “Once we all look at our cards,” Ardis said.
    They each picked up their hands. Ardis had one pair—an eight of hearts and an eight of spades. Wendel smirked for an instant, Konstantin licked his lips, and Himmel leaned back in his chair. Ardis kept her face blank.
    “Now we bet?” Konstantin said.
    “Yes,” Ardis said. “Clothing instead of chips.”
    “I bet one,” Wendel said.
    “I call,” Himmel said.
    Konstantin chewed on his lip. “Wendel, I’ll see your one and raise you two.”
    Wendel whistled low under his breath.
    “I fold,” Ardis said, and she tossed her cards onto the table.
    “I’ll call your bet, archmage,” Wendel said.
    Himmel relinquished his cards. “I’m out.”
    “Since I folded…”