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

Ardis took off one of her boots. “There.”
    Himmel kicked off both of his boots and wiggled his toes.
    “Not too bad,” the captain said.
    “Now we draw?” Konstantin said.
    Ardis nodded. “You and Wendel are at three, counting the ante.”
    Konstantin shook his head and didn’t draw. Wendel discarded a card and took another from the deck. He looked rather smug.
    “I check,” Konstantin said.
    “Check,” Wendel said. “Show me your cards, archmage.”
    Konstantin had a serene smile. “My pleasure.”
    Wendel slapped his cards on the table. Konstantin bared his with a flourish. Wendel had two pair, but Konstantin had a straight.
    “Damn it,” Wendel growled.
    Konstantin grinned and tossed his scarf over his shoulder.
    “You thought I was bluffing?” he said.
    Wendel sighed and kicked off both his boots, followed by his coat, which he draped over the back of the couch.
    “I need another drink,” Wendel said.
    They passed around the bottle of schnapps. When Ardis drank her third shot, she barely noticed the burn of the alcohol.
    “Ready for another round?” Ardis said.
    Everyone nodded, and she passed the deck to Wendel.
    “Your turn to deal,” she said.
    Wendel shuffled with skill, glaring at Konstantin the whole time, then dealt their hands. Ardis had two pair—a pair of aces and a pair of eights. Giddiness bubbled in her chest, though that may have been the schnapps. She forced a poker face and glanced between the others. Wendel still glared at Konstantin, who seemed pleased by his hand. Himmel ran his tongue over his teeth and narrowed his eyes at his cards.
    “Bet or check?” Wendel said.
    “I’ll bet my hat,” Himmel said.
    “I call,” Konstantin said. “Though I don’t have a hat.”
    Himmel tipped his hat to Konstantin, who smiled shyly.
    “Okay,” Ardis said, “I’ll call.”
    She knew she had a good hand, but she didn’t want to look too cocky.
    “Call,” Wendel said. “Time to draw.”
    Himmel discarded and drew two cards, pokerfaced, though he did tweak his mustache. Konstantin replaced only one and puffed his cheeks in a sigh. Ardis kept her two pair and discarded a card, then drew a third ace.
    Full house. Ardis curled her toes and resisted the urge to grin.
    When Wendel tossed three of his cards onto the table, they skidded off the edge and fell. He ducked under the table and grabbed them, then flounced back in his seat. Ardis giggled, a bit giddy. Wendel pretended to glare at her, then meticulously discarded his cards and drew three. He flicked his eyebrows upward.
    “Check,” Himmel said.
    “Very well,” Konstantin said. “I’ll check.”
    Ardis paused. “I’ll bet three.”
    Everyone glanced at her, and she chewed on the inside of her cheek.
    Wendel tilted his head. “You must be bluffing.”
    Ardis smirked at him. “Do you call?”
    “Why the hell not?” Wendel said, with tipsy bravado.
    Konstantin swallowed. “I fold.”
    Himmel eyed Ardis for a long moment, then met Konstantin’s gaze.
    “I call,” Himmel said. “Showdown.”
    Ardis watched them reveal their hands. Wendel had one pair, and Himmel had two pair. She spread her cards on the table.
    “Full house,” she said.
    “I can see that,” Himmel said dryly.
    Wendel swore at great length in more than two languages.
    “Is this the part where I get naked?” he said.
    Ardis grinned. “You knew the stakes.”
    He sighed. “Your wish is my command.”
    Wendel climbed to his feet and dipped into an exaggerated bow. He unbuttoned his shirt and flung it away, then balanced on one foot to peel off his sock. He hopped onto his other foot, wobbled, and almost toppled before he defeated his second sock. Barefoot, Wendel unbuckled his belt and kicked off his trousers.
    “Voila,” Wendel deadpanned.
    “No undershirt?” Himmel remarked. “Your loss.”
    Ardis grinned at Wendel as he stood there in his drawers. He caught her gaze and arched his eyebrows. She rather appreciated the loss of his clothes,