We broke up

Alaric shook his head with a bitter laugh. How could he even begin to explain this? He, the golden boy of the formidable Strider family, had been cheated on by a girl who wasn't even out of college yet?

After all his devoted care and attention, he still couldn't measure up to her childhood sweetheart? Even though that guy was married now, Vespera couldn't let him go? The very thought was too humiliating for Alaric to voice aloud.

Staying silent, Alaric threw back drink after drink until he was thoroughly sloshed. His tongue loosened by the alcohol, he muttered, "Vespera's just... taking advantage 'cause she knows I... love her. If it was any other girl, I wouldn't give 'em the time of day!"

Lysander sighed. "Dude, that's exactly what you said about Elowen before."

Alaric smashed a bottle on the ground, cursing. "That loser! What's his name again? I swear I'll beat him to a pulp!"

As Alaric rolled up his sleeves and made to storm out, Lysander grabbed him and tossed him back onto the c