AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Tears welled in her big, beautiful eyes, but she held the same serene smile as she spoke to me at last. “I am glad to see youare well, Kazimir. And to hear that all my people are well. I look forward to celebrating this time of peace with you and the rest of the Night Fae.”
Her formality stung like the lashing of whips, and the coolness she showed me despite this insistent tug between us had me wanting to hurt her like she continued to hurt me. “Unfortunately, not all of your people are well. We lost many the night Ruslan attacked Este Castle, including my father.” A low growl came from the male beside my mate, but I did not heed his warning. “Kriztof, Kirigin, and Zekari gave their lives for you, My Queen. I hope it was not in vain.”
A tear rolled down either cheek, taking with them a line of black. Her expression dropped, and she took a nearly imperceptible step closer to Ruslan, whose hand immediately found her lower back. I wanted to remove them from his body immediately. She looked to the ceiling, blinking rapidly, while her fingers swiped at her eyes.
“I think you should move along now,” he snarled, his glare hot enough to burn.
I scrutinized him as we stood only a breath from each other. The hint of madness Tukka had noted was carefully masked, but there. Ruslan’s shoulders were tense beneath the well-cut suit as if he were prepared to strike at any moment. A flash of teeth showed pointed canines, and I sensed he would be an equal foe under the onslaught of the binding magic I hid in my chest.
“Kazimir, would you mind grabbing a drink for Domi? She is parched,” Kaztar butted in, shooting me a look that told me I needed to relax.
“Certainly,” I gritted out, then stalked away from the receiving line. I did not go far, choosing instead to wait out of sight for the pair to finish speaking with Ruslan and Izidora.
“High Lord Kazimir and myself are representing the Night Realm at this year's Béke at the behest of the council, since ourmonarch has not yet been formally crowned,” said Kaztar. “In our entourage, we have the sons of High Lords Erik Adimik and Tibor Zadik, and the son and daughter of Lord Nikolai Arzeni. They send their apologies for not being able to attend this year's festivities, as we must keep our realm running smoothly in the queen’s absence.” Kaztar was a brilliant courtier and one I was grateful to have on my side.
“Thank you, High Lord Kaztar. Enjoy the opening ball.” Ruslan’s insincerity dripped through every word. I fixated for as long as I could on Izidora, watching her greet Liliana and Endre before Kaztar blocked my vision.
“Do you want to win her back or not?” he hissed. “Because you’re not off to a very good start. Pull it together, Kazimir.”
Kaztar gripped my upper arm and steered me toward one of the long bars lining the room, where he ordered whisky for us while Domi ordered wine. The glass was finely crafted and inlaid with gems, and I gritted my teeth momentarily before loosening my jaw and sipping. The burn seared my throat before settling in my belly, though it didn’t satiate the fervent need to follow that string that led me to Izidora.
The wood bar held me up as I surveyed the room buzzing with activity. The mingling crowd was thick with females bedecked in jewels of every color, their male companions joining them in slim-fitting suits. Off to the side, a group stuck out of the normal crowd, their clothing simple yet elegant, and by the looks of them they were clearly not Iron Fae. One in their number had hair whiter than Queen Immonen, and I would have mistaken him for Crystal Fae if it weren’t for an ethereal aura that surrounded him. Around him, five others with various shades of dark hair and red eyes shifted to look at me as if they sensed my attention on them. The tall Angel turned, his piercing blues pinning me in place from across the room. He said something to his companions, after one last glance over his shoulder.
“Are those Angels and Demons?” Domi gasped as she noticed the group.
“I think so, but I never spent enough time around the port in Vaenor to meet one before. Have you?” I questioned.
Kaztar stepped forward, narrowing his eyes to get a closer look. “I met an Angel once – he was an explorer. I bought him a drink and he told me that the Angels and Demons like to keep to themselves,” he recalled. “They live for millennia and hate involving themselves in the petty affairs of the mortals, as he called us.” He shrugged, then downed the last of his drink and set the glass on the bar. I did the same. The rest of the Night Fae had finished moving through the receiving line and were gathering across the room.
“What do you think they are doing here?” Domi whispered as we pushed through the crowd.
“Shh, not here, Domi,” Kaztar replied. “There are too many open ears.”
Indeed there were. Every Iron Fae assessed us as we passed them, regarding us with suspicion. Their stares did not affect me, for they were against me, and I did not care to win their approval – my sole focus was rescuing my mate from the Iron Fae again.
Would the Angel help us do that?
Izidora was part Angel, and from what Queen Liessa’s former maid had told us before we departed for Béke, the non-Fae were in the Iron Realm against their will. Perhaps we could convince the Angel and the Demons to side with us, and in exchange for their help, we’d free them from the clutches of the Iron Realm.
About halfway across the room, Kaztar and Domi interrupted my plotting with an excuse that they wanted to sit, tired after riding for weeks on end. Bidding them goodbye, I continued to my friends, arriving just in time to witness Endre loop his arm around Liliana’s waist. But she stared off into the distance atthe young High Lords in the receiving line, curiosity cocking her head ever so slightly to the side.
“Can you get me a drink? I need one.” She turned her attention to Endre, batting her long lashes and offering him a soft smile.
“A glass of bubbly wine coming up.” Endre dropped his arm from her hip after giving it a gentle squeeze. I clenched my fists.
“I need a glass of something strong. Anyone else?” Vadim offered, stepping forward to join Endre.
“I do,” Viktor and I said in unison.
Vadim and Endre chuckled, then pushed through the crowd, retrieving the liquid we needed to make it through the evening. I scanned the room, finding no sign of Ruslan and Izidora.
Where had they disappeared to?
My gaze landed on High Lords Slavian and Anton, sauntering up like they owned the citadel and boxing Liliana in. Both looked her up and down, Anton licking his lips appreciatively and rubbing his hands together. She shot them both a sideways glance, then flicked her hair over her shoulder.
“Can I help you?” She crossed her arms and popped out a hip, her attention raking over Slavian, and then drifting onto Anton.
By the way Viktor crushed his lips together, I knew he and I felt the same about the two males. I eagerly waited for Liliana to tear them to pieces. If wars could be won with sharp words in place of swords, she would be queen of the world.
