Page 49 of Where We Belong

This time, I can’t hold it in. “It’s okay,” I say, still giggling as my uncle’s lips press together in an effort not to laugh as well while he beckons someone behind me.

“My King?” Thea says.

“Please store Ashley’s gifts away for safekeeping,” he says, and I hand her the stone and the metal.

“If we may, Princess.” Summer clears her throat.

My lip twitches at how many times I’ve been called that today, but a few days ago, I was explicitly told to let everyone use whichever title they wanted. I had, of course, said no, but my uncle practically begged. Aiden rolled his eyes behind his back. I immediately told on him, earning Aiden a warning look from the King, and a very smug one from me. Payback. Summer fastens a beautiful golden bracelet around my wrist. It holds two small glass orbs as charms. One filled with red liquid, the other with black.

“Thank you,” I say, turning it under the light, “it’s beautiful.”

“This is from both our territories,” she explains with a smile. “Crack the red one onto a wound or into a mouth, and you can heal any sickness. The black summons one message from the dead.”

My heart leaps, ridiculously so, because the first thing that hits me is the possibility of speaking to my parents again. This bracelet, it’s like a lifeline. Like a pensioner being handed a brand new device and told, “Here, you can talk to your grandchildren now.”

“We came to let you know we are extending our invitation to Prince Aiden,” Xalan says, pulling my attention away from my bracelet.

My uncle opens his mouth, but Xalan keeps going.

“The Princess, Prince and Captain need only come and find us. You are welcome anytime.” All four leaders bow and simply walk off. It made sense when they were trying to free me and Kaed, but now to request Aiden. What does he have to do with the ritual anyway? I have to hand it to them, though; my curiosity has gone up by about fifty percent in the last five minutes.

“I can take that with the rest of the gifts and put them in the safe in your room,” Thea offers, hands extended. There’s a safe in my room? I toy with the bracelet, rolling the little glass orbs between my fingers. “It’s okay. I’ll keep it on.”

They exchange a look before my uncle says quietly, “Wearing that here is the equivalent of parading through a dark alley in The Above with expensive jewellery hanging from your pockets. You may think you are safe amongst the Court, but those with excess can be more desperate than those who lack, especially when it comes to taking what they want. It may be best put away for now. But if you insist…” He gestures to the nearby Volker. “I can assign guards to surround you all evening. It is your choice.”

I pout dramatically and place it in Thea’s waiting hands. The Volker fall into step around her immediately as she heads across the lawn. My wrist feels cold without it.

“Do your best to enjoy the celebration, they don’t happen very often,” he says before clicking his fingers softly at a servant nearby who startles, then hurries forward. My uncle takes two glasses from his tray. Yes! “Only one,” he warns, handing a glass to me with a stern stare followed by a wink. “Hazar! You owe me a pie!” He calls out, following a short, slender male and giving him a hearty slap on the back. I haven’t had a drink in months and to be honest, I think about it less and less each day. But even though I feel I’m developing some better coping mechanisms now, I don’t remember saying I’ll never drink again. I take a sniff, my shoulders relaxing at the sour smell of alcohol. Sweet but strong. Dangerously strong. I swirl the liquid before raising the glass to my lips.

“Unwise.” A deep voice brushes my ear, and a quick whoosh of warmth rushes through my chest. Though, I’m not sure if it’s lust, anticipation or fear. I jump, the liquid sloshing over my hand. Instinctively, I thrust the glass out at arm’s length to save my dress, tutting at Kaed.

“What is this sound you make towards me?” He tries to imitate it, but it sounds more like a kissing noise. Misty wings flare behind him while he observes the crowd. “It’s a noise humans make when someone is very, very annoying.” I shake off my wet hand, flicking some onto his face. He grabs my wrist in the firmest, most gentle way. “You are still angry with me.”

“Are you asking me or telling me?” I huff, snatching my hand back but immediately missing his grip.

“Asking.”

I absently stare into the crowd, thinking about what he did. Searching my heart. “I’m not angry, but I don’t trust you as much. I don’t know, I thought we had a bond. Not that kind.” I say the last part quickly. “A connection only we understood. So much happened down there.” My breath catches in my throat, and he moves a little closer to me, his warm body brushing against my skin. “And you leaving me out of something so important, it made me feel alone again.” The faint sting at the corners of my eyes pushes me to do the only thing that I remember helping. I put the glass to my lips and tip it back.

“Ashley—” the way his eyes flick to my lips heats something in my belly. Almost immediately, my body exhales, and the music hugs me. Waves of warmth flood into my chest, my stomach. Frowning, he lowers himself to eye level, scanning my face. He looks so serious, I can’t help but giggle. My fingers brush the side of his neck. This is a very strong drink indeed. His jaw tightens as he gently pulls my hand away, but his rough fingers stay wrapped around mine, his thumb caressing my wrist. He’s beautiful. There should be a gallery just for him and his tasty face. I want to trace the tattooed lines down his cheek. With my tongue.

“You can lick me wherever you want, as long as I get to do it back.”

There is no way in Sheyole I just said that out loud. It doesn’t matter. He wouldn’t even know what to do with me anyway. I bet he likes it slow. Too slow.

“Fast or slow, I would break you in half, pretty girl.”

Despite the teasing edge to his words, his eyes narrow and he mumbles “I knew it.” I gasp as my knees buckle, the world around me writhing out of control. Sharp, agonising pain radiates through every nerve in my body, like the blood in my veins has turned to acid, to fire. Familiar arms catch me before I hit the ground, pulling me into a solid, warm chest. The crowd’s gasps turn to screams and the courtyard blurs into a fog of sound and darkness. The rush of wind as Kaed launches us into the air barely registers. And then. Nothing

Chapter 47

Kaed

I looked only inward, what I could attain,

without much thought for her state,

Ashley has been poisoned. And so, once again, I remain in the infirmary day and night. Night and day. Waiting by the bedside for her to wake. Ready to take the life of whoever did this to her. The palace is on complete lockdown, with wedding guests and staff corralled into various parts of the palace for questioning. Cursewater — something like a truth serum, brewed from the skin of the Barkus — had been used during the interrogations to track down the culprit. Nyk. He has been in allegiance with Theron and Vale this entire time. He is under arrest for treason and attempted murder. But I’m calling bullshit. And I have made my case to the King. “I’ve a soft spot for Lieutenant Nykholas, Captain, which makes this all the more hurtful,” He took off his spectacles and rubbed his wrinkled eyes. “We have a confession through Cursewater, and his whereabouts at the wedding are unaccounted for. He must stand trial, if he is somehow innocent, justice will be served.”