Page 146 of Autumn Queens & Shadows

Chapter thirty-three

White Snow Flowers

Malik

She was strangely less anxious than I thought she would be. Dressed in an elegant white dress that came tight to her body and then flared at the bottom, she stood at the centre of the solstice celebrations, greeting Isjordians and the newest addition to her kingdom—Isliners. Her spine straight, her manners gentle and polite unlike how I remembered them to be ten years ago.

I hid a smile behind a glass of cold tea as I remembered the nineteen-year-old who ran her mouth saying whatever she felt like saying. Passing her judgement back then was a hard feat, now she looked like she was beyond judging others—utter bullshit. She’d perfected her role entirely.

Pushing from the far wall where I’d been hiding and watching her for the past five minutes, I cut through the thick crowd to her. I would have stood where I was, watching her, but some Isliner fool had been flirting with her for longer than my temper could hold.

A little gasp slipped past her parted lips when I slid my hand over her lower back and stood beside her. “Welcome,” I said. “It was very nice of you to join my wife’s and I's celebrations.”

“A pleasure,” he said. “Though, we aren’t used to the grandness of it all.”

“But you’re definitely used to flirting with other people’s wives,” I muttered in Adriatian, and Thora’s eyes went wide for a second.

“We like to exaggerate,” Thora politely said, throwing me a hard side glare.

“Because we can,” I added. “Isjord is a grand kingdom. It is used to grandness. Right, sweetheart?”

Her smile was uneasy. “An old tradition. I’d like it if it were more toned down, but these days people don’t get much reason to celebrate, so I think we all deserve one day a year to remind ourselves of our greatness.” Thora cleared her throat. “Hope it is a tradition we can share with you and the rest of your people.”

“They will come around,” he said to her in old Ysolt. “Once word of what we saw that day spreads, they will know who to follow. Like my clan did.”

She nodded and watched him leave into the crown before she turned to give me a bewildered look. “He was being nice, and you were being so rude.”

“Good thing you didn’t marry me for my politeness.” I leaned down and kissed her rosy painted lips. “And from what I remember, you like me when I'm rude to you. Your cunt melts around my tongue.”

She shivered and took the smallest step to me, as if she couldn't help herself. Unluckily for me, she slipped off that trance state too quickly. “Your brother is watching us.” Her eyes then narrowed on something behind me. “Why is the Fire Queen standing beside him?”

With a sigh, I glanced over to them. Alyone nodded and then left his side, disappearing into the white crowd. My brother had tilted his head back, raising a brow as he looked between Thora and me.

What? I mouthed.

He pointed behind me, at another Isliner fool who had gotten my bird to laugh and blush.

Thora threw me a warning look when I made to approach again, so I had no choice but to back away into my corner again, watching her.

More Isliners had joined us this past week, and from what they said, more were to come. I had no clue who I should keep an eye on more. Her. Isliners. Or Isjordians who’d become agitated at the news of their long-lost kin finally reuniting.

Against all the stark whiteness, I could spy a little ball of black. Fading to her, I picked her up and threw her in the air a couple times. “Don’t you wear any other colour, baby doll?” I asked, fading us back to my hiding spot and sitting her on my knee.

“I sometimes wear grey.”

“When is that?”

“When I’m really happy.”

“Are you just mildly happy right now?”

She glanced around the room and scrunched her nose. “I think so. It’s past my bedtime, but Sam said it would make my aunt happy if we stayed.” Her small mouth opened in one impossibly large yawn. “Don’t the adults like you? Why are you hiding here with me?”

“Am I annoying you, princess?”

“Yes, but that’s okay. Guess some people are amisocial.”

The little night terror. “You mean anti-social.”