Page 62 of Of Shadows and Blood

Avonde laughs. “I sometimes forget how everything is lost to you.” She looks over at me and furrows her brow. “My apologies, I didn’t mean—”

“That’s okay, really. You alone are spearheading my healing. I consider you a friend, even now.”

She smiles shyly back at me and continues. “Cess can live much longer than humans but have shorter lifespans than vampyr, but both fall to old age if they make it that far. Cedric is just over two hundred years old and you are right behind him. Sawyer is younger than the both of you and I was born almost a century ago. Our aging, physically speaking, is pretty matched now, but I’ll eventually start getting small wrinkles in the next century.”

Shock is not the correct description for how I feel. I force my mouth to close.

“I—” I stop and decide I don’t have a good response. “I’m sorry I forgot you,” I say as I stack the towels and adjust my hair in the vanity near the door. The gold in the room catches some of the sun from the windows outside, nearly blinding me.

“No apologies necessary. Ever.” Avonde reaches for my hand and squeezes it. “I’m just so glad you’re here and awake. The rest will fall into order, I promise.” I squeeze back before releasing and smoothing my skirts.

“Before we go back…” I pause at the door.

She understands my meaning. “He shouldn’t have brought that up but have faith in us.” Avonde lifts her hand. “Shall we? Rolan can’t be kept waiting for long.”

Avonde leads me back to the main hall and I straighten my skirts before entering. No humans can be scented here but the blood is flowing. My mouth aches for a taste.

I can’t hide my hesitation when I approach my seat, eyes glancing to Cedric, who stands. Proper court and all, I offer him my gloved hand and it takes him a moment to grab it gently and bring his lips to it. Does he notice the tremble?

The rest of the banquet feels staged. Very well staged. All the court members stick to their own groups, only a few approach to give well wishes for Cedric and me. It is as much as I can do to accept their words, nodding and smiling.

I observe the respectful revelry in the room as lords and ladies converse with one another. Such differences between Lux and Duresden. Avonde moved seats to be closer to Garreth some time ago and I grew tired of conversing with a courtier. I’m not sure why, but my heart warms for them, Avonde and Garreth. He seems to be light-hearted and more approachable than Cedric which, to be fair, isn’t that much of a feat to overcome. I even opted for a dance midway through with Garreth, which took all of us by surprise. Avonde was in good spirits all evening and was able to dive heavily into the barrels of aged wine since Rolan neglected to provide any normal food.

My body can finally relax knowing that some good has come out of this trip.

“Come, let us move to my study.” Rolan stands and the entire room rises with him. A chill runs down my spine. “Join us, Elivienne?”

This once, I look to Cedric for guidance. His mask is clever and well-guarded, but I can read the worry on his face. “Of course. But you must promise her to try your prized casks, Rol.”

Rolan winks. “Anything you request.”

Holding back my groan, I rise and let Cedric lead me from the dais. The crowd pauses for us, bowing as we pass through. Avonde and Garreth stay behind entertaining some courtiers seated up front.

King’s duties call now.

“Do you ever get tired of it?” Cedric asks casually as we travel to the left staircase and up the velvet stairs. A pair of guards follow behind very loosely.

“Tired of what?” Rolan looks over his shoulder, the gold clasps holding his cape shining in the fading sunlight.

“The constant quest to succeed as a king. I must admit, I am still unsure of how effective I am,” Cedric confesses as we carry on down the hall to the king’s quarters. His relaxed tone feels different to me and I try to find a calmer breath. If he feels safe then so do I. A close relationship, I gather.

Rolan raises his hand to a set of guards, as if he were a friend waving. They don’t return the gesture as we enter two large oak doors into a grand room. I might have suspected this was his war room, but there are no paper trails, pawns, maps. Everything is clean and untouched.

“Well, we were chosen by Erees himself to be on the throne. Generations of people have fought and fallen to keep our lineage in power,” Rolan says as he seats himself behind a large bureau, kicking his legs upon it.

Cedric pulls out a leather chair for me and takes the other. He folds his arms and observes the king before him with a predator’s gaze.

“You have a point. Our creator seldom makes mistakes, Gods bless him. I suppose I am still adjusting to the position,” he finishes with a chuckle.

“How is it going for you otherwise? Things holding up well in the land of the cold? I have to admit, seeing Elivienne today was a surprise. I didn’t think you would deliver on your word of her health,” Rolan chides, pouring himself a tall glass of wine and gesturing to me. I wave my hand to decline and he shrugs, pouring more for himself.

“Elivienne is quite healthy,” I reply for myself, some venom laced in my tone.

“She is indeed.”

Cedric crosses his ankle over his knee. “Was this necessary? I could very well think of a few reasons the High Council would be called to Duresden.”

“It’s not often the highest-ranking daughter of one of the strongest families goes missing, Cedric.” Rolan is not here to play friend, it appears. He is quite young and familiar with Lux’s court, from what I have gathered, so his paranoia does feel misplaced, even to a stranger.