Page 89 of Of Shadows and Blood

He uncovers a few of the steaming plates, revealing a rainbow of color. “I took the liberty of having the chef prepare different meals in a smaller style from around the continent. These are some of your favorites.”

My eyes skim over the different plates and I feel nervous for some reason. The past few times we spent time together, it ended horribly. A lot rests on the success of tonight. Our agreement simultaneously grants me ample and limited time.

“I’m a little saddened,” I sigh as I pick up some meat and rice rolled in grape leaves.

“They hail from Duresden…” He points. “But why is that? Why are you saddened?”

“Because you can’t try any of this!” I take another bite of a red rice dish on my right and practically moan in satisfaction. He watches me shovel food in my mouth, taking sips of blood and wine in between.

“Who said I can’t?” he grins, folding his arms.

“Vampyr can only have blood, no?”

“No, but eating human food is not a replacement. Blood is more like a medicine. An essence. Food is a filler.”

“I take it you don’t indulge much then?”

An eyebrow quirks. “Pardon?”

I sip wine again before pointing at his stomach. “I can’t imagine you maintain a physique like that with human food.”

I pause before my next bite, cringing at what I just said. I just admitted to noticing his physique.

With dramatics, he leans forward and scoops a large serving of a mashed potato mixture with lemon and dill, pausing before shoveling it into his mouth. To match my level of satisfaction, he rolls his eyes and groans. “Delicious.”

We both break down in laughter. For a moment, I forget that I have forgotten him. That I was gone. That I was attacked.

Everything.

We continue eating and talking about everything. Apparently, he did not know my ladies have a crush on Garreth. He shares a story about Steele as a foal. I tell him about the magic I conjured this morning.

The look of elation on his face makes me blush.

“I knew you could do it.”

“It wasn’t much and I don’t truly understand how it happened, but it did and I plan to do it again.” I smile.

“It’s remarkable, and I’d quite like to see that,” he replies. A servant brings a fresh bottle of wine out, which I silently thank him for.

“Well, maybe once I master it.” I wink. “I wouldn’t want to blow dirt in your face accidentally.” He laughs and finishes his drink and I do the same.

Cedric glances down at his watch right as a quartet enters through the opposite side doors. They silently file in, bowing before taking their seats and arranging their music in front of them.

“Music? We get to have music?” My heart leaps. I have been yearning to hear them play again.

“If that is what my lady wishes.” He pours a fresh glass.

A little drunk on wine, I clap and turn to face their set up. His eyes are upon me and I try to quell the rising heartbeat within me. To be here with him free of pressure and formality. The night is perfect. I hope he feels the same.

The music carries on with a gentle melody. Everyone in the room seems to lose themselves to it.

“The court musicians are incredibly talented humans employed from across Lux and it could be said their humanism evokes a stronger connection to the notes,” he explains before standing. He offers his hand to me to dance. We’ve been here before, in this room, an act of trust then. But now, this is more than trust.

I take the leap.

“Just us?” I whisper, resting my other hand on his firm shoulder. It’s miraculous how well our bodies fit together. His hand caresses down the side of my body.

Slowly, we sway together, keeping a comfortable distance between our lower halves. The musicians notice our movement and change the tune to a melody rhapsody. The song sounds like a story being unfolded before us. We step slowly as he leads, completely overtaken by the moment.