Page 157 of Twist of Fate

Silenus and Cosmo took their places at the head of the hall. When the king raised his goblet, the music faded and the voices surrounding them fell silent.

“We gather tonight to celebrate a bond freely completed and two lives joined by more than fate.” Silenus looked toward Luke and Connal. “May the choices they have made strengthen them, their family, and the realm they have chosen to serve together.”

Connal lifted his goblet with the others. Luke did the same, his shoulder pressed against Connal’s.

Silenus did not lower his cup.

“We also honor those who protected both realms when danger came. Some crossed into battle. Others remained here when every warrior’s instinct urged them to join the fight.”

The gargoyles stood together near one of the long tables. Balthazar straightened while Fred glanced toward the doors as if he expected an attack to justify the attention.

“Our guardians obeyed their orders and kept their king and the Unseelie secure,” Silenus continued. “Their service allowed our warriors to fight without fearing what they had left unprotected.”

The court raised their goblets again. The gargoyles accepted the acknowledgment with solemn bows, although Connal saw Balthazar elbow Fred when he failed to bow quickly enough.

Only after the king drank did the celebration break open around them.

Music returned. Platters began traveling along the tables under their own power, and the pixies descended upon Gomez to inspect how well his ceremonial clothing had survived its journey across the hall.

Luke watched them fuss over the cape. “We may never get him back.”

“I heard that,” Gomez said.

“You were meant to.”

Within moments, Gomez had collected Cosmo and three members of the court Connal barely recognized. They bent around him while he spoke in an urgent whisper.

Luke narrowed his eyes. “What are you doing?”

“Networking.”

“You’ve been employed for less than two weeks.”

“And I’m already excellent at it.” Gomez motioned Luke closer. “Court gossip works exactly like my confidential kitten-medication network.”

Connal waited for the explanation. None came.

Luke pinched the bridge of his nose. “Those words do not belong together.”

“Of course they do. Nobody admits what medicine they have left over, everyone knows someone whose kitten needs it, and the auntie who feeds the strays knows everything happening within six blocks.” Gomez gestured toward his new companions. “Same system. Better clothes.”

One of the courtiers nodded as if this were entirely reasonable.

“What have you learned?” Luke asked.

“That the silver wine is better than the gold, the musicians take requests if you compliment the one with green hair, and Lord Whatever-His-Name-Is absolutely did cheat in last month’s card tournament.”

The offended gasp from across the table confirmed the final piece of information.

Luke looked at Connal. “I’m going to regret putting him in charge of anything.”

“You would regret leaving him unsupervised more.”

“That was my exact reasoning.”

Their shared amusement warmed the bond between them.

Across the hall, the doors opened again. Koios entered without ceremony, dressed more simply than anyone else in attendance. His gaze found Silenus first, then moved toward Connal and his brothers.