Page 96 of A Legacy of the Light

For fuck’s sake.

Reyne lifts a brow at me, a teasing smile on her face. “Not that I’m aware of.”

Relief runs through me. It was one thing to see Tavish in his underwear today; to have him so close to me. It would be another thing entirely to know he’s in one of the rooms fucking someone else. My feelings on that thought are ugly and a touch possessive. I have no claim on him, but the thought of him touching someone else doesn’t sit well with me.

Reyne and I link arms as we make our way through the palace, walking more slowly than normal as we are both in heels. She opted for the tallest gold pair she could find and she still barely clears my shoulder.

The halls are quiet with fewer staff and guards than usual. We pass only two Seelie in armor guarding the door to the royal quarters.

“Where is everyone?” I ask.

“Preparing for the ball or keeping out of the way.”

“How come Eòghann is invited then? If the other guards aren’t?”

“His father is my dad’s right-hand man. If he isn’t on duty, he gets a free pass to attend,” Reyne explains as we enter the central chamber.

The hall that leads to the ballroom is covered by a heavy red curtain, and guarded by two Seelie with a sword strapped to each hip and one down their backs.

I pull her to a stop before she leads us through. “Reyne. I can’t.”

Sweat has gathered on my palms and a prickling sensation is running from my scalp down my spine. I feel like I’m going to throw up. I’m going to walk in there and everyone will stare at me and I’m going to vomit all over the beautiful marble floor.

“Hey,” Reyne turns to face me fully. “It’s okay. I promise I’ll be with you the whole night. People will look at you at first but only for a minute. Okay?” She offers me her hand, a pleading look on her face. “You look so beautiful, Elsie. Let’s enjoy tonight together?”

I nod and grip her hand in mine. She greets the guards, whose eyes skim over us before they pull back the curtains.

“Enjoy your evening, ladies,” one of them says.

The curtains to the chambers that line this hall are pulled closed, and guards are stationed between each room. Another set of curtains covers the entry into the main ballroom.

Reyne squeezes my hand as we approach the two guards either side. “Ready?” she asks.

I squeeze back and nod, taking a few deep breaths before they pull back the curtains and we step into the grand space.

Chapter 24

Dressed in their finest, each Seelie we pass assesses me slowly as we walk further into the ballroom. This is so much worse than the glares I’ve had from a few courtiers around the palace in the last few days. The men look bored, and the women look at me with disdain, especially those with their daughters who look like carbon copies of their courtier mothers.

Instead of looking at them, I try to focus on taking everything in. The massive chandeliers create a soft warm glow, making gold flecks in the marble glint. White banners hang from the ceiling, displaying the same tree that makes up the Craobh adorned in gold. Long wooden tables attended by the palace staff line the walls holding a variety of food and drink. Guards are posted every few feet around the edge of the room.

A group of musicians play stringed instruments on a platform at the far left of the room. Their skillful playing, and upbeat melody over the chatter of the guests, set the background for the evening. The doors to the courtyard stand wide open and Seelie enter the ballroom in a steady flow.

Next to me, Reyne holds her chin high and walks with a grace I haven’t seen from her until now. She smiles and nods at a few guests she knows, and I try to follow her lead, keeping my shoulders relaxed and smiling softly at anyone who meets my gaze.

Some lean in to whisper to their companions as we walk by. I ignore them as best I can, but the heat in my cheeks is rising with so many eyes on me.

“Just ignore them,” Reyne tells me quietly as she spots me looking at a Seelie woman in a purple gown openly sneering at me. I give her a smile and hold her gaze, prompting her to pull the teenage girl next to her away from me and into the crowd.

“Do you want to meet my parents? They’re over here. Dad has been asking for an introduction all week,” she says, watching the woman walk away with a frown on her face.

Releasing a breath through my nose, I turn back to Reyne. “Are there any rules on how I should greet them?”

“Mammy will want you to call her Lady Garia. Dad will tell you to call him Hector, but it’s considered proper to call him General until he tells you that.”

I let her lead me to a finely dressed couple by one of the tables serving drinks.

“Dad, Mammy, there’s someone I want you to meet.”