Page 35 of For the Ghastly and Beautiful

Chapter10

Adelaide

DAY THIRTY-THREE

Isit on the edge of the rustic bed, dreading dinner. For the first time since I’ve been on this island, I find myself wishing I could eat alone in my room. I did it yesterday, so why not today too?

Ecaeris is outside my door, tapping his foot as he patiently waits for me to finish getting ready. I’m done, but I’m procrastinating.

“Ada,” he gently calls, his tone shocking me. “The longer you take, the longer we’ll have to be there. They’ll just hold dinner off until we arrive.”

I wrap my fingers around the door handle and hear him mumble, “Trust me. I’ve tried this before.”

“You don’t strike me as the type to skip such an event,” I tease, but it falls flat.

I’m not mad at him, but I don’t have much to say. We’ve spoken. We’ve been around each other. It’s just… I can feel the tension between us. He wants to talk. I’m not sure why he’s stalling, though.

Is it because he doesn’t know how to approach me or the topic?

We descend the stairs, and I tuck my hands in my pockets, then remove them almost immediately. I settle for smoothing my skirt. It’s a strange habit I’ve picked up since wearing dresses nearly every day. And it’s soothing to my mind to know all the lines fall into place exactly as they should. I miss my blue jeans and t-shirts, but the casually flirty clothing is growing on me.

It doesn’t hurt that Isolde is a brilliant seamstress.

I haven’t seen her in almost a week. I’m quite certain she’s been avoiding me, but I’ve also been busy-ish. This dinner makes me think she has something to tell me. And I wonder if it will be good news or bad.

“Stop fidgeting.” Ecaeris places his hand on my elbow, stilling my movements. “It’s only dinner. No one is going to eat you.”

“Shame,” I whisper. “I was hoping that being the main course would speed up the night.”

He glances down at me, a smirk playing across his lips. “If you wanted the night to end sooner, then you should have worn your earthly clothing. You could have told her you weren’t feeling well, and we both could have escaped.”

“Why are you telling me this now?”

“I just thought of it.” He tilts his head toward the dining hall. “She would have chosen a different day, though. She has her mind set on you meeting—”

“There you two are,” Isolde slyly scolds as she strides to the door. “I was afraid to come get you myself, but considering sending one of the staff.”

I lack the proper comeback to her insinuation. Not that she gives me time.

She grabs my hand, pulling me behind her and into the dining room. It smells divine, but I’m still scared to ask what any of the food is. I don’t think being a vegetarian would work out for me here. I need all the protein I can get, especially with the rigorous exercising Talodus puts me through.

My muscles haven’t been this tone in months.

As Isolde shows me to my seat, I’m served water and bread with some sort of spread. It’s the same sweetness and consistency as honey butter, but I’ve seen no cows or regular bees while wandering around the village.

Do the giant bees collect pollen and produce honey, too?

I begin to ask, though I know better.

Occasionally, ignorance is truly bliss.

The door opens once more, and three men rush in, smiling apologetically as they take seats around the table. They do well to separate Ecaeris and me, which I find delightful and unnecessary.

“Ada,” Isolde announces, coolly eyeing the men. “I’d like to introduce you to Kerr, Zivol, and Noctis. They’re my husbands.”

I choke on my water and glare at Ecaeris. He holds his hands up, slightly away from his chest, in a gesture of surrender. The grin on his face tells me he knows exactly what I was thinking.

Of course, he didn’t choke me.