AllFreeNovel
Share Us
For a moment, I consider leaving and taking dinner in my rooms. I still have Garrick’s latest report to go over, some souls from Meren to review, and an unopened letter with the sun god’s seal I’ve been ignoring since yesterday. But I won’t run from her. Not in my own damn palace.
Instead I round the end of the table and take my seat, closer to her than I might have liked, and Railan takes his usual spot at my right hand, directly to Elora’s left.
Her gaze meets mine again. There’s challenge in it, and more of that energy shifting on the air. I wish I knew what it was about this woman that both intrigues and vexes me. But she occupies far too many of my thoughts already to worry about solving riddles that don’t need answers.
“You are a vision,” Railan says as the doors at the end of the room swing open and servants trail in carrying bowls of steaming soup and baskets of warm bread.
She shifts in her chair when a translucent hand sets her bowl in front of her, but her tone is polite with her thanks. Then she turns those mesmerizing green eyes to Railan and sends him a wide smile.
“I bet you say that to all the mortal women who stumble across the veil.”
With a laugh, Railan leans closer and drops his voice. “You would be the first.”
“And hopefully the last.”
My tone is clipped, cold, but I can’t help it. I want those eyes on me again. And something about Railan and Nevon being so close to her sets my teeth on edge.
“I don’t think you have anything to worry about, my lord,” she assures me, her tone dripping with sugary sweetness. “I doubt any mortal would willingly cross the veil to spend time in your company. Pleasant as it is,” she adds, spooning up a bite of soup.
To his credit, Railan bites back a laugh, but Nevon’s is loud and deep.
“Don’t mind the God of Death,” Nevon tells her, drawing her gaze. “He never knows how to behave among the living.”
“Elora,” Kaia says before I can snarl a reply, “are you settling into your rooms?”
Shifting in her seat, Elora nods. “I am. They’re very comfortable.” She flicks a glance at me but says to no one in particular, “Thank you.”
“Good. I’m glad. You know if you need anything, you have—”
“Only to ask,” Elora says. “I remember.”
Silence descends over the table, leaving only the clink of spoons against porcelain. When the servants come to clear away the soup and set a fresh course of roasted vegetables and grilled pheasant, Elora stares down at her plate with a frown.
“Is something wrong with it?” I wonder, cutting into a carrot.
“Where does it come from?”
“You don’t know how vegetables are prepared?”
Kaia shoots me a sharp glare, and I notice Elora roll her eyes.
“I’ve prepared enough myself to be familiar with the method. I thought nothing grew in the Shadow Realm. Everything is supposed to be dead.”
“I’m not dead,” Nevon assures her with a cheeky wink.
“And neither is the whole of the realm,” Railan adds.
“Videva.” Kaia takes a sip of wine. “I told you the souls in Videva live as mortals would in Acaria. That includes tending gardens and livestock, hunting birds and game.”
Elora tilts her head. Studying her plate, she spears a leek and brings it to her lips, taking a careful bite. She chews slowly, deep in thought, and I watch her throat as she swallows.
“What else do mortals get wrong about the Shadow Realm?” she wonders.
“Almost everything.”
Railan smiles at her before shooting me a look, imploring me to explain. I lift a shoulder. I’ve never been one to correct the mortals and their stories about me or my realm. Whatever they believe about the fate that awaits them is none of my concern. I am responsible only for attending to them once they cross over.
“I’d like to see it. The realm.”
