Page 44 of A Game of Monsters

Gyah nudged Althea, whose green-amber eyes were fixed to me. “Or any of our invites.”

“I’ve been… occupied,” I said, trying to sound as confident as I could.

“You say it like you’re being held hostage. Robin, we have all been occupied.” Althea never minced her words, and I loved her for it. “The four courts have never been closer. And with everything lost, all the prices paid” – regardless of her head held high, there was a cloud of grief behind Althea’s eyes – “we deserve to enjoy what we have all worked to achieve.”

“Which is exactly why I’m here,” I said, needing a distraction. As if the universe knew it, a member of the castle’s serving staff entered the room carrying a tray of sparkling wine. “May I propose a toast,” I suggested. “To the happy couple.”

“A fantastic idea,” Elinor said, arms sweeping outwards as if she could embrace the entire world. “Nothing goes with buttery scrambled eggs like sparkling wine.”

Althea and Gyah made a move to take a glass. Erix took the moment to step in close, lay a hand on my lower back and whisper into my ear. “Are you all right?”

I swallowed hard, a headache brewing behind my eyes. “Coping. Are you though? I didn’t realise Elinor was in correspondence with you.”

“You have had enough going on, I didn’t want to burden you with more problems.”

“So, thereisa problem?” I pushed on.

Erix patted my shoulder, dismissing my question. “How about we talk about that later? For now, if you need an excuse to leave, you just ask–”

“Erix, do you make a habit of drinking whilst on duty?” Althea called over, a spare glass of wine in her hand, offered up to him. “Or will Duncan be joining us this morning?”

Duncan. Just hearing his name made my knees weak.

I’d planned for this very question, so the excuse came out of me with ease. After all, I had so much practice lying. “Duncan was unable to make it. Erix has joined me instead. Duncan felt it was better one of us stayed behind, to keep order in the court over the next few days. Jesibel is still taking time to get over what happened, and Duncan suggested a familiar face was better suited to staying and keeping an eye on her.”

As I knew it would, the conversation shifted quickly from missing Duncan to Jesibel.

“That is a shame,” Althea said, voice monotone, proving she wasn’t buying my excuse. “How is Jesibel?”

I shrugged, discomfort itching at my skin. “She still hasn’t uttered a word since we saved her, and if I am honest, I don’t think she will again.”

“Time is the only thing that can heal her,” Elinor added, because she’d previously tended to Jesibel and had little luck. She could fix scars and marks on a person’s physical state, but those that wounded a person’s psyche were far out of reach, even for a blessed healer like Elinor.

“Good news is we have hope that both Duncan and Jesibel will be attending the ceremony alongside the Icethorn people, making sure they behave themselves no doubt,” Erix added, saving me from my reasoning.

It seemed he too was well-practiced with a lie.

“Duncan certainly is taking his new status seriously,” Althea added, side-eyeing Gyah. “We are surprised you both haven’t seized the day and planned your own wedding yet. Although, you cannot rush perfection, can you? It is not every day you have an angel arrange the festivities.”

The concept of a marriage wasn’t as pleasing as I think they expected it to be for me.

Gyah planted a kiss on Althea’s cheek, leaving the skin crimson beneath. “And I told you, I would have been happy with asmalleraffair.”

“As long as you are waiting down the end of the aisle, I don’t care if it’s big or small,” Althea said, screwing her nose up before turning her attention back to Erix. “At least you made it, Robin, I’m glad for that. And you, Erix. It’s been a while since I’ve been graced with either of your presences, and I’ve missed it.”

“I would not forgive myself if I missed it,” Erix replied with a wink.

“You could at least try and convince me better than that,” Althea said, handing him the glass. “Well, it’s no bother. It seems almost half of both realms will be witness to the wedding. Cassial wanted the humans to see how close our relations can be. And with the betrothing of the Elmdew heir and human princess in another eighteen years, it will be like our peoples were never separated.”

“I still think that bit is odd,” Elinor mentioned, chewing on a thought like a sour grape. “Both children are not even a year old. To think their lives are put out for them before they can walk is a strange concept. I am sure we can secure peace without signing away the lives of two children.”

“Let us worry about that when the time comes to it,” Althea added, raising her glass. “What matters is we are embarking on an era of peace.”

“Unless either party breaks it,” Gyah reminded. “Then we forfeit our lands, as per the covenant in the agreement.”

“It’s semantics,” Elinor said. “The wording simply ensures that neither of us move on one another. The humans and the fey must have clear boundaries. And I have already told you, I have worked closely with Cassial on the wording of the clause. I can assure you, it’s fail-safe.”

“Enough talk of politics, please,” Althea said with a twisted look of disgust. “It will put me off my eggs. Robin, since you suggested the toast, you do the honours.”

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