Page 102 of I Ran Away to Evil 3
“[Guard],” he explained, opening and downing a mana potion at the same time. “A simple defense spell.”
I knew what [Guard] was. I also knew he didn’t need to poke me to activate it.
“Am I or am Inotgoing for help,” Erik asked.
“No time,” I replied, sounding like I’d foreseen it but in actuality I’d just watched Grand Duchess Calisto let go of Rowen’s arm and raise her glass.
“Greetings and a warm welcome, everyone.” Calisto’s voice echoed across the room, amplified by magic so that all could hear her at conversational volume. The room quieted, and everyone turned to face the duchess with their glasses ready.
Erik cursed under his breath, ducking his glass below the table and refilling it with something from a flask pulled out of nowhere. Julian picked his up from the table again, making sure to tap the side with the index finger holding the glass.
No poison.
I tinked my own glass, just in case.
And just in case was right. The note was distinctly different from what I had heard earlier.
“It is with great pride that I invite you all to toast the brides, Countesses Julia and Chloe von Slyke.”
The pair stepped forward, hand in hand. Both wore purple, Chloe in a smart five-piece suit with heeled knee-high boots over black pants and a long black linen tunic that fell to the thigh over a purple silk tunic embroidered in silver crescent moons. A black-and-silver corset was laced on top, and draped over one shoulder, a black mantle trimmed in purple. Julia wore a long purple gown that showed off the taller paladin’s curves.
Everyone raised their glass and took a sip. I simply pretended to drink mine.
Only one person collapsed, a rabbit beastfolk wearing Peldeep-style robes. His friends cursed, and there was a minute lost while they argued over which antidote would work on the unfortunate fellow. They guessed right, and the beastman survived. He nodded apology to the room.
Calisto continued, used to these kinds of interruptions.
“Julia, you are my pride and joy. I am so pleased that you have found your other half, the woman who completes you. Let her be a companion and guide, a word of wisdom, and a lifelong friend.” The duchess placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulders, smiling with love. She turned to her new daughter-in-law. “And Chloe. You are my own from this day forward. I am so thankful that you are my daughter’s wife, and know that we will always be here for you. We are your family.”
“Thank you, Mother.” Julia squeezed Chloe’s hand, who was just standing there, stiff. The necromancer’s face was hidden by a mask, but a slight glint betrayed tears on the small woman’s face.
“I love you both, so much,” Chloe whispered, evenmyperception only barely picking it up.
Julia smiled warmly at her love and lifted Chloe’s hand to her lips. “May I have this dance, wife?”
Chloe’s lips pulled into a flirtatious smile through the tears. “Darling, that’s my line.”
The crowd parted to the sides of the hall as the couple walked to the center of the dance floor. A soft note carried before the musicians played a slow song while the two began the first dance.
Julian leaned down. “Really … thank you.”
“I only introduced them,” I said, knowing exactly what he was thanking me for. “The rest was all them.”
“You introduced them?”
“You didn’t hear that.”
Julian was about to say something when a figure rose from his shadow.
CHAPTER 58
What’s a Little Kidnapping and Murder Between Neighbors?
Julian
John appeared from his shadow, fully formed. “I have prevented Sir Tully from ruining the toast. No one was lit on fire.”
“Excellent,” Julian said, noting with amusement that his swordfighter, Jeffry, was chatting up Miss Penny opposite the hall. Jeffry was the viscount of Fell, andneverbothered with this kind of thing. He’d completely sworn off love …
