Page 88 of The Magic of Betrayal
"Your Majesty, thank you for having me tonight. Dinner smells delicious and the castle is decorated beautifully."
Thane held out his hand, but not in a way that I would be able to shake. It was palm up, like I was supposed to put my own in his.Weirdo.
"Go on, princess. I'm right here." Bram nudged me and I placed my hand in Thane's.
"I'm very glad you're here tonight, Saige. We've been waiting a long time for you. Come, you'll sit beside me tonight, you are, after all, the guest of honor." His hand squeezed mine a bit too tightly and I winced, but he directed me to the chair to the right of his at the head of the table. Khol was right behind me, pulling it out and waiting for me to sit before he pushed it back in.
"Thank you,"I told him, but my throat was dry as sandpaper. I needed water.
Thane dropped my hand and sat in his own chair, Khol dropped into the seat beside me and Bram sat across from me. That kind of surprised me, I'd assumed he would've been the one beside me, but what did I know about how royalty sat at dinner parties? Nothing, I knew absolutely nothing, which was why I snagged my glass of water and chugged half of it before realizing the other twenty people seated at our table were all staring at me with open mouths.
Oops.
I put my glass back down and shifted in my seat.
Thane started laughing and the tension at the table broke, some of the others joining in nervously.Are they scared of him?
"I'm sorry, I don't know your customs here. That was likely the first of many faux pas I'll make tonight, Your Majesty," I admitted, holding his eyes.
"Sweet girl, I couldn't expect you to know our traditions when you've only been in the realm for three days. Enjoy yourself tonight, that's what we're all here for anyway."
Glancing across the table, Bram was burning a hole in the side of his father's head with those striking amber eyes. Luckily, the rest of the food began coming out and that gave me something else to focus on.
"They will serve four courses. A salad, a small appetizer, an entrée, and dessert," Khol whispered and I nodded, grateful that someone was giving me a heads up on what to expect here, even if it was only about the food.
"The king will take the first bite and then everyone else may begin," he added, his voice playful, like he was teasing me. I turned to the left to look at him and caught his fading smirk just in time.
The food was amazing. It was probably the best food I'd ever eaten, actually. The main dish was homemade pasta with a delicious spicy garlic sauce and shrimp.Fuck, I'm stuffed.
Chatter was loud in the large room, but our end of the table remained mostly quiet. That surprised me a little, I was expecting a bit of an interrogation from King Thane about who I was, but that never came.
"Everything okay, Goldie girl?" Bram asked me from across the table, the candlelight flickered on his face giving his beautiful features a more sinister appearance.
"Yes, the food is fantastic here. You've been holding out on me," I joked.
"You trying to tell me you don't like my cooking, princess?"
"Just telling you this is better," I bantered back at him and he chuckled. He was a great cook though, and he knew it.
"You're cooking for her, son?" Thane questioned, sounding disgusted at the thought.
Bram turned slightly in his seat. "I am."
"He's been very hospitable, I'm thankful," I added, unsure why his father sounded like that.
Thane's eyes darkened and he narrowed them on his son just as several servers placed our dessert down in front of us, seeming to distract him from his temper.
Khol tapped on my arm and I gave him my attention, letting those two demons sort their shit.
"Dancing will be next. You'll be expected to start the festivities by dancing with Bram," he explained and I nearly choked.
"What?" I hissed. While I loved to dance, I did not love the idea of being the center of attention in a room full of demons.
Khol sighed. "He didn't tell you?"
Glaring at Bram now, I waited for him to take notice as I answered Khol, "No, he didn't tell me I'd have to dance this evening."
"You would've just freaked about it, kind of like now," he flicked his eyes to Khol, like it was his fault for worrying me. I would have found out about it in a few minutes, anyway.
