Page 16 of Vicious Fates and Vast Futures
“Ready, a chroí? Pup?” I hear Bryn call from Adi’s room.
Adi links her arm in mine and we slip out of her ridiculous closet. Waiting in the bedroom are Bryn and Ossy. My eyes widen as I take them in. Bryn is in a double-breasted suit of rich black with a red brocade vest. A delicate silver chain drapes across the black shirt underneath into a pocket, and I see the slight prominences where his blades are hiding, given the slim cut of the suit.
Ossy is in a suit of a coal grey with thick gold thread woven in a windowpane pattern. The suit coat sits across hisbroad shoulders, and his large biceps are noticeable even with the impeccable cut. He has an ascot of lavender that matches my dress, which should be silly but instead causes butterflies to swirl in my stomach in a way I rather don’t care for. Most surprisingly, I see fresh ink on his knuckles. Four new runes. I’m about to ask about the meaning of them when I catch the look on his face. His eyes are wide, slipping between Adi and myself. I smirk and slink over to him.
“Do you think I look alright?” I ask coyly, running a hand down the lace under my breasts.
Ossy manages to nod. He clears his throat. “Exquisite, En. Unexpected color, but it’s wonderful on you.”
He looks to Adi. “Baby, don’t even ask. Youknowyou’re a knockout.” Adi grins and twirls. Ossy then looks at Bryn. “Damn, you’re all sexy as fuck. Please promise me I can taste each of you tonight.”
Bryn lets out a growl that swoops straight to my panties. “The three of you are always welcome to wrap your lips around my cock any time you wish.”
Adi grins devilishly. “I’ll certainly remember that.”
Ossy and I laugh as we all head for the door, feeling very much like a bonded family.
THE MAIN HALL IS DECORATEDto look like a castle from a story book. More candles than normal—which I wouldn’t have thought possible—and large vases overflowing with fresh flowers. Servants in full suits wander about with trays of tiny appetizers. A large table on the side of the room has fountains of champagne and wine, making happy trickling sounds and surrounded by crystal glasses for you to hold under the flow. A full string band is set up in the corner, though they are not currently playing. Chandeliers hang from the tall ceiling, butinstead of simple ones, these are covered in tall candles and draped in faceted crystals that send tiny rainbows around the room. A wide dance floor takes up most of the space. It’s all absolutely, ludicrously, over the top.
My eyes flick over the tables for the royal houses, which are tightly placed upon the dias. Few nymphs are currently seated at them, most opting to mingle and dance, but I note that there are only ten tables, plus the queen’s. I nudge Bryn and tilt my chin up to them.
His hand strokes Adelaide’s arm in a possessive manner as he asks with an oddly flat voice, “A chroí, did you press for extinction?”
Her kind face goes frozen and hard. “Absolutely.” She turns and waves a servant over. I admire the minch’s delicately braided blue hair as Adi has a quiet word with him. She nods and he lowers his tray. We all take a napkin with a miniscule chocolate square on it, thanking him quietly. He blushes as he turns away, smiling gently at Adi.
“Come,” Adi says. “Seren wants us at the head table.”
We head up and take our seats below Adi at the royal table as others, including Adi’s twin cousins, filter up onto the dias.
I look towards Adi, taking in her “court face,” as she calls it. It makes her look a bit disturbing—to me, at least. As though she were a wax replica of herself with nothing going on in her head. She slowly spins her empty wine glass as it sits upon the tablecloth.
I turn my attention down the table; I’m still trying to get up to speed on all the bit players here. Adi’s father looks as blank as she currently does. He’s staring at his plate. Queen Seren is sitting primly, one red-blonde eyebrow raised imperiously. I see Princess Eira throwing Captain Declan a look. I bite my lip to keep from laughing. I imagine he’s tired of her, especially if she’sstupid enough to try that in front of Declan’s lover. You know, the queen.
Seren stands and uses magic to project her voice. “Dear colleagues and friends”—I hear Adi let out a little snort—“I need to make a few announcements before we get too far into our revelry. First, and most importantly, you’ll notice that we are short a table. The House of Marchara has fallen. Her and her progeny are not to be spoken of, as they have had extinction carried out upon them for heinous crimes against my granddaughter, Princess Adelaide. They confessed to the crimes, lest any of you be...concernedabout due cause.”
Seren’s tone clearly conveys that she doesn’t give a fuck if anyone was worried about due cause and she damn well knew no one would say shit.
“Next, as we approach the summer season, I want to announce that I shall take my first progress of our lands here in America.” Low voices mutter here, but I can’t pick out anything specific. “And finally, I must let you all know, with a heavy heart, about the death of my daughter and previous heir, Princess Avilion. An unfortunate mishap befell her whilst in FEC5. I am pleased to say, however, that my granddaughter, Avilion’s daughter Olwyn, was not harmed. Olwyn has returned to court. I trust you all will make her feel welcome, even though she is no longer in the line of succession, given her inability to produce an heir.”
My eyes dart to Adi. Her face is flat; she’s buried her reactions to all three of the queen’s announcements. I look immediately to Ossy, the big sop, who can’t hide much of anything aside from that python he’s packing. He looks concerned. So this is bad news.Which part?I wonder to myself.
Seren has apparently dismissed us all while I was searching expressions for a read on things. Everyone slowly stands and begins leaving the dais for more booze and flirting.
Dammit, I need to get up to speed with shit here. Too much sex has ruined my focus.
Adelaide
WELL, THAT’S JUSTlovely. My gaze flicks around the room.Where is Olwyn?
I spot her, speaking with the head of one of the houses. Olwyn’s long white-blonde hair is braided and wrapped up around her head in a suspiciously crown-like manner. She’s wearing something very modern looking, reminiscent of a movie awards show: navy blue and slinky. She looks upset aboutneitherthe death of her mother nor the recent “disappearance” of her husband. Very odd, given how she’s always been a huge drama queen.
I catch Eira standing aimlessly nearby. In a wedding gown, basically, white and floofy and sparkly. I’d giggle about it if I wasn’t stressed as hell about my big cousin showing back up. Eira doesn’t look pleased about this little development either. I ponder that as my eyes sweep the rest of the room.
Bryn must sense my unease. He stands close and places a hand on my back. I lean into the touch immediately.
“Please do me the great honor of this dance, my heart, my love, my mate,” he whispers against my ear.
His breath raises goosebumps and his words raise pride and affection. He surely intended both. I let him lead me to the dance floor for a waltz. I see Ossy hold his hand out to En and though she looks reluctant, she places her slender fingers in his.
