Page 33 of Imbalance
I wouldn’t lie, it was making me feel horribly insecure, but also partly relieved because I had no idea how to deal with what had happened last night. He'd been so angry. So lost. And so mean—all at the same time. Nico had tried to cheapen what had happened between Finias and me.
While it had been out of anger and a heavy amount of grief that had no doubt been building up inside him, it didn't change the fact that it had hurt. I'd gone to bed feeling far different than after my time with Finias and while it hadn’t ruined the experience, he’d soured my night. So not seeing him this morning was only making me feel worse.
"Where is Nico?" I blew out a breath, knowing I needed to ask.
"I'm here." His voice startled me, and I snapped my head back to find him leaning against the wall outside the pub. How long had he been there? I feel like I would have noticed if he'd been there when I walked out.
His gaze met mine, and I felt my entire body tense at the coolness I saw there. It wasn't anger. He was just completely closed off, and I couldn’t figure out what the hell to say to him. I mean, what the hell did you say in a situation like this?
Before I could decide to say anything, my attention was drawn to the streets by the sound of a series of carriages making their way towards us. My head tilted, realizing they were led by colorful horses with skeletal wings, an interesting combination that made me realize everything here, even the animals, were hybrids.
Although, that wasn't what held my attention. No, it was everything else around me.
The entire place looked different in the light of day. The tan buildings were lit by sunlight rather than hellfire, and the gorgeous vegetation that had been glowing last night now showcased bright, vibrant colors as it crawled along the buildings. And then there were the beautiful people, their gazes somewhat cautious and narrowed on my boys as they went about their day. I was so used to dark color schemes that seeing the explosion of different hair colors and outfits was so damned refreshing.
When the carriages came to a stop in front of me, their gold-gilded sides accented with purple gems sparkling in the sun, I found myself confused. Call me crazy, but I was nearly positive that there was a crown emblazoned on the side of the closest one, along with a crest.
My gaze jumped to the three smaller carriages on either side of and just behind the main one. Before I could ask what the hell was going on, the door opened, and I stepped back just slightly, shocked to see Jace stepping out.
"Hello, love." His voice was filled with an affection that seemed so natural to him, I instantly stepped forward but then stopped, feeling unsure after how we’d left things the night before. I didn't regret jumping on the table and threatening him in defense of Colt, but I also could see how things would be awkward between us now.
He didn't seem to feel the same, quite literally sweeping me off my feet and putting me down in the carriage before any of the others could protest—something they did very loudly. I winced as Jace let out a sound from the back of his throat, shifting from charming to almost feral in an instant.
Finias was suddenly there in front of Jace, who was blocking the door to the carriage and saying something in a threatening voice as I met Damien's concerned gaze. I knew I needed to handle this, so I stood up and put a hand on Jace's shoulder, causing him to look at me, willingly taking his eyes off Finias.
"Guys, it's fine, seriously," I promised quietly. "It looks like Jace brought enough carriages for everyone?" The other carriages were smaller, ours having significantly more room, but they truly did resemble the procession that most kingdoms had for their royalty.
Why would the king and queen send for something like this?
"I am not leaving you with him," Drayven stated evenly, eyeing where my hand was on Jace's shoulder and making me wonder what he was planning. Honestly, he was probably thinking about breaking Jace’s shoulder or something.
"We are perfectly safe," I stated persuasively. "Plus, you guys are on either side of me."
"One of us should be with you," Adrien insisted, his tone firm and brokering no argument, and I saw the others all offering different forms of nods.
I nibbled my lip, "Drayven, you want to come with me?"
He didn’t hesitate to accept my offer, practically jumping into the carriage next to me.
"He's going to take up all the damned space," Jace grunted, but the guys seemed appeased with that. Jace stepped forward and got into the carriage, sitting across from me and Drayven. It was a bit awkward getting settled, and the vivid image of my dream of Drayven in the last carriage we were in caused my toes to curl. I tried to shake it, but from the smirk that tilted his lips and the way his eyes ran over me, I had a feeling he knew where my mind had gone.
Once the carriages began moving, I asked the question that had been at the top of my mind.
"So... this carriage seems pretty excessive for us," I offered quietly before adding, "not that I don't appreciate it, but I am almost positive this is for the royal procession."
"Oh, it is," Jace agreed, looking out the window, seemingly amused by that.
"Why would you have access to that?" Drayven's expression was blank, his emotions hidden, but I could see the suspicion in his gaze.
"They like me." Jace offered me a smile, as if I'd been the one who’d asked the question, and turned his body towards me. "I think you are going to find that there is plenty of room for hybrids here. No lack of people who will accept you with open arms for exactly who you are."
I tried to ignore the subtle dig at my mates to keep the tension I could feel rising at bay and instead changed direction, "Do you really think they will help us?"
Jace's expression grew serious, and he asked me a question that chilled me to the bone. "Ama, how were you treated in the Kingdom of Pura?"
"Why does that matter?" I swallowed, feeling nervous.
"Because I want to know exactly why helping them is so important to you—what you have to gain from it that you couldn't have here."
