Chapter Seven
H eyval was stunned when she saw her friend performing on a stage with local dignitaries cheering as her voice tempted all who listened to come out and have fun with her.
Nex was gleaming with sweat, jumping and dancing from one side of the stage to the other. The partygoers were having a great time listening to her and watching her as she moved with energy and enthusiasm, if not grace. Nex was power. She wasn’t grace.
Rage emerged from the crowd, and she was grinning. “Nex! Nex’s here!”
Heyval grinned, and they looked toward the stage as the song came to a close. When she had finished, the crowd expressed their enthusiasm. Nex grinned and waved at them. She hopped off the stage and walked toward them.
When the sweaty entertainer was a few feet in front of them, she opened her arm. “Come here, little buddy.”
Heyval laughed and hugged her. “I thought I would never see you again.”
“Well, if you hadn’t joined with King Amori, you wouldn’t have. He’s been an eligible bachelor for a while, and there has been a line of ladies trying to pin the tail on the kitsune.”
There was a snort behind her, and Heyval released Nex. “Have you met him?”
A deep chuckle sounded. “She’s my financial adviser.”
Nex grinned. “If you had been awake at all, I would have bumped into you when he was setting up your accounts.”
“I was tired.”
“Yes, love. I know.” Nex cupped her jaw.
Rage chortled. “Do me. Hugs!”
Nex hugged Rage, and they giggled. Nex said, “Still not going to do you, sweets.”
“Aw.”
Amori asked, “Rage is into women?”
“Rage is into Nex. Nex is not interested in naked people.” Heyval chuckled.
“I might be one day, but today is not that day. Sorry, sweets.” Nex patted Rage’s back. “Okay, baby doll. Off you go.”
Heyval snorted and grabbed her sister by the shoulder and waist. “You back up, and I will pull.”
Nex nodded and slowly got out of Rage’s grip.
When Heyval got Rage loose, Nex took a step back. “Whew, Rage. You have quite a grip.”
Rage grinned. “I have been working out.”
Heyval suddenly paused. “Wait. You have been in the city this whole time, and you never came to visit?”
“Nope. You had to find your way, but I did send a lot of business to your purple friend. Oh, and I have a few buyers for that bakery if she wants to head out to sea. I know her daughter isn’t fond of it, and this way, it will continue to serve the community.
I mean, if you are willing to train the next purchaser. ”
“Yeah. Sure. But Bailey loves that place.”
“She’s preparing to become an aquatic empress. It cuts into bakery time.”
Heyval smiled. “Where is she?”
Nex turned her and pointed. “Over there. Grafted to her breeding partner.”
Heyval saw Bailey and covered her mouth as she saw the tentacle wrapped around her friend’s waist, keeping her with the undersea emperor. Bailey was definitely purple, and the expression on her face said she wasn’t happy about it. Her lover looked slightly embarrassed but very happy.
Mira was wearing a dress that matched all of the formal gowns. Bailey’s was a shimmering pearl that worked well with her new skin tone.
Heyval took a few steps toward her when Amori caught her hand. “Wait, Heyval. We are going to take our seats, and then they will come to us.”
Heyval paused, looked at him, and smiled. “Fine. But she had better be there soon. She’s fucking purple!”
“That is how it happens.” He chuckled. He settled her at his side with her hand wrapped around his forearm.
Heyval paused and snorted. She looked around and saw Azila with her family, Bailey with hers, and Rage and Nex standing close together. There were a lot of powerful people here today, and she had only met about five percent. If they sat, she might just sit there and take it all in.
Alora and her partners were laughing as one of their sons looked to be courting a local. Thankfully, it wasn’t Mira, but Mira was getting a lot of attention that was making her father a little irritated. It was cute how protective he had gotten in less than a week.
Heyval settled in the chair next to Amori’s throne. He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Best birthday ever.”
She laughed and smiled. “Says you. Last year, I went and made my own special cake at the bakery. It was enormous.”
He grinned. “I think that is something you can do here.”
“Yeah, but who knows how long Azila will be here?”
Amori sighed. “True. Well, we need to accept the fealty of the visitors.”
“And the presents?”
“And the presents.” He chuckled. “They will be scanned for safety, and then tomorrow, we can open them.”
“Safety?”
“Not all of my nearest neighbours are fans. Many believe my mother should still be in power, but I ousted her and now rule where she did. Things are far less unpredictable.”
“What does that mean?”
“No one is tortured because they won’t share my bed.”
“Oh. Oh! So, your mom...”
“Likes companionship, willing or not.”
“Got it.”
“Yes, I plan on defending you when she returns. For now, she is on a five-year sabbatical around the world. She isn’t due back for another year.”
“Oh, delightful. Azila is handling the gifts?”
“Yes. And checking them. She likes you and is rather protective. Why is that?”
“No clue.” Heyval shrugged.
“How long have you known your friend Nex?”
“Oh, since just after I went to the university. She has her own issues.”
“Obviously.” He snorted. “She is very good at finances.”
“Yes, she would be. She has an analytical turn of mind.” Heyval smiled as a telescope was held up for Amori’s assessment. “She always did. I had no idea that she had left university.”
“Apparently, right after you did. She wasn’t fond of them after they tried to find out where you went.”
“Oh, shit. They questioned her.”
“That is my understanding.”
“She doesn’t look mad about it.”
“Does your friend normally get mad and stay mad?”
“No. She rolls with things. She accepts and moves on. Even after her bestie’s accident. She just accepted and moved on.”
Amori smiled and accepted a gift before passing it along to staff. “Levella?”
“Yes. You know about her?”
“She’s Nex’s assistant. She keeps her on time.”
Heyval felt a chill. “Levella is alive?”
“Of course. She’s been here as long as Nex has.”
“Oh, my god.”
Amori touched her hand. “Are you well?”
“Just got a shock. I thought Levella was dead. I was sure she was dead.”
“You are a necromancer. Are you sure you didn’t revive her like you revived me?”
“Oh, no. That wouldn’t have been possible. She shattered into hundreds of pieces.”
“Shattered?”
“Yes. Her nickname was the glass mage, and someone tested it with a projectile. She shattered and was declared dead. Nex went a little crazy and collected all the pieces.”
“I see. What happened then?”
“I don’t know. I left the school.”
“Ah. Well, Levella is very pleasant and good at leading tours around while I am having meetings.”
“You take tours?”
“Of course. Schools come and show their students around so that we have our pick of interns for the following autumn. Not everyone wants to work in a palace where all activity is scrutinized.”
“Right.”
She smiled and looked at Bailey and Mira.
They looked warily happy. Bailey also looked pissed to be purple.
Her newly found ex-lover appeared delighted with the ready-made family.
His protective hovering around Mira was hilarious.
Mira was just getting to the point of enjoying adult attention, and a tentacle was throttling the orc in question.
Dating was going to be challenging for her.
Heyval looked around at the party, and Amori took her hand and kissed the back of it. She was charged with the power of the university mages and ready for anything, but anything kept finding her. Now, she had friends and Amori nearby to help her through it.
Azila was keeping everyone under control, and the flow of presents for Amori’s birthday was steady. Rage was with her father, talking to Alora and her partners. When Heyval finally saw Nex again, Levella was there, cracks marring her features, but she met Heyval’s gaze and inclined her head.
Heyval had seen her shattered. Broken. In lifeless pieces. Here she was, standing and smiling along with her friend. It was the most terrifying thing Hey had ever seen. There was no sign of death, but there was no sign of life. It didn’t make sense, but Levella was there, laughing and smiling.
She met the other woman’s crystal grey gaze and inclined her head in return. Levella smiled, and it was a kind smile.
Amori turned to her. “Heyval, are you all right?”
“Yes, I just think I saw a ghost.”
“Levella? She’s alive. I mean, she acts alive.”
“Yeah. I am going to have to look into that.”
“Don’t do anything to piss Nex off. She is very protective of Levella.”
“I know. It isn’t that kind of looking.”
She sent her senses out to Levella and met a cool, grey mist of energy. The woman in question walked toward her and grinned. When she approached Hey, she said softly, “You called?”
“What is going on with you?”
“Ancient magic and starlight. You are looking well.”
“How ancient?”
“Dawn of time stuff. I am now drought and famine-resistant.” Levella chuckled and crouched near Heyval’s chair.
“You... I am happy to see you, but I mourned you.”
“I know. Nex put me back together. Literally. Good thing she likes puzzles.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Normal. The scars are my scars. They are the parts I was broken into.”
“Did you get revenge?”
“No. Nex did it for me. Not as satisfying, but a lot more timely. She was carrying my pieces around for a while before she had time to put me together.”
“So, how is that possible?”
“Oh, my grandfather is a gargoyle. I break; I don’t bleed.”
“Holy shit. I didn’t think they could mate with softies.”
“It takes some doing, but Grandma managed.” Levella grinned. “I don’t blame you for dodging the fireball, you know. I was just caught by surprise. I am up for surprises now.”
Heyval’s chest shuddered as she exhaled. “I am so sorry.”
“He was a dick, firing a fireball off in a confined space. You ducked; it ricocheted and hit me. That’s all that happened. Nex picked me up and tucked me into place, and I am here now and talking. All is good. And congratulations on your... engagement or marriage?”
Amori murmured, “Marriage. Formal ceremony to be announced.”
Heyval blinked. “Really? What about the sweet words and flowers and stuff?”
“They are also to be announced. I will court you for the rest of our days, but I am very glad to have found you again.”
She sighed. “I really wanted to be courted, you know.”
He kissed the back of her hand, and she saw the huge ring that had appeared on it. “I will do my best. I am sure your friends will tell me if I am falling short.”
Heyval stared. “Where did that come from?”
“You are not the only one in our union benefiting from the raging influx of magic.”
She stared at the emerald with the black fox inside it. The fox turned to her and winked. She jolted, and it flicked its nine tails at her.
“Okay. So, my ring is alive.”
Amori chuckled, and Levella stood straight, patted Heyval’s shoulder, and smiled. “Get used to it. The royal residence is full of surprises.”
Heyval looked around and felt a happy warmth settle in her chest. “I am getting that inkling.”
The fox in her ring settled down for a nap. Between the ring, the magic, and the marks, she was no longer untraceable, and she wasn’t unhappy about it. She looked at Amori’s profile, and he turned to smile at her.
Nope. Not unhappy at all.