Chapter 25 Auria #2
An hour passed faster than I expected. People lined up to speak with us and introduce themselves to me. I had no hope of remembering everyone, but Bylur whispered they knew that. They still wanted the chance to tell everyone that we’d spoken.
Eventually the music stopped, and Bylur turned to me. “Now is the typical time for announcements. Do you want me to include yours?”
I nodded. This was my plan to end my life as a thief and embrace my new life as a lady. It might be humiliating, but I needed it to make the change in my mind.
I walked with Bylur to the edge of the stage the thrones sat on.
Bylur thanked everyone for coming, made some compliments with his dry humor about the masks, and introduced me.
“Auria has given up a great many things to be here with me, and I care for her deeply.” A hushed murmur rippled through the crowd.
Caring must not be a thing fae admitted to out loud.
His voice lowered into a rumble that reminded me of his bear form while his shadows rolled out from him and across the ballroom floor. “If any of you have a problem with her, bring it to me. Her happiness is worth more than any of your lives.”
He stretched an arm out to me, and I slid under it.
His hand wrapped around my back and settled on my waist, silently claiming me in front of everyone.
Of course, he’d also claimed me out loud a moment ago too.
And he’d done it knowing what I planned to say next.
That thought, more than any other, filled me with a warm confidence as he added, “She has an announcement also.”
My finger automatically traced my thumb in the spot my mother’s ring used to be. Bylur gestured to a guard, who handed me my box. No fear. I cradled the box in my arms, and shifted one step closer to the crowd. Bylur rested a hand on my back.
I looked at the sea of people and froze.
If Bylur had possessed an ounce of greed, I’d be their queen.
But instead I was just like them. A noble among nobles.
One with a crazy powerful husband who happened to be hosting tonight’s ball.
Brielle and Orla stood next to each other, their brothers flanking them. Orla waved at me, and my mouth relaxed.
I gave them a practiced smile. “I’d like to thank everyone who has already welcomed me to Kalshana.” My voice carried magically throughout the entire ballroom. I raised a brow at Bylur, and his lips twitched up into a smile. Of course he’d done it.
Brielle and Orla encouraged me to keep talking with their big smiles.
“It’s an honor to join you, and I’m grateful for the chance to get to know you.
” I lifted the box away from my body to draw their attention toward it.
“I also have a confession to make tonight. When I arrived, I was intrigued by a number of jewels. I borrowed them without informing many of you during my first weeks here.”
I focused on Brielle. “I remember some of you well enough to return them, but I’m afraid I’ve forgotten who I took several of them from. I will bring those I remember to you shortly. I hope the rest of you will take a moment to check this box and collect any that belong to you.”
I avoided looking at Dedalus—I felt his glare without even making eye contact. Brielle looked more confused than anything else, so I kept my eyes on her. “I hope you can forgive this awkward introduction, and we can still be good friends.”
Bylur stepped closer to me. “The box will remain on the edge of the stage. I put an enchantment on it so each jewel may only be retrieved by its owner.” His voice lowered.
“I also know most of you have no moral issues with stealing, only being stolen from. It is good for you to know that despite my wife’s humanity, she is faster and smarter than all of you.
” He lowered his voice to a whisper just for me. “Also braver.”
I smiled up at him, and he waved a hand at the orchestra. As they started playing again, I took a deep breath in and out. “So that’s it? They just won’t care?”
He shrugged. “Some of them will. But they won’t complain. Not now.”
I slid closer to him and wrapped an arm around his waist in a one-handed hug. “Thank you.”
He pulled me closer with his arms. “Of course.” He pressed his lips to the top of my head with enough pressure that I felt it through the fabric on his mask. He straightened up and pulled away from me. “Do you want me to accompany you to return the ones you’ve chosen?”
“No. I can do it.” I opened the box to pull out Brielle’s ring, Dedalus’s cuff link, and a bracelet from Orla. Before I reached in, I looked up at Bylur. “Will your enchantment stop me?”
“My magic cannot stop you any more than it can stop me.” Right. Because he’d done something with it and the key. I pulled out the three items and handed the box to Bylur.
He squeezed my shoulder and took the box. “Don’t make me sit by myself for long.”
Brielle hadn’t stopped staring at me since my announcement. She grabbed my shoulders. “Auria. What kind of magic do you have?!”
I raised both my brows. “None. You know that as well as I do.” At least, none without Bylur, but I still didn’t know how to use his magic through the key.
She shook her head. “I have never seen Bylur claim to care about anything. Not even his precious journals. And he just put his feelings for you on parade for everyone!”
I glanced back at him, remembering how my whole body had trembled after a nightmare. “If that was a parade of feelings for him, he must think my emotions are out of control.”
“Is that what you did?” Brielle demanded. “Showed emotions?”
I shook my head. I had no idea what she was talking about, but I’d come down here for a reason. I shoved her ring in her hand, Orla’s bracelet in hers, and Dedalus’s cuff link in his. “I feel bad that I didn’t return these sooner. I hope you don’t hate me for it.”
Orla rolled her eyes. “It’s moments like this that remind me you’re human. Most fae would be proud to have got these away from us without our noticing.”
I swallowed a hiccup. I’d been so worried about this, but it was turning out fine. “Most?”
Dedalus turned his permanent glare from his sister to me. “I’m not impressed.”
I sighed. “Yeah. Bylur wasn’t thrilled either.”
Dearan laughed. “I feel left out. Why didn’t you steal anything from me?”
I folded my arms, still self-conscious, but definitely relaxing. “I’m trying to reform.”
Brielle elbowed her brother. “We’re getting sidetracked here. I think we need to focus on the fact that Bylur is both married and expressing feelings in public.”
Dedalus nodded. “It is disconcerting.”
“Why?” I asked. “Surely lots of fae marry?”
“Yes,” the grumpy fae confirmed. “But Bylur has risen to power by being untouchable. Nobody has as much power as he does. His shadows can kill in an instant. Nothing disrupts his emotions. And he doesn’t tell people what he cares about. That would expose a weakness that could be targeted.”
“Oh.” I didn’t want to be a weakness that could destroy Bylur.
Orla poked her brother. “Dedalus worries too much. Most of us are thrilled to see him care about you.”
“Truly.” Brielle grinned at me. “The rest of us are just waiting for the day someone publicly announces they love us.”
Dedalus’s brows pinched together, but before I could wonder about it too much, something shifted behind me. I turned around to find Ephaltes drawing a shortsword in the middle of the dance floor.
Bylur stood up and walked to the edge of the stage while shadows flowed away from him, rushing to surround Ephaltes.
Ephaltes spread his arms to the side, one holding the sword. “Would you strike me down before I have the chance to speak?”
Bylur’s voice rumbled through the hall. “If that is what it takes to protect the people around you.”
Ephaltes shoved the sword back into its scabbard. “It was only to get your attention without shouting.”
The shadows flowed in a circle around Ephaltes, separating him from everyone else who backed toward the edges of the room. “You have my attention, and you are interrupting my party.”
“A party held on the heels of my cousin’s death!” Ephaltes’ shouts made a pathetic contrast to Bylur’s controlled volume. “We should be gathered to mourn, not celebrate.” Whispers surrounded me. If this bothered him so much, why didn’t he oppose the idea more in the meeting three nights earlier?
Bylur was unmoved, just as Dedalus had described. “Your cousin attacked my wife, but I did not prescribe her death. She died at the hands of her conspirator, as you already know.”
“And have you found this conspirator?” Ephaltes challenged. “Is there a murderer among us?”
“Can fae get drunk?” I whispered to Brielle, because this was not the way Ephaltes normally acted.
But Brielle didn’t answer me. She was glued to Ephaltes and nodding at his ranting. I gripped her shoulder and gave it a gentle shake. “Brielle?” I hissed.
She glanced at me. “Do you hear him? He makes such good points.”
What?
I checked the rest of our little group, and they all seemed to agree. Even Dearan and Dedalus nodded along like Ephaltes was some sort of genius. I whirled around to find all the other nobles—hundreds of them—agreeing with Ephaltes.
This was not normal.
Ephaltes unsheathed his sword again and pointed it at Bylur. “I challenge you to duel for leadership. If I win, you step down, and I will rule as king.” Nobles clapped and cheered. When their voices died down, Ephaltes continued. “If you win, everyone here will support your council.”
The applause was more hesitant, as if they truly thought Ephaltes should be king.
Which made no sense. He’d never shown any signs of leadership, at least not while I’d been here.
And why was everyone agreeing? There should have been some people who disagreed. Someone always disagreed. At the least, Dearan and Brielle should have supported Bylur. They always did.
Something wasn’t right.