6
After touring the city, we returned to the palace in a hustle just as the sun was setting. We needed to dress for dinner, as it was imperative Jon attend. I had a feeling he was the piece needed to turn diplomacy on its head. Or at least knock the sails completely askew for a certain ambassador.
Anyway, we retreated to my rooms, quickly rinsed off the desert sand, and changed into something more formal.
With nights cooling quickly, most formal outfits were a secondary, heavier shawl or robe worn over the lighter layer.
These could be incredibly elaborate, depending on the skill of the artisan who made it.
Now, normally, I wore a more basic overcoat, something with a very geometric trim, embroidered with gold thread.
I wasn’t a very fancy man, as my mother put it, as I liked things streamlined in appearance.
It was partially why I’d surprised myself when I’d chosen an outfit for Jon, as I had picked something incredibly different from my own tastes.
Still, when I watched the maid shake out the shawl and put it around him, I knew my instincts had been correct. It had been the perfect choice.
The shawl was a deep cobalt blue, one of the richest colors my people could dye.
In antique gold and silver, embroidery covered the hemline in a thick three-set inlay, the pattern complex, with elaborate knotwork.
With it draped over one shoulder, it hung nearly to his knees on the right side, and then swept around his back so that it lay over his right arm and hung even lower, nearly to his ankle.
The longer the shawl or robe, the more expensive it was, as of course that was a lot of dye, material, and work.
Only those who were incredibly wealthy or a prince of this nation could afford such a shawl.
I may have splurged. A little.
I couldn’t regret it as it brought out the fairness of his skin and the depth of those blue eyes, making an already beautiful man seem ethereal. If he’d actually started glowing from the divine power within him, it would have only completed the picture and not surprised me a whit.
Jon seemed poleaxed by it, lifting both arms to look the shawl over, his eyes wide with incredulity. Maybe wonder. He’d probably never seen the like, considering blue dye wasn’t something his countrymen could easily lay hands on.
“When,” he finally managed, sounding somewhat strangled, “did you do this?”
“I actually bought it yesterday for the banquet last night,” I admitted easily, shrugging. “I’m so glad I bought it. It’s stunning on you.”
“Truly, Psychic Jon,” the maid seconded, beaming. “You look exquisite.”
“Thank you, Lila.” Jon managed a smile at her.
I extended a hand. “Shall we go?”
“Oh, we should, yes.”
We left my rooms and I guided him deeper into the palace.
The banquet hall was dead center, as it was part of the original building, so it took a while to get there no matter where you started from.
It also faced the cliff out back of the palace, giving a stunning view of the ocean.
I suspected it was why the location for the palace had been chosen to begin with.
Jon cleared his throat a little. “So what are you planning on doing tonight and why am I the lynchpin?”
Huh, well, that was unexpected. “You can see that?”
“I can see you’re scheming and I’m somehow involved, yes.”
“But not what I’m scheming?”
“When thoughts form into words, I’ll be able to read them. Until then, explain.”
Every time I felt like I had a good grasp on what he could see, he surprised me. Well, either way, I had no qualms telling him. Actually, it might be best to explain so he wouldn’t be caught off guard.
“The ambassador for your home country is still here and still trying to reason with us. Well, he calls it reasoning, we call it begging. He’s in a very tough spot because he’s supposed to go home with trading rights, but right now, everyone’s so mad at his king, no one’s giving him an audience.
I don’t think he realizes just how badly he screwed up by bringing not only people, but psychics to us in chains. ”
“Likely not.”
“So tonight, I think it’ll be best to show him. We can talk until we’re blue in the face, but it’s not sinking in. Seeing you dressed like that will convince him beyond words.”
A slow, evil smile took over Jon’s face. “Oh, you are good.”
“You think it’ll work?”
“I had three months to study Ambassador Solomon from afar. Trust me, it’ll work. That said, mind if I lend a hand?”
“Go ahead. If anything, you have the most right to confront him.”
Jon blinked, then canted his head a little, as if he hadn’t considered this. Then he snorted. “I guess I do, at that.”
I harbored the feeling he was not used to standing up for himself. I hated the idea that he was so accustomed to being fucked over, he didn’t try to stand up for himself anymore. Being here would break that habit. Or I’d start breaking people’s noses. Either or.
Finally, we reached the main hallway, and it was obvious not only because the stairs leading up into the banquet hall were in sight, but because of all the people milling about, chatting casually.
There were glasses of chilled wine and sliced fruit being served to whet the appetite until it was time to go in.
I saw more than a few heads turn when we joined the hall, and people visibly did double takes upon seeing Jon.
I was not the only one who thought he looked stunning.
Two people I knew very well split off, beelining for us. I lifted a hand in greeting while explaining to Jon, “My parents are coming. They’ve heard about you already.”
“Donovan, you brought him!” My mother came to a stop, beaming at Jon. “I’m Alani. I am honored to meet you.”
Jon took her hand into his and gave the same delighted smile in return. Then winced a little. “I’m very happy to meet you too.”
“This is my husband, Kanye.”
I watched my father greet my (hopefully) future husband with a warm tingle in my chest. I knew he would like them on first sight. My parents were extraordinarily good people. Why did Jon keep wincing, though…?
Oh.
Duh.
I put a hand on his shoulder and leaned in to murmur, “Are they blinding you?”
“A little.” Jon touched his bare face with a sigh. “I forgot to put my glasses back on.”
“Fortunately for you, I brought them just in case.” I slid them out from my waist pouch and offered them.
Jon put them on with a whimper of relief.
To my parents, who were confused, I explained the best I could. “Good people apparently have bright auras, and if he’s surrounded on all sides, it becomes blinding. The glasses help cut it down to something more manageable.”
“Oh!” Mom regarded Jon thoughtfully. “That probably does get overwhelming. I’m glad you’ve found something to help, although I’m sure once you’re properly anchored, the glasses won’t be necessary.”
Jon regarded her, head tilting quizzically. “You think?”
Knowing he had zero understanding of how an anchor actually worked, I said, “An anchor acts as a psychic’s shield against the energies of the world. Anchoring will help a great deal.”
“Huh. So it’s not just a physical partnership?” Jon blinked up at me and I could tell this was information he wasn’t sure what to do about. “I thought it was more like a marriage?”
“Well, it’s that too, of course. But an anchor’s main responsibility is to protect the psychic, which is possible on multiple levels. Shielding you from energies that overwhelm you is part and parcel of it.”
He looked at me as if this news was the finest nectar I could offer.
As if he’d dreamed of nothing else and was stunned to realize dreams could be reality.
I really, truly had to sit down and explain anchoring better.
If he knew what an anchor could do for him, surely he wouldn’t hesitate to anchor with me?
Well, that last part felt…pushy. He desired me, liked my company, but sometimes I suspected he only accepted my help because he could trust me. And Jon desperately needed people he could lean on and trust in this foreign land.
“We,” he managed after a long moment, “need to talk about that. Later.”
“Later, likely tomorrow, as the banquet’s going to drag on tonight.” I sighed and truly considered feigning a headache to get us both out of here. Dammit, I couldn’t, we had the ambassador to deal with.
Why must I be a responsible adult? It’s unfair, I tell you.
Mom picked up on the undercurrent, I believed, as she glanced between us before asking Jon, “Once you get more settled, do you think you’ll anchor, Jon?”
“That’s entirely up to your son.”
I BEG YOUR FUCKING PARDON?!
My head swiveled so fast, I felt my neck pop. Why was this my decision?! Shouldn’t it be his? I was the one who would be honored if he trusted me enough to make me an anchor, it was not the other way around!
Wait.
Wait a damn minute. Was that what he’d been alluding to earlier today?
That whole thing of moving in with me here at the palace permanently?
I thought we’d been negotiating living space, not, uh…
Shit. I suddenly had a lot more to talk to him about, and emotions climbed up my throat, clamoring to burst free, but this was not the time or place for that heady conversation.
I truly hated being a responsible adult.
I was also going to find a way to leave this banquet early if it was the last thing I did.
Jon abruptly chuckled, eyes twinkling madly. “The frustration that just rose in you was like a kettle that hit boil. We’ve got time, I promise you.”
“We are talking tonight,” I insisted in a low voice. “I don’t care how tired you are. Or how tired I am. TONIGHT.”
He lifted up to graze his lips across mine in a swift, reassuring kiss. “We will, I promise.”
That promise settled me some. Not to mention the kiss that came along with it. Still, knowing the conversation was a good three hours off left me an unhappy man.
My parents, at least, were delighted. Dad said to Jon, “You’ll be very welcome.
We were over the moon when our Mack joined the family.
Every psychic is valuable, of course, but I’m especially proud of Mack.
He uses his talent to bring rest to the dead, which is a very honorable calling, and he’s very good at it. When you join the family too—”
I was glad my father said when and not if, because this was definitely a when situation.
“—we’ll be even more thrilled. Oh, will you join Donovan’s work, then?”
“Likely, as that’s a good use of my talents. That said”—Jon turned his head to look at my mother—“I can help you as well. I do know something of medicine, and my eyes can see all ills.”
Mom verged on retirement in the next five years or so, but right now she was the lead director of a hospital, and a doctor who specialized in women’s health. I could see the moment Jon’s words hit as her own eyes flared wide with delight.
“Really? What all can you see?”
“Yes,” Jon answered dryly.
“We also need to have a conversation.” Mom glanced at me, lips pursed. “After you two do, of course. Make that soon; I could see some insight into a few patients.”
“That, I can promise. Tomorrow, perhaps?”
“That’s fine by me. We—”
A single horn let out a long, sonorous note. Ah, we must be ready to go in. Finally. The sooner we could start this, the sooner it could be over. The temptation to scoop Jon up and carry him back to my rooms lingered, but…needs must.
With a resigned sigh, I extended a hand to him. “Shall we?”
Jon took my hand, blue eyes twinkling like he was laughing at me internally. He likely was.
“It’ll only feel like the banquet goes on forever, Prince Donovan.”
That was what I was afraid of.