Chapter 17
KATANA
T he whispers started as soon as Thane offered her his arm.
Before they even set foot inside the ballroom.
There was arranged seating for three hundred.
The sea of people was already seated when they stepped in, arm in arm.
By the number of guards throughout the castle and at every entrance and exit, anything that looked suspicious would be spotted.
She had a good feeling about tonight and wasn’t worried about an attack.
The room was drenched in red and white tapestries and matching roses. Red was apparently the Queen Mother’s favorite rose.
While Valeen helped Katana do her hair, she said she wouldn’t be going, for one because she didn’t like the queen and two, she didn’t want to disrespect Thane. Not having her sister there made her nervous but she promised Thane she would go, and she wouldn’t let him down.
Talon walked down the center aisle ahead of them with Fennan as her escort.
Smiling, she looked amongst the elves. They were such a lovely people. All statuesque and beauty. Everyone in attendance wore fine pastels and had beautiful silver and gold jewelry.
“Who is that with the High King?” a lady asked.
“Does the High King have a new betrothed?”
“She is… quite lovely.”
The whispered and hushed questions continued.
It didn’t bother Katana. In fact, she was happy to have them all distracted rather than focusing on his breakup with Valeen.
She’d even spoken to her sister before this so it wouldn’t cause a rift between them in case feelings still lingered on both sides.
Valeen assured her that nothing would ever happen between her and Thane again.
Thane leaned close to her ear, and it sent a shiver down her back. “Are you alright?” he whispered.
“I am perfect.” And she was. It was exhilarating to be on the arm of the most desired elf king and have everyone talk about it.
She hadn’t had anything intriguing happen like this in a long time.
Even in her previous life, the longer she was married to Atlanta, the more he wanted to keep her locked inside.
In the beginning, he was charming, and she enjoyed his possessiveness, but then it turned into abuse when she’d only look at another male.
If he heard rumors that she’d spoken to a male, even if it was a simple greeting, he would get angry.
After many years, she stopped going out into public unless she needed to.
The only place she’d ever been shielded was when she stayed at House of Night.
Atlanta didn’t want her sister to find out how he was with her and left her alone there.
Thane guided her to a seat in the front row. Music played, elves went up on the dais to sing the king’s mother’s praises. Her shoulder touched Thane’s, and she felt a strange electricity between them. It made her pulse rush in her ears. His knuckles turned white from gripping his thighs.
“We gather together for the great loss of the Queen Mother, Orlandia Morningflower, she was a wonderful…”
Katana started to tune out the speakers too focused on Thane.
Through every song and speaker, he didn’t relax.
There were a few times he glanced over at her but otherwise he stared straight ahead.
The talks at the podium became background noise to the intensity between them.
It started to affect her own breathing. How was it that sitting next to someone made her feel like she might spontaneously combust?
She finally reached over and set her hand on his.
His grip finally loosened, and he smiled down at her.
“It’s almost over,” he whispered. “Sorry it’s so long.”
“I am content, no need to worry about me. Are you not speaking?”
“I’m not feeling up to it.”
Poor Thane. She patted the top of his hand gently. After a moment, he turned his hand and held hers.
“Thank you for joining me.”
“Of course.”
His sister Talon leaned over to him. “Mother would want to celebrate her life late into the night so don’t try to end this early and ruin it with all your paranoia. I want to have a good time.”
His jaw muscles feathered, and he took a deep breath. “Her death wasn’t an accident. My paranoia is warranted.”
“I won’t live in a cage.”
“Be thankful there is a public celebration at all. It ends at midnight, Talon.”
“Maybe for you.” She smirked and curled her hands on her lap.
Katana nudged his side. The reaction of a young girl who’d just lost her mother was strange. Perhaps they didn’t get along well. “Your sister is…spirited.”
“She likes to drink too much wine and act inappropriately with males much older than her. And with our mother’s death, she’ll fall into it all the more.”
The formalities ended and the chairs were cleared out, opening the room up for dancing. Music started quickly, string music and drums and wind instruments. The lights went low with only candlelight from the chandeliers. Ball gowns swished and the tapping of heels shuffled across the glossy floor.
Talon and her group of friends quickly went to the wine table. The annoyance at that was obvious in Thane’s expression but he didn’t say anything to his sister. It likely wasn’t worth causing a scene.
The focus of the room shifted from his mother’s passing to Thane and her. So many people stared and whispered behind their hands as they passed them. Maidens glared at her. One even whispered, “Did you see her round ears? She’s not even an elf, or she’s at least a half-breed.”
“The High King couldn’t possibly choose a bride who is not an elf,” another said.
Oh, the things young ladies worried about. Katana had been out of the spotlight for so long she forgot that details like this were what people concerned themselves with. “They must think I am human with my rounded ears.” She smiled. “We are causing quite a stir.”
“Yes,” he grumbled. “Will you walk with me? I’m not really in the mood to be here.”
“Lead the way, High King.” She took his arm, and they quickly left the ballroom and went out a side door to stroll along a path through the gardens.
The blossoms were in full bloom perfuming the air.
Water trickled from a small fountain ahead.
“It was kind of you to host a celebration for your mother even in these troubled times. I know you did not want to.”
“Yes, well she’s dead because of me so it’s the least I could do.”
Her heart ached and she squeezed his arm gently. “Do not blame yourself.”
“Who else is to blame?”
“The one who did it, Thane.” He kept his bright green eyes everywhere but her. Maybe he didn’t want to be around her either. “If you would like to be alone, I can find my way to my room.”
He came to a sudden stop and finally met her eyes. “I don’t want to be alone.”
That same charged energy she felt inside the ballroom returned. She’d never felt anything like it before. Was it his magic? She gasped when an idea came to mind. “We should ask Presco to take us for a ride. The sky is clear, and it is warm. It is the perfect evening.”
“Now?”
“Why not?”
“I guess there isn’t a reason but?—”
“Then we shall go.” Grinning, she tugged on his hand and dragged him back inside.
They found Presco reading the Palenor Scroll in his study in the library. The two headlines of the front page were, Dragons Back In Palenor Once Again, and The Life and Death of the Queen Mother Orlandia Morningflower.
She briefly wondered what Thane said the cause of her death was. Elves lived long lives, and it wasn’t as if she’d been in battle. It wasn’t mentioned during her ceremony. They only spoke of the good things she had done.
Presco was all too happy to agree to fly them again and followed them out to the large open grassy area by the horse pasture. When he took his beast form the grazing horses bolted, kicking up dirt clods and bucking.
“Ladies first.” Thane gestured.
Presco scooped her up with his massive paw and set her on his back. A moment later Thane plopped down behind her. “Tell me when you’re ready,” Presco said.
Katana scooted up to the large spike in front of her and wrapped her arms around it.
Without the hesitation he had last time, Thane pressed himself against her back.
Only now, Valeen wasn’t with them to turn it into fun.
It was much more intimate. “Oh, my hair. It will whip you in the face.” Her long locks hung loosely aside from a few twists pinned back.
She reached up to gather it until Thane’s hand brushed against her, and she stilled.
“May I braid it for you?” he asked.
With a giggle, she twisted around in surprise. “You know how?”
“All elves know how to braid hair, in case you haven’t noticed.” He gestured toward his own, with braids in his dark brown hair starting at his temples and tied into a knot at the back of his head.
“I suppose I assumed someone else did it for you.”
“You’re not questioning my masculinity, are you?”
“Ummm, no.” She shook her head and couldn’t even say why she suddenly blushed. “You are quite masculine even if you have such a pretty face.”
He chuckled and combed his fingers through her hair.
It made the skin on her scalp tingle and a warm feeling slide through her body.
Once he tied it off at the ends from a thin leather strap he kept in his pocket, she ran her hands over the plaits.
“Thank you. I can tell just from feeling that it is perfect.”
“It is, rest assured. We’re ready, Presco.” He wrapped his arms snuggly around her waist, and it made her stomach flip.
“Hold on,” Presco said.
His great wings spread out and he trotted forward, gathering a little speed before liftoff.
Rising from the ground tickled her belly and she let out a laugh.
The city was lit up with torchlight. Elves still walked the main streets.
Soft music drifted up even as they rose high above the tallest trees.
The stars glittered and the moon was almost full.
The warmth of Thane pressed against her warded off the cooler temperature.
“This is amazing!” She grinned. “I love flying!”
“There’s nothing else quite like it.”
Presco evened out and went into a steady glide. Feeling brave, she let go of the spike and held out her arms. “Wahoo!” Thane’s laugh rumbled against her back. It was good to hear him laugh. He’d been rather melancholy since she’d met him. “Try it. Hold out your arms.”
Once he let go of her, she glanced back because she had to see his face, and it didn’t disappoint. He was lit up with joy, and even if he was beautiful broody, his perfect white smile made her heart flutter.
Tonight was about freedom and taking risks. She tucked her legs up in front of her, then slowly rose to her full height and held her arms out again.
“Katana.” Thane sounded worried, and his hand wrapped around one of her ankles. “Please sit down. You could fall.”
The last time they rode, Presco said he didn’t lose his riders and even if someone fell, he’d catch them.
She trusted that. “Oh, but it is so fun!” The little hairs around her face whipped in the wind and she closed her eyes, with her arms spread wide as if she had wings herself.
Maybe she’d ask the god of magic to give her a set one day. Would it be hard to learn to fly?
“ Katana .”
Glancing back at him, he did look a little scared.
What would he do if—She pretended to lose her balance and wobbled, waving her arms and gasping.
Lightning fast, he was on his feet. His arms caged around her, pinning her back against Presco’s spike.
He was breathing heavily, and his pulse visibly throbbed in his neck.
“ Please , sit down,” he said, all throaty and raspy.
She gripped the front of his suit jacket and started laughing. “I am sorry, that was mean.”
His jaw dropped. “You pretended to lose your balance?”
“It was just a bit of fun. I will not fall.”
He let out a low growl and pulled her down with him to sit. “You scared the shit out of me.”
Still smiling, she gripped Presco’s spike again. “I will hold on just for you.”
“Thank you,” he said grumpily. “No more tricks.”
She twisted to wink at him. “Promise, as long as you keep holding onto me.”