49. Now, Now, Children…
49
Now, Now, Children…
Aliza
A fter everything Anwir had planned to do to me, watching him struggle to maintain control and normality was extra enjoyable. Whatever speech he’d planned had obviously been shredded up and tossed into a fire, leaving him to improvise something about how he’d decided, in his infinite wisdom, to leave himself free of matrimony, in order to strike up a political alliance at a later date. This meant that I’d had to make do with his identical twin. As close to Anwir as it was possible to get, as fortune would have it.
He’d made a point to stress that I, the promised one, was still very much in alliance with his family and his cause. As for the vampires, he’d been in on it all along, and it was his greatest pleasure to welcome them back from their long exile. He almost managed to make it sound convincing for the nervous, confused crowd.
Idris, who hadn’t dropped my hand for even a moment since our dance, leaned in and whispered, “You don’t mind him taking credit for your brilliance?”
I shrugged, smiling. Nothing could upset me tonight.
The vampires drifted amongst the other guests, all in a mish-mashed array of clothing that wouldn’t have looked out of place in a museum. Victorian bustles, Tudor hats, and various frills and ruffles dating all the way back to Torsten’s embroidered tunic and clawed necklace.
“The vampires know it was me below the mountain, not him.” I looked up at him. I’d forgotten how beautiful he was. If I spent the rest of my life gazing at him, it would be time well spent. “That’s all that matters. They know who saw them as people. And besides, it doesn’t matter what Anwir says, or thinks, or does. He’s not the heir. I don’t need him. We should talk about the future, though.”
I’d expected his face to pale or his shoulders to stiffen, but he only smiled, kissing my forehead. “He’s not going to take it well, I hope you know that.”
“I do know, but I wasn’t talking about him. I meant us.”
A crease appeared between his brows.
“I know you said you’d accept… the thing,” I glanced around to be certain nobody was listening, “but there are details to iron out.”
As tempting as it had been to walk into the ball and blow the twins’ secret, I couldn’t do that to Idris. Dancing with him, revealing my feelings, had been the most I’d dared to do. I didn’t want to pretend anymore; not just because Anwir made every moment wasted in his company utterly miserable, but because I was proud. I wanted the world to know that Idris didn’t exist in his twin’s shadow. That he wasn’t an afterthought. A spare. I had chosen him.
Still, whatever he’d said, whatever he’d promised, admitting his true identity was no easy thing for him, nor was challenging his brother, even if Anwir was a stinking dollop of dog shit, undeserving of compassion.
“What sort of details?”
“The sort we should talk about in private. ”
Mischief lit his peridot eyes, and he tightened his grip on my hand, pulling me closer. “Are you trying to get me alone, Your Majesty?”
Yes . “No.” I cleared my throat, trying to block the memories of our night in the cabin. Those details seemed too impossibly good to be anything but a dream. Had it been real? Had I misremembered in my heartbreak? The heat pooling low in my belly told me I remembered everything perfectly. I took a large, hasty swig of fizzing wine. Bubbles exploded at the back of my nose, a welcome distraction from the sensations going on in other areas. “Okay, fine, maybe I am.”
My belly fluttered at the thought. But we couldn’t just sweep everything under the carpet and pretend it had never happened, however tempting it may be. Still, I was in no rush to spoil the moment, content for now just to exist with Idris’ hand engulfing mine.
I’d missed him. I’d always known it, but the extent of it hadn’t struck me until I’d searched the garden and found his eyes fixed on me. A sense of calm certainty had settled inside me, warm and comforting, glowing like a window on a dark, wet night, welcoming me home. I’d accomplished a lot in his absence, but now a missing piece had been replaced, slotting seamlessly back into my heart.
The playful gleam in his eyes dimmed into a soft glow. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?” I asked, though I thought I knew what he meant. I’d told him I loved him, in a roundabout sort of way, and I meant it. I’d never planned to fall in love. Never wanted to derail my life and have it revolve around someone new, but Idris had changed that part of me.
“Like—”
“Your Majesty.” I tore my eyes from the prince to find Jacques before us, a smirk curving across his face. “Your Highness. ”
He bowed deeply, but never removed his eerie eyes from Idris, who stiffened, his hand clenching around mine, as though he longed to pull me away. The vampire straightened, surveying the fae with frank distaste.
“I am overwhelmed with relief to see you have made such an excellent recovery from the injuries I inflicted, Your Highness.”
I didn’t bother to stifle my groan as Idris hissed, “Likewise.”
“Don’t start,” I demanded of them both. “Play nice. I didn’t negotiate all of this just for you two to start another war. We have enough enemies already.”
“Jacques is on his best behaviour, mon amour.” The way he sized up Idris left his unspoken caveat crystal clear. As long as he is.
“Good.” I managed to inject a substantial dose of threat into that single word. The last time they’d been face to face, not including the time Jacques had crept from the shadows to speak with me while Idris slept, there’d been a brutal battle as the prince fought to save me from the vampire’s feeding frenzy. I could do without anyone recalling too much of that particular incident. I squirmed in my ridiculous but fabulous shoes. Being discovered in my lingerie with a vampire at my throat by the male who would claim to love me was far from ideal. “Are the vampires and fae getting along?”
I already knew, of course. The two groups, though appearing to mingle, avoided each other like the plague. Beyond Anwir and Torsten, there had been no conversation, no dancing; not that I’d expected the latter. I hadn’t been naive enough to expect a seamless integration, but I had to admit, I was disappointed.
Jacques shrugged. “Nobody has murdered any innocent people yet. ”
“Are you implying the vampires were innocent in the exile?” Idris snarled.
“Idris, stop!” I glared at him before he could ruin my carefully concocted truce. “It’s in the past. We’re all friends now.”
“The very best of friends,” Jacques whisper-hissed, his star-bright eyes fixed on the prince with predatory focus. There was nothing friendly in his gaze.
“Right.” I adopted my firmest tone, usually reserved for clients who were reluctant to provide the pets with the care they needed. “This ends now. Idris, wait here, we’ll continue our conversation when I get back.”
“Where are you going?” His hand tightened again, his eyes widening.
I softened, squeezing back before gently extricating my hand. “To dance with Jacques.”
Idris’ outraged exclamation and Jacques’ gleeful chuckle drew the attention of surrounding partygoers.
“Someone’s got to set the example.” I offered Idris a smile. “I’ll be fine. Come on, Jacques.”
I pretended not to notice the smug grin Jacques gave the prince as I led the way to the dancefloor. By now, it was full of other couples. Witches, fae and vampire alike, though everyone gave the latter a wide berth.
“Do you know how to dance?” I muttered, spotting a potential problem in my clever plan.
“Of course, ma cherie. I know how to do many things.”
“He can’t hear you anymore, so you can stop trying to wind him up. ”
Jacques took on a look of angelic surprise as we assumed our positions on the dancefloor. “I do not know what you imply, but poor Jacques is innocent.”
I gave my head an incredulous shake. Once again, all eyes were on me, including a simmering pair of yellow-green. I blew Idris a brief kiss and began to dance.
The vampire moved as though he was made of liquid, and with the chill emanating from him, I could almost believe he was. My sequin dress did nothing to shield me from the goosebumps peppering my skin. For his part, Jacques had changed out of his usual grunge and into a flouncy shirt complete with a lace cravat. Weirdly, it suited him, though I couldn’t imagine it had been in style at the time of his death. He’d obviously acquired it in the centuries that followed, and I decided I had no interest in how he’d sourced it. No ancient blood stains marred the neck, at least.
“Your lover wants to kill me.” His words were at odds with the delight in his voice. “I think he might attempt it if this dance goes on much longer.”
“Be nice. You would have killed me if he hadn’t intervened, remember?”
His grin faded. “That will not happen again.”
It was my turn to smirk. “Because I stink?”
“Your perfume masks the smell, but I will not deny it. It is not the only reason, though.”
“Ah, yes. Our new bargain. No more hunting humans.”
“You are not human, mon amie, but I would not harm you even if you were. You are my friend and I care for you too much. What happened was… a mistake. ”
I worked a tiny shrug into my movement. “We all make them. I don’t hold a grudge.”
“Unlike the other fae.”
I glanced around. Sure enough, my new people looked less than thrilled at my choice of partner. I certainly hadn’t inspired any burying of the hatchet. “Give them time. Give yourselves time. It’s not an easy thing to forget.”
Especially for immortals. Even humans held generational grudges. Many of these vampires and fae had been alive during their bitter feud. Many would see familiar, unwelcome faces amongst the crowd.
“Perhaps when the next battle comes, and we fight alongside one another, things will change.”
“I hope so, but let’s not talk about that tonight. Let’s just try to be happy.”
“I am happy, ma cherie.”
“You are?”
“You have freed me. How could I be anything but?”
I smiled, my ears glowing. Thank god I’d worn my hair down. “Good.”
“And now it is your turn to be happy. Go to him.”
I’d barely noticed the tune fading to its conclusion, but Jacques released me from his icy hands and swept another deep bow. I had a lot to learn about royal protocol, and I was probably wrong to do so, but I curtsied. Muttering swept the crowd, but I didn’t care. I could give respect to my friend. Jacques smiled as he straightened, then walked away .
I didn’t have to look far to find Idris, hovering at the edge of the dancefloor, looking ready to commit murder. He tucked me under a protective arm as I resumed my place beside him.
I pouted. It had been nothing but wishful thinking to believe that one dance would be enough to strike up friendship between old enemies. “That didn’t work. Nobody is making friends.”
Idris’ face softened. “Are they not? Look again.”
I whirled, my hair snagging under the weight of his arm.
A pale-faced Sage danced with King Torsten as Anwir approached a gaunt, bright-eyed woman. After a moment’s hesitation, she accepted his hand and together they made their way to the dancefloor. Warily, tentatively, vampire, fae and witch followed them, entering into stiff couplings. I even spotted Pansy, her face carrying a faint green tinge as she danced with a white-haired vampire.
A hopeful laugh burst through my lips and I turned my smile on Idris.
He raised an eyebrow. “Should I find myself a new dance partner to assist with your peacemaking?”
I shook my head, sliding my hands up his chest and over his shoulders. My fingers toyed with the hair at the nape of his neck. “We have some peacemaking of our own to do.”
“Luckily for you, Saeth is grazing in the grounds. We can fly away from here,” he murmured, lowering his head until his nose brushed mine. “You can get me alone if you really try. I won’t resist.”
“Where would we go?” I breathed.
“I know a place. You’ll have a private showing of the fireworks.”
Who could resist such an offer?