Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
When Draven told us that Diana was suspicious of outsiders, I didn’t expect it to be to this ridiculous degree. Every time we try to convince her to help us, she brings up a new reason for why we can’t trust each other. It’s almost evening by the time Draven has dismantled all of her arguments.
“Fine,” she presses out at last. Blowing out a weary sigh, she waves her hand in defeat. “When the time comes, my clan and I will help you in whatever way we can. But not before you have more people on your side.”
“Good.” Draven gives her a nod in acknowledgement. “And we will have more people. It’s just a matter of time.”
She opens her mouth as if to argue again, but then just closes it and heaves another deep sigh. Leaning back in her seat, she rakes her fingers through her wavy brown hair.
The patrons who are eating and drinking in this tavern have come and gone several times since we first stepped across the threshold. I’m not sure how they structure their society here, but I’m assuming that most people can’t just sit around and drink all day.
This last group of people to visit the tavern is the most cheerful of the bunch so far.
Laughter rings out from most corners, and they have even pushed aside the two long tables in the middle to make space to dance.
From chairs by the bar, two people play a pair of instruments that I’ve never seen before in my life.
Several couples dance a very passionate-looking dance to the dramatic notes.
“You left a damn mess behind after you betrayed the Icehearts,” Diana says. Dropping her hands from her hair, she sits forward again and instead wraps her hands around her mug. “A damn fucking mess.”
“I know,” Draven replies, his eyes serious. “I can imagine.”
“No, I don’t think you can. Your betrayal sent shockwaves across the whole continent. And then you just… disappeared.” Her green eyes slide to Orion. “I never could’ve imagined that you had gone to the Unseelie Court, of all places.”
The way she says it sounds almost like an insult, so before Orion can retort with something cutting, Draven smoothly changes the topic. “Who did they name as the new Commander of the Dread Legion?”
“Gremar.”
I suppress an annoyed scoff. Gremar Fireclaw is the leader of the Red Dragon Clan, which is responsible for managing the Seelie Court, and he has always gone about his duties in a brutal and merciless way. I’m not exactly his biggest fan.
Draven lets out a mocking chuckle. “Oh I’m sure he’s feeling very pleased with himself now.”
“He sure is.” She clenches and unclenches her hands around her mug for a few seconds. Then she adds, “There is something else I have to tell you.”
“What?”
She looks up to meet his gaze head on. “The Icehearts are searching for the Gold Clan.”
My eyebrows shoot up. Gold Clan? There is a Gold Clan?
Opposite me, Draven gives Diana a dubious frown. “The Gold Clan is a myth.”
“No, they’re not,” Orion cuts in, speaking for the first time in hours.
We all turn to blink at him in surprise. He just leans back in his seat and sweeps his gaze over all of us before lifting his shoulders in a casual shrug.
“They’re the ones who put up the wards around my court,” he explains.
My mouth drops open. “What?”
He nods.
“Wait, so the Gold Clan… has shield magic?” I ask, my mind spinning.
The ability to raise wards and magical shields is incredibly rare.
I’ve always wondered who raised the wards around the Unseelie Court all those millennia ago.
Since they’re so massive, it would’ve required far more power than one single fae should be able to produce.
But since there was no other explanation for it, I’ve just assumed that there must have been a ridiculously powerful fae born in the Unseelie Court thousands of years ago.
“Yes,” Orion confirms. He lets out something between an amused huff and a scoff. “To this day, it remains the single most expensive bargain we have ever made.” His intelligent eyes shift to Draven, and a knowing smile curves his lips. “But it has been so worth it.”
Draven just rolls his eyes at him.
“Where are they now?” Isera asks, her eyes on the Unseelie King. “Do you know?”
He shakes his head. “Couldn’t tell you even if I wanted to, love.”
She starts slightly at the term of endearment, but Orion has already picked up his glass of wine and is taking a casual sip.
“Anyway, I just had to warn you about that,” Diana continues. “From what I’ve been told, they have Lavendera working on it.”
My gaze snaps back to her at the mention of Lavendera’s name.
Then I have to grip the table hard to keep from gasping as a sudden thought strikes me.
Was that why she was trying to get into the Green Clan’s mountain?
Draven said that they are the history keepers.
If anyone knows what happened to the Gold Clan, it’s them.
I flex my hand. We really need to talk to them.
But at least they refused to open the doors for Lavendera too, so the Icehearts don’t possess that knowledge either.
“Look, I really must be getting back to work now,” Diana announces, and gives Draven a pointed look. “I was in the middle of something when you suddenly strolled into my woods and demanded that we talk.”
He arches an eyebrow back at her. “I didn’t demand.”
“You only demand and give orders. It’s what makes you… you.” She lets out a short chuckle. “Anyway, you’re welcome to stay the night. But don’t cause trouble.”
“Your people are the ones who attacked us,” he points out.
“Fair.” She shrugs. “I’ve let everyone know that we’re on the same side now, so that shouldn’t happen again.”
“Shouldn’t.”
“Yes.”
Draven shakes his head and flashes her a knowing smile. “Good talking to you, Diana.”
“I look forward to escorting you out in the morning.”
But there is a slight smile on her lips as she pushes her chair back and stands up. With a nod to the rest of us, she strides across the floor and out the door.
The moment she’s gone, Draven picks up his mug of ale and immediately moves to another table. A table that lets him sit with his back to the wall. Isera moves as well, but I suspect that it’s more because she wants to put some distance between her and Orion than anything else.
Left alone at our current table, the Unseelie King and I exchange a glance.
“Love?” I question, arching an eyebrow at him.
“I knew she would hate it,” he replies with a devilish grin.
“Uh-huh.”
I cast a glance at Draven. My heart jerks and then squeezes painfully when I find him glaring at me with that hate-filled fire in his eyes. Snapping my gaze away, I instead stare out at the dancing dragon shifters.
It’s an incredibly impressive dance. Both dramatic and sensual at the same time.
My gaze drifts back to Draven, and then to Orion, as a plan starts forming in my mind.
Meeting the Unseelie King’s eyes, I declare, “Dance with me.”
He draws back in stunned surprise and then frowns at me. “Why?”
“To remind Draven of his true feelings.”
Understanding dawns on Orion’s lethally beautiful face, but the look he gives me is full of sly calculation. “Why should I help you?”
“Apart from the fact that you are responsible for this mess by cursing that damn portal so that it would kill the person who loves me?”
His eyes glint sharply. “You chose to do that on your own. I didn’t force you.”
“He would’ve died otherwise.”
“Still. Not reason enough for me to owe you anything.”
“Fine.” Leaning back in my chair, I stretch out my legs and cross my ankles nonchalantly. “If you dance with me to make Draven jealous, I won’t mention to Isera that you mumbled her name in your sleep when you were injured last night.”
His eyes widen in what looks like shock or alarm. Quickly wiping that expression off his features, he raises his chin in a haughty expression. “I didn’t murmur her name.”
“I was awake almost the entire night since I was taking away Draven’s pain with my magic, so I heard everything that happened in that cave.”
That hint of alarm flits across his features for a moment again, but all he says is, “You’re bluffing.”
I just look back at him, keeping my gaze steady.
Clenching his jaw, he grinds his teeth while no doubt calculating if he can take the risk that I’m not bluffing. In the end, he lets out something between an irritated snarl and a huff of approval.
“Cruel,” he says. His black and silver eyes glint as he flicks his gaze over me. “I still don’t particularly like you, but I have to admit, I respect this new ruthless you a little more.”
A vicious smile curls my lips.
“Fine.” He flicks his wrist. “We have a deal.”
“Excellent.”
I was bluffing, of course.
But Orion doesn’t need to know that.