Chapter Nine #3
I followed his gaze, finding Briar standing with professors from the magical academy.
He sometimes traveled to the school to be a guest lecturer and to aid in research, as well as took in students from the healing arts program to shadow him as he worked in the clinic.
As such, he’d become friendly with the other professors.
My attention lingered on one in particular.
Gray streaked through the woman’s brown hair, and a purple dress hung off her thin frame.
I pressed my lips together. Professor Madeline stood beside Briar, a little too close for comfort.
His comfort, anyway. He tried to inch away from her, and she grabbed his arm, dragging him right back before throwing her head back with a laugh.
“Should we rescue him?” Callum asked.
As if sensing our attention on him, Briar glanced in our direction and widened his eyes, quietly saying, Help me.
“I think that’s a yes,” I said with a small laugh and dragged Callum over to save our sweet man.
Shortly after we pulled him from the clutches of a now bitter Professor Madeline, the orchestra silenced, and a man drew everyone’s attention to the center of the ballroom.
Prince Sawyer and Lady Alina ascended the steps to the dais where the royal family sat.
The king smiled at them. The only one at the table who smiled.
A stone-faced woman sat to the king’s left.
The queen. It was my first time seeing her.
Her dark blonde hair had been pulled back in a loose hold with curls falling free in the front, and she wore a thin gold crown that had a red stone set in the center.
She sat perfectly straight in her chair, shoulders back and chin up. Contempt poured from every inch of her.
Like mother, like son.
Cedric sat on the king’s other side and wore a similar expression. That was, until his gaze found mine. A cold smirk spread across his lips.
I shuddered and looked away. Freaking psychopath.
As their engagement was announced, Prince Sawyer and Lady Alina stood with their arms linked and smiled. Smiles that didn’t reach either of their eyes.
Lord Norwood, Alina’s father, made a passionate speech about the strength of Voltas and once again mentioned the “impressive naval fleet” under his control. He then boasted about his daughter’s unmatched beauty and how she’d make a fine bride for the second prince.
“Thus begins a new chapter in our history,” King Eidolon said, raising his goblet. “A union between Bremloc and Voltas that will see us to victory against any and all who dare stand against us.”
Applause and cheers rippled throughout the crowd. Two elegantly dressed noblemen turned to each other and shook hands, smiling as they exchanged words.
“How distasteful,” Briar said, gaze also on the men.
“What is?” I asked.
“Many nobles see a rise in profits during wartime. Those men are looking ahead and already counting their bags of coin should war be declared.”
“But it hasn’t been declared.”
Callum’s expression hardened. “That’s likely where we’re headed though. To war. Probably why Lord Norwood keeps boasting about his fleet of ships. It’s a show of power.”
Briar politely clapped with the others in the crowd, but tension lingered at his temple. “I have to believe the king wouldn’t force us into a war unless it were absolutely necessary.”
King Eidolon didn’t seem cruel like his eldest son. The few times we’d spoken, he’d had a light air about him and seemed reasonable enough. Kind, even.
Lupin said those with my gift were meant for extraordinary things. Maybe that was my calling: to bring peace to the kingdoms. But how? Sitting the two kings down together and forcing them to eat amenity muffins?
Could baking be considered a superpower? Anything was possible. I didn’t know of anyone who could stay mad while eating a tasty treat.
Following the announcement, Miles and I sliced the cake and served the guests. Alice and Peter delivered mugs of the bourbon and brown sugar coffee. People seemed to love it too, which was always a great feeling.
Briar and Callum stayed with me throughout the evening, helping with desserts and taking me for a spin on the dance floor in between. Every once in a while, I caught movement in the crowd. Much too quick for me to make out faces, just super-fast blurs. Maybe the spies?
Although I didn’t see Rowan, I caught faint traces of black cardamom and knew he was watching over me too.
Castle security had kept Maddox busy, but he found his way over to us sometime after the cake was served and pulled me into his arms.
“Good,” he murmured into my hair. “You’re behaving.”
“Yep. I’ve been a good muffin and haven’t wandered off, not once.”
He lightly laughed.
“Any sightings of the mercenary?” Callum asked him.
Maddox drew back from me and shook his head. “Knights and guards are patrolling every inch of the castle grounds. No one has gotten past our defenses.”
Relief had me relaxing even more. “What about the spies? Are they okay?”
He nodded. “Captain Remy spoke to me earlier. The twins have the entrances under observation, and Draven and Reign have made their rounds in here.”
Ah. So that was them I’d seen. Sneaky men.
A guy around my age approached our group and bowed his head. Looked to be a member of the castle staff. “Apologies for the interruption, sir. The Crown Prince has requested your services.”
“My services?”
“Your coffee, sir. He requested that you deliver it to the royal family personally.”
“Oh. Okay.” I glanced toward the dais, seeing the king, queen, Cedric, and Sawyer. “I’ll be right there.”
So much for being relieved. Sawyer being present made me feel a bit better, but Cedric thrived on toying with me. My men watched me approach the table with a platter of coffee and cookies. They didn’t trust Prince Psycho either.
The scent of black cardamom strengthened around me.
“No stabbing,” I mumbled under my breath. “I’m serious, Ro.”
Though faint, I detected a raspy chuckle. I wasn’t near a wall or dark corner. So where the heck was my redhead hiding? Then, I noticed the shadows on the floor, those cast by the large crowd of people. He was using them to travel beside me, jumping from person to person.
Damn. He was getting better with his shadow magic.
Reaching the royal family, I stopped at the edge of the table and bowed my head. “Good evening, Your Majesties. I’ve brought some refreshments.”
“How kind of you,” King Eidolon said.
“Kind? It’s his duty.” The queen zeroed in on me with cold, calculating eyes. Her bitter tone sounded just like Cedric. It was clear who he took after. “What do you have for us?”
“Coffee, Your Grace, and a selection of cookies. Lemon and chocolate chip.”
She scowled. “I hope they taste better than the cake. It was absolutely dreadful. Too sweet.”
“Now, Mother.” Cedric took a sip from his goblet, doing a poor job of hiding his amusement. “Evan has quite the reputation for his little desserts. We should at least sample what he’s brought. And if it is repulsive like that dreadful cake, we can throw it out for the hounds.”
“You’re being rude,” Sawyer told him.
“Am I?” Cedric’s humor slipped into disdain. “What do you intend to do about it? Silence my tongue?”
“If you had any decency, you’d learn to silence it yourself instead of spewing such vitriol.”
“Careful, little brother,” Cedric said, grip tightening around his goblet. “You’ve forgotten your place once again. I’m the future king.”
“Yet, I’m the one still on the throne,” King Eidolon cut in, sounding more exhausted than anything. He must’ve been used to them bickering by now. “You will speak to your brother with respect, or I’ll send you to your bedchamber just as I did when you were a wee boy.”
Cedric clenched his jaw.
I almost offered to make peace tea but thankfully pressed my lips together.
Sawyer would find it amusing, but Cedric would probably order Sir Keegan to cut out my tongue.
And I happened to be quite fond of my tongue, even though it got me into trouble sometimes and had a tendency to go on long-winded rambles.
Wanting to get out of there as fast as possible, I filled each of their mugs, placed the cookies on the table, and then bowed. “Please let me know if there’s anything else you need, Your Majesties.”
I turned to make my escape.
“Evan,” the king said, stopping my retreat. “Might that be short for Evander?”
My heart rate spiked. “Y-Yes, Your Majesty.”
Sawyer seemed puzzled as he glanced between me and his father.
“Interesting.” King Eidolon smiled softly. Something sad touched his eyes. “Evander’s the name of the hero from a children’s book. Do you know the story?”
I shook my head. Heat spread from my scalp and traveled down my spine, fanning out into my ribs.
“Evander was a knight who embodied nobility and strength. Yet, his strength went beyond the physical. It came from his heart. He protected those around him, whether they be of royal blood or that of a commoner.” A distant look crossed the king’s face. “It was my brother’s favorite bedtime story.”
A pang slammed into my chest. It hit me so hard I felt the reverberations in my rib cage. I hadn’t given much thought to my name before then, but the realization that my dad named me after his favorite book character nearly made me cry.
Had he hoped I’d grow to be noble and strong too, like his favorite hero? Someone who protected people and cared deeply for them. Someone with a good heart.
“It’s quite strange,” the king said to me. “You remind me of him. My brother.”
My damn lungs stopped working.
As he regarded me with an inquisitive scrunch to his brow, I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d started piecing together the truth.
The family resemblance was undeniable. The same shade of hair and eyes.
Similar bone structure. Supposedly, I had some of my mom’s soft features, like the shape of my nose and lips, but my dad’s genes were strong.
And the king was no fool.