Chapter 34 #2
Revels with the common people weren’t done beyond festivals, and we’d ceased with those after the darkening. There was nothing much to celebrate.
Unaccustomed to the flurry of drums, pipes, lyres, and laughter, part of me wanted to sink into the walls, but most of me was enraptured with the woman spinning about with Sewell in the center of the hall.
Livia’s hair spilled around her shoulders in dark waves, and the shimmer of laughter lived in her eyes when Sewell dipped her back, nearly toppling them both. She was a beacon through the dark. A beautiful distraction from blood claims and curses and enemies.
I abandoned the side of the hall. Tait and Larsson both made moves to follow, but I held up a hand. A hundred gazes burned into me; I only looked at Livia.
“Sewell.” I waited until he faced me. “Mind?”
For a pause, Sewell studied my open palm, then a sly kind of grin spread over his mouth. “Aye, little eel. Spin.”
The moment I’d stepped into the hall, the musicians had slowed their playing as though waiting for me to rage or end the revel. With a gentle tug I pulled Livia against me, and the music began again. Louder, with more spirit than before.
“Songbird.”
“Serpent.” She slid one arm around my shoulders. “I was beginning to think you did not know how to revel and intended to stand surly and aloof all evening.”
“I had planned exactly that.” Slowly, I drifted my fingertips along the divots of her spine. “Until I saw that Sewell made you laugh, and I felt more violent than anything.”
She chuckled. “Violent? I think you were jealous, Bloodsinger. As you should be. Sewell is my favorite.”
I touched my lips to the subtle point of her ear. “Not the thing a man wants to hear when he’s had his mouth on your body, dragging out those desperate sounds from your throat.”
Livia let out a warm breath against my neck. “Erik, don’t say those things.”
“Why not?” I dragged my nose across her smooth cheek.
“Because.” Livia dug her claws into my shoulders. “It makes me think…I’d like to make those sounds again.”
“Good.” My lips caressed the slope of her neck. “Because I’ve thought of nothing else other than your sweet legs wrapped around me, your naked body in my hands, and my name on your tongue right before you come apart.”
Livia’s lips parted against ragged pants. Her body went still in my hold.
With my thumb, I tugged on her bottom lip. “You want me as much as I want you, Songbird. Admit it.”
On the surface, I was calm, snide, even arrogant. Inside, I was pleading, pathetic, and simpering. I never knew how desperately I wanted to hear the words from her, the words telling me she ached for me back.
I wouldn’t get them.
One of the guards by the doors of the hall pounded on the wood and lifted his voice over the crowd. “Lady Narza of the House of Mists.”
I froze.
Livia’s hand pressed to my chest. “Why is she here?”
“Stay behind me.” I stepped in front of her, using one hand to tuck Livia close against my back, then faced the entrance.
Crowds parted for a procession of several ladies of the House of Mists.
Witches and sirens were both hauntingly beautiful.
The difference was the women with siren blood had the darker eyes and ruby lips.
The witches were more like a sea storm. Colorful hair and irises like smoke lived behind their pupils.
All powerful. All frightening.
Fione was amongst them, a smug grin on her painted lips when she singled me out in the crowd. Narza’s guards surrounded the women with red-tipped spears made from toxic corals and shells found in the House of Mists’ territory.
In her role as the lady, Narza carried herself as though she ruled from every corner of the Ever Seas. Half a head shorter than me, still she seemed as though she might crush me under her feet.
“Lady Narza.” I gritted her name through my teeth, as sharp as jagged steel, and gave a nod of respect. “What a surprise to have you in the palace. I thought you vowed never to return.”
“You’ve thought many things.”
“Why are you here?”
“I’ve heard the strangest talk. Something about the king claiming his earth fae.” Narza’s painted blue lips twitched. “I wanted to see the truth of it for myself.”
Blood pounded in my head; I tugged Livia against me.
Narza chuckled. “Rather protective of your bond with the woman. Is that the only reason?”
“She is the mantle of the Ever King, Lady. You will give her the honor of such a title.”
“Still on about the mantle.” Narza drifted around people, those too stunned by her presence to move, and came to stand in front of me. “Does that remain her only purpose?”
I tightened my hold on Livia’s waist. “I owe you no answers, Lady Narza.”
Her mouth twitched; no doubt the disdain she held for me was fighting to break through.
“You do though. Since you believe it is the gift of my house that has bonded you both. You seem taken by her, but have you shown her your heart? Truly? Does she know you? To reveal the darkest pieces will only deepen the bond and only strengthen the ability to heal this land.”
“I know exactly who he is.” Livia took a step forward, nearly in front of me.
“Livia.” I tried to pull her back. A woman who succumbed to nerves chose this as her bleeding moment of boldness? She didn’t know Narza; she didn’t know her power.
My damn songbird swatted me away. More than one whisper followed. No one struck at the king and lived.
Livia stopped a pace away from Narza. “I am willingly aiding the king. Perhaps it did not begin that way, but desires change. I know the beauty of his black heart; I’ve seen it.
But I also know every bleeding step he has taken has been to save his people.
I’ve seen that this curse in the Ever was caused by enemies amongst you. ”
A few gasps rippled through the hall.
“I also know the dark magic in the earth feels a great deal like a spell,” Livia said, an arrogant grin twisted over her mouth. “What house is it again that casts spells?”
Narza had the decency to look surprised. “A spell cast, you say?”
“You know what my fury does,” Livia said. “You know the earth reveals what was done to my heart and mind. That is the tale it told me.”
Narza arched one brow. “If this is true, I make assurances that I will search for the traitor in my house without rest.”
“See that you do.” Livia folded her arms over her chest. “And you can also take your warnings of the king elsewhere. I have no need of them.”
I didn’t know what moves to make other than I was going to kiss the reckless woman in another breath if she kept fighting my battles.
“Hmm.” Narza grinned a little viciously. “The last woman to hold such fire beside an Ever King was Thorvald’s mate. I hope your flame is not doused prematurely as was hers.”
Livia flicked her gaze to me. “Your mother?”
I didn’t look at her. I only glared at Narza. “Tell her. That’s why you brought it up, isn’t it? Go on, tell her. Frighten her away.”
“You think things, boy,” Narza said, dark and low.
No one gasped at her spitted title. Truth be told, I was certain most of my folk feared the sea witch more than me.
“But I am merely looking out for the well-being of the innocent. If she claims you like you’ve claimed her, she deserves to know everything. ”
“Erik, what is she talking about?”
My fingernails dug into Livia’s waist. “My mother was the chosen mate of the Ever King, but she was killed when it was believed her gentle demeanor might soften the heir.”
Narza’s eyes glistened. “That’s enough talk of it.”
“No.” I scoffed and released Livia. She wouldn’t want me touching her soon enough. “You brought it up, so finish it. Tell her what you think of me for what I did, Grandmother.”
“Enough, Erik,” Narza insisted.
“It will never be enough for you,” I said, voice rough. I spun on Livia. “She wants you to know how my mother died so you can save yourself.”
Livia’s countenance shadowed. There was a shard of my heart that seemed to break away. It felt as though we’d shifted to something different. Now it would go back to scathing looks, to hatred and disgust.
“How did she die?” Livia spoke in a low whisper.
“Doesn’t Narza’s repulsion for me make it obvious?” I took a step for the door. “I killed her.”