Chapter 20
Rylee
Sunbeams illuminate the ballroom floor in an array of colors glittering from the stained-glass windows decorating the east wall of the space hosting the next Kings’ List event. The scents of fresh fruit, sparkling wine, and baked bread float in the air in a way that makes my stomach growl.
Ivy, Layce, and Mirren accompany us as we join the two dozen or so people gathered in the vast space, something Kal assured me would be acceptable to the kings, seeing as they’re my ladies-in-waiting now.
Even though I would never call them that.
They’re my friends, my family. Still, if they need a formal title to have an excuse to stay with me, then so be it.
Ivy and Layce follow Mirren’s lead with a reserved elegance that causes the slightest hint of irrational jealousy to prick my insides.
They look the part, their silver tops and pants matching Mirren’s as a staple of those who attend the nobles and royals.
Their demeanors shift, the calm, non-attention-drawing smiles, the dips of their heads, the hands placed casually behind their backs as they blend into the corners of the room.
They play their parts so well. All of them. And yet . . . I don’t like it. My friends and Mirren are vibrant, brilliant, outspoken women. But here? They have to be quiet.
It’s not fair.
But we have to play the game.
Change as drastic as I want can’t come overnight.
I survey the room, noting the same noble families from the last event. The dukes and earls are positioned at a long table next to the kings’ raised one—a position of power above the table designated for me and my mates.
I stifle a smile. If they only knew how outmatched they truly are now.
Then I spot the Occuli Frenrick Coolis at the nobles’ table, and chills erupt on my skin. Why couldn’t Dalfon be the Occuli appointed to the Royal Authority Council? At least he’s civil with me. Conversative, even.
If we have any shot at earning Frenrick’s vote, I need to let go of the fear, the anger, and make things as right as I can between us. Maybe, despite his magical outburst against me, we can come to some kind of understanding of each other.
I take a deep breath, flashing my mates a forced parting smile as I leave them at the table, heading straight to the Occuli sitting eerily still on the end, not even touching the plate of food before him.
The second I’m within reach, he slides out of his chair preternaturally, bowing deeply, which stops me in my tracks.
I’ll never get used to that.
I dip my head as he straightens to standing.
“Forgive me,” I say, though my voice cracks.
“We’ve never officially been introduced,” I continue, doing my best to ignore the fact that the previous chatter has stopped and all eyes are on me.
“I now know you’re Frenrick Coolis,” I say. “And I’m Rylee Gray.”
The Occuli tilts his head to the side, the move shifting the luscious purple robe he wears. The fabric is thick, covering his body as it drapes to the floor. I can’t tell if he’s wearing boots or slippers or walking around barefoot. He’s bald, his head and face clean-shaven.
“You can call me Frenrick,” the Occuli says, the otherworldly voice no longer holding the ichor it did when he caught me in the library in Ruby Aire. He bows slightly again before focusing those pitch-black eyes on me.
I don’t know if I’m growing more accustomed to his presence, or if it’s because of the increased power now collected in my soul, but I’m not as wary of him as I once was.
Maybe it’s because he’s not wielding those green flames toward me and scrutinizing my every move.
Or perhaps it’s because I’m immortal now and there’s nothing truly to fear—other than failing the Kings’ List, which is why I’ve approached this creepy man in the first place.
“Frenrick,” I say, dipping my head. “I’m glad to officially meet you. Our encounters prior to the Athanry, especially the incident in the library, were unfortunate, and I hope for more positive interaction in the future.”
The Occuli nods but offers no further conversation. I hold steady for a few moments, feeling all the eyes on me—the kings, the nobles, and the elite enforcers, who are positioned, as usual, behind and near the kings.
“Hope you enjoy the feast,” I say a bit awkwardly, hoping I’ve done more good than harm by engaging him. Then I retreat to my designated seat on the left of Kal, with Axl, Pierce, and Jax all to his right. Jax took the farthest seat away, the one closest to Baydel’s table.
After a few moments, Baydel raises his voice above the resumed chatter.
“The kings and the Royal Authority Council and families are here to discuss your intentions,” he says.
I remain silent, doing my best to appear much calmer than I feel. What intentions? Does he want to know how we’ll take care of the people of Lumathyst? Protection strategies? He’s brutally vague, taxing as ever.
“We’d love to explain,” Kal offers.
“If you gave us more specifics,” Jax adds.
“The Fader situation,” Jullian clarifies, and Baydel sends him a sharp look.
“Yes,” Baydel says, returning his attention to us. “While I wanted to start this meeting off with giving the Royal Authority Council time to offer ideas on how you can earn their votes for ascension, we must discuss the most pressing matters first.”
The nobles nod their agreement. Each of the previous potentials sits near her father, no mothers in sight. All except for the Ari family, of course. They didn’t earn a seat on the RAC, which doesn’t seem fair to me, but not much does in royal decorum.
Charlotte Arden flashes me an encouraging look, and I smile softly at her.
Margreet Loredana, on the other hand, Pierce’s previous choice, looks at me like a bug she’d like to crush.
“The prisoner you captured,” Baydel continues, “exhibits signs of an illness the dukes have noted in their cities.” He motions to Duke Windsor, who sits next to his daughter, Beatrice, from the Ruby Aire, and then to Earl Arden from Sapphire Cove.
That gets my attention, and I drop the berry I was about to eat.
Kal looks to Duke Windsor. “Why are we just learning this?” he asks calmly.
“Forgive me, your highness,” Duke Windsor says from his seat at the opposite table. “Some of the other Ruby Aire nobles and I have just been made aware of the situation. The enforcers only brought it to our attention when the effects reached the more prosperous portions of the city.”
Anger gnaws beneath my skin. “You’re saying it’s been happening in the Ari neighborhoods in the Ruby Aire, and the enforcers didn’t feel the need to report it?”
Duke Windsor dips his head.
Kal smooths a hand over my leg beneath the table, the touch supportive.
“There weren’t that many cases,” the duke continues. “The number of people seeking out the Ruby Healers tripled in the last week.”
Goddess.
“And they’re all showing signs of confusion, abnormal strength, and agitation?” Kal asks. “Like the Fader we detained?”
“Yes, your highness,” the duke answers.
My blood runs cold. So, the enhancement drug isn’t contained to mere Fader activity. It’s accessible to common citizens of Lumathyst.
“Clearly,” Baydel cuts in, “we have the makings of an epidemic on our hands.”
I blow out a breath.
“You remember the last one,” Brooks says, looking more to his son than anyone else. Pierce nods, the line of his jaw taut.
“We imprisoned the person behind the previous enhancement epidemic,” Pierce offers. “He died in the dungeons years ago.”
“Whatever this new one is, it isn’t like what we’ve dealt with in the past,” Lucas says. “It’s not even like the lower enhancements. Those, we can handle. This . . .”
Shit. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Lucas look concerned about anything other than how much food is on his plate or if his wineglass is empty.
Foreboding swirls in my stomach like a cold wave. It was one thing when we thought the Faders were concocting the enhancement to be a match for my mates’ powers, but if it’s widespread, that could mean . . .
“Have there been any deaths?” I ask.
“Three,” Earl Arden answers, expression grim. “One in Sapphire Cove, and two in Ruby Aire. Well, we’re assuming they’re caused by the enhancement.”
Did we miss this because of me? Because of what happened in the Athanry and my state after? I shift uneasily in my seat.
“What do you mean you’re assuming?” Kal asks.
“The bodies . . .” The duke cringes. “They’re not like any the healers have seen. When some Ruby Aire enforcers found them in the streets, they assumed Faders had gotten to them.”
I swallow hard.
“But,” he continues, “upon further inspection, we’re not sure. There were no visible marks. Blade or blasters or otherwise.”
Pierce casts me a curious look. I’m just as confused.
“So you think they took too much of this new enhancement?” I ask.
“Possibly,” the duke answers. “The bodies looked odd.”
“In what way?” Jax snaps.
“Almost like they were drained of life,” the duke says. “Those in the healers’ quarters look similar. It’s easy enough to assume that those who died took too much of the enhancement.”
Something pricks the back of my mind, the memories from the Fader we captured flitting to the forefront. He nudged a body with his boot. It looked drained of all life. My stomach churns.
“How many enforcers have you deployed to look into the matter?” I pose the question to the kings. I know all too well the investigation tactics of the enforcers, have seen them search for enhancements more times than I can count back in the Ashlands.