CHAPTER IV #2
“I have to drop off my pack,” Gail turns in apology once we reach the now empty Great Oak, “but I’ll see you in there?”
“Yes,” I smile. “Not a problem.”
But there is a problem, and it’s that nervousness that’s taking over my full body.
I watch her walk away and take a deep breath, then pass under the Great Oak towards the full of the celebration that can be heard loudly from the Grand Receiving Room.
I stop at the entry doors and stare inside, the chatter boisterous and complimented by the sound of music and too many clanking glasses.
My heart nearly jumps out of my chest as I watch everyone in awe, the only thought I can form in my mind is that the Queen has absolutely outdone herself.
There’s twice as many tables from what I saw yesterday, each of them decorated with hundreds of vases of pristine white roses.
There’s also twice as many chandeliers and golden fountains spread throughout the room, some of those fountains melded into the walls with the water falling gracefully down the greenstone.
Thousands of strong and thick trees hang overhead, their limbs claiming every inch above us in a beautiful embrace.
Bottled lanterns of moonslight are literally everywhere, and musicians can be spotted throughout different corners of the room.
The crowd itself is lively and ready to begin the night as hundreds upon hundreds stand crowded next to eachother, everyone greeting their neighbors and laughing in pure enjoyment.
The entertainers that graced Bardot in the days earlier are now spread throughout the crowd, summoning the elemental water and earth as people look on.
It’s a beautiful sight, so much so that the pure joy of everything take my nervousness away. I think I spot the flaming auburn hair of Cal towards one of the far balconies, so I set off with a grin and chart a path through the crowd towards my big friend.
The first group I walk by all turn to look at me and Stormfall, their heads nodding with curious smiles as they step to the side.
The gesture takes me by surprise until I make it to the next thick group, the Discerni and human mix also watching me quietly while they murmur to their neighbors.
I swiftly grab a whiskey off of a serving boy’s tray and down half of it before I square my shoulders and continue on strong.
I ignore the whispers and keep Cal’s head in sight, that is, until a group of Woodlands Discerni all decide to block my way.
I slow my steps and look at their cool features, truly wondering what it will take to maneuver through them. Most of the men are hiding stoic scowls, but it’s the women that are gazing at me intently, their eyes watching me like a hawk.
I’m about to walk around them when the ground below my feet begins to tremble…
No.
Not right now.
I’m not ready for him.
My head turns to the left, somehow knowing where he is before I can even see him.
Keane stands tall in front of his head table, his brown eyes strong and commanding and catching my gaze from afar.
I take a deep breath and turn towards him fully, watching as that intensity flicks down to my lips and then to the high black collar surrounding my neck.
He grins at the sight of it, openly smirks, before letting his gaze dip down to the rest of my body.
Keane’s full summoning tugs violently in my abdomen, his pure desire pushing against my lower body and damn near dipping between my thighs.
I gasp into the crowd and shift on my feet, watching as his gaze rakes down my exposed leg before falling to the heels on my feet.
The ground below me vibrates strong, causing a great deal of people to stop in their conversations and look down below them.
And while they’re wondering what is going on, I’m still watching Keane— watching as he raises a brow just slightly at the sight of my heels, his brown eyes turning playful and full of heated lust.
Ancients.
I could stand here and let him look at me for the rest of the night.
I grin at my King and lift a brow of my own, noticing that he’s changed out of his green tunic and into a solid black one. The full of him is so regal and commanding in his dark presence, the first King from the Court of Warriors in over a thousand years.
I slowly bring my whiskey up to my lips and watch as Keane tracks the movement.
His eyes narrow from afar, focusing on my throat as I tilt my head back sensually and take the softest of sips.
I’m about to murmur a greeting to him over my glass, knowing that his Discerni ears will pick it up, but the whispers from the crowd are quick to pull me out of his hold.
There’s too many people looking at me right now.
They’ve all stopped in their conversations, their eyes darting from me and to the King, then back to the still trembling ground.
I nod to Keane in farewell and try to hide my sigh, turning my shoulder to him so that I can continue on my way to Cal. But the moment I do, his summoning presses even deeper, and it’s then that I realize he’s been graced with the full bare of my back and nothing more.
“Lady Alexis,” his voice is strong over the room.
My heart stops in my chest.
No.
No, Keane.
Don’t call to me right now. I don’t know if I can stand so close to you…
I slowly turn back to the King with narrowed eyes, knowing what he’s going to ask and knowing that I can’t deny an official summons. His playful brown gaze meets mine again, the challenge in his smirk growing as he lifts out a hand.
“Join us.”
My heart surges forward as I consider my limited options. He’s the King of Disce now, today and tonight are his day. I cannot not refuse his gesture, not when it’s given so openly and in front of the full of the court.
But that’s all I want to do…
I want to turn and walk swiftly away from him and his challenging gaze that’s still on me. How can he expect me to be so close to him when he looks at me like that?
I think Keane knows my battle, because his smirk grows even wider when I shake my head in resignation and take a small step forward.
Stormfall caws in greeting, pushing off my shoulder before he glides above the crowd and flies straight for the King.
I narrow my eyes on the Bird of Ash and watch as he circles above Keane before landing gracefully on his shoulder.
“Traitor,” I mumble under my breath.
Keane chuckles from afar.
Stormfall spreads his wings behind the King’s back, calling attention to the two of them as they wait so casually for me to join. I shake my head again, this time with a little chuckle of my own, and eye the men standing with Keane.
Heysan is at his left, grinning foolishly as he takes a hefty sip from the large mug of ale in his hand.
Desmond is there, too, on Keane’s right, his features silent as he looks over the black of my dress.
Golem stands quietly behind the head table, hiding as he normally does against the shadows of the wall.
“Your Grace.”
I set my shoulders proud and dip into a low curtsey.
“You look good in black, Lady Alexis,” Keane replies in greeting. “The color suits you.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” I stand back up, turning towards his brother, “Prince Desmond.”
The tips of Desmond’s lips curve in approval. “I have to say I agree with my brother, Lady Alexis. The black of Warrior does suit you.”
I roll my eyes openly at the Master Informer but give him a smile. Heysan reaches out a hand before I can start his greeting, his vibrant blue eyes capturing mine as he brings my fingers up to his lips.
“Human Reborn,” he grins, “I would wager anything right now that my own brother wished he was here to see you.”
I try to hide a reaction to his words, knowing that Hirovale did see me not moments earlier.
“Oh, he did?” Heysan chuckles out loud.
Keane’s gaze turns curious at my side, and when I look back at him, he’s watching me with a small smile, though his eyes are darting over my face in question.
“Your brother likes to visit unannounced,” I tell the new Ancient, “which is something I suspect you may also have the same affinity for.”
“It certainly adds a level of spontaneity to everything, Lady,” Heysan chuckles.
“And annoyance,” I lift my brows.
“I can’t argue with that,” the Ancient laughs, tilting his mug. “I was just telling your King and his brother about the Prince of Livyatan extending his invitation to me when you make your travel across their borders.”
“Your presence would be appreciated,” I nod, peering at the Ancient over my drink, “but tell me, do you really expect to see your sister?”
“Oh, yes,” his brows furrow just slightly, “she’s too stubborn to hide from any attention, though I suspect the Prince was hoping for that when he woke her.”
My thoughts roam to Isham, to his knowing and unabashed smile every time he speaks of Rivian.
“Not Isham,” I reply in thought. “He’ll parade her for all of us to see…”
Heysan’s eyes dart quickly to mine before he sends me a grin in salute.
“A small wager then, Lady Alexis,” his face alights, “we shall see which one of us is correct.”
I shake my head at the Ancient of Good Fortune and Celebration in amusement. Of course he’d want to wager. This is just the type of thing he was known for when the Ancients were awake.
“How long will you be in Bardot for?” Desmond asks.
“Just for today,” Heysan turns to the Master Informer. “I’ll need to join my brother and your sister in the next few days to finally wake Sianoa.”
“Elena is ready. She has lodging set up for all of you in Alston when the time comes… ”
I let the conversation fade into the background and turn towards Keane, feeling his eyes on me. The King lets out a quiet breath before sending all of his want and need straight into my body, his summoning dripping with so much desire that I have to close my legs under my dress.
Ancients, I’m out of my depth here.