Thirty Five #2
“I’m ready to go,” I said urgently, on the verge of forsaking my resolve to take more time to forgive him.
He chuckled again. “As you wish.”
“King Adrian and Queen Emelin,” Tom proclaimed as soon as we appeared in the middle of the vast gardens in the Rolamin Province.
I still wanted to cringe every time upon hearing the title, but I hoped that I had learned to hide the involuntary reaction more gracefully.
“We don’t have to stay long,” Adrian assured me under his breath.
Before he let go, I leaned in closer and whispered, “Do I need to siphon more of the ancient magic from you tonight?” My gaze flicked up to the crown of spikes on his head, to the glowing sapphires powered by Silberium in his blood.
“Yes, please. We will complete the transfer after the party.”
With a nod, I pulled away, and he released my hands.
“Good evening,” a luscious female voice greeted us from my right.
Zarana stood before us, flanked by Heiran and Daelana.
Adrian’s mate looked as gorgeous as any other time I had seen her, and jealousy spiked, but I quickly tamped it down.
Only a few seconds ago, Adrian had stared at me as if I was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.
I had been on the receiving end of that look, not Daelana.
I straightened my spine, holding my head high.
“King Adrian, thank you for honoring us with your presence,” Zarana continued. “Your Majesty.” She looked at me. She didn’t thank me for honoring them with my presence, which wasn’t surprising considering I hadn’t been invited.
“Your Majesties,” Heiran said in a raspy voice. “Enjoy the festivities.”
Daelana didn’t say anything before the three of them walked away.
“Not a very warm welcome,” I muttered to Adrian, hoping that the melody flowing through the gardens would drown out my words.
“I’m not surprised. They thought that their daughter would marry into the royal family, and now they have a new queen, who’s a mortal. I’m sure they are more than displeased.”
“Adrian!” Thea’s mother, Lady Loraphine, exclaimed in greeting. “I mean, Your Majesty.” She bowed her head before switching her attention to me. “My Queen, you look stunning!”
“Doesn’t she?” Adrian said, smiling at me. “Her beauty can rival the Stars.”
My cheeks flushed at the compliment.
“You know,” Loraphine said contemplatively, looking between Adrian and me. “I don’t usually approve of political marriages, but yours is not truly a political marriage, is it?”
“Darling!” Thea’s father, Lord Alastair, said with gentle reprimand as he joined Loraphine’s side. “Please forgive my wife, Your Majesties. She often speaks what’s on her mind even when it’s not an appropriate time to do so.”
“There is nothing to forgive,” Adrian replied with a good-natured smile in their direction.
“Exactly. Why would I apologize for speaking the truth?” Loraphine’s silver laughter spilled into the air. Like Thea, she had a bright and sparkling personality.
Alastair only shook his head with a slight smile, tucking her lovingly to his side.
“If I may have a few minutes of your time, Your Majesty,” he said to Adrian as a servant brought wine for us.
The king and I were soon swept up in the current of obligatory social interactions. Thankfully, Adrian kept the focus on himself, allowing me to quietly observe the conversations by his side. When he eventually had to step away, Thea joined me, handing me my second glass of wine for the night.
“I’ve been meaning to update you that the preparations for the State Banquet are well underway. In two weeks, you and Gray will host a marvelous event that will solidify the alliance between the two kingdoms.” She beamed at me.
“With you in charge, I have no doubts that everything will go smoothly.” I smiled back. “Adrian told me that Tom has been helping you?” I asked nonchalantly before taking a sip of my drink.
“He has, though I have everything under control. I swear he likes to hover as if he doesn’t trust me to do anything on my own.”
“I’m sure he trusts you. He might have another reason for always being close by.”
“And what reason would that be?” Her brow furrowed, but her frown quickly smoothed out as she noticed a friend among the guests. “I’ll be right back.”
“What am I going to do about those two?” I murmured, bringing the glass back to my lips.
“My Queen.” A familiar velvet voice drew my attention to my left. Finn bowed when I turned toward him. “You look radiant as always.” Even though I had seen the lord during the first council meeting last week, we hadn’t spoken since the night he had taken me to his province.
“Finn, I hope you’re well.” I smiled at him.
“I am. Shockingly so. I thought surely it was off with my head when the king paid me a visit.” He laughed as if he found the whole thing entertaining.
“I’m sorry.” I grimaced.
“Don’t be. Such things add flavor to my life. I might have to infuriate him again just to experience that rush.” He brandished a daring smile.
“What exactly happened when he came to see you?” I asked, curiosity getting the best of me as Adrian had never shared that story.
“There was a lot of snarling and fangs flashing, but basically he told me to stay away from you.”
“He must not have been very convincing, seeing how you’re not keeping your distance.”
“Oh, he was very convincing, but I like to live on the edge.” He winked at me.
“Leave her alone, Finnian,” Cora interrupted our conversation.
“It’s Lord Finnian to you,” he said with a saccharine smile in her direction.
She rolled her eyes. “I wouldn’t be proud of the title if I were you, considering how you acquired it.”
He lifted a shoulder. “The end justifies the means.”
“You can keep telling yourself that.”
“I don’t need to. I never lose sleep over what I’ve done.”
“And that makes you a despicable creature.”
I flinched at the insult, but Finn only chuckled. “Always talking dirty to me, Coradelle. It’s a shame you choose to use your tongue to spew hateful words instead of for something far more enjoyable. You and I could have so much fun.”
“In your dreams,” she bit out.
“As you wish. I shall think of you tonight when I—”
“Riestral!” Adrian’s snarl came from my right.
“Until next time,” Finn purred before he glimmered out.
“What did he want?” the king demanded, his eyes flashing.
“Nothing from the queen,” Cora chimed in. “Emelin and I were talking when he showed up and started harassing me.”
He looked at her. “Are you all right?”
“I am. The likes of him don’t faze me.”
Adrian looked like he didn’t quite believe that Finn hadn’t been talking to me, but before he could press the issue, someone else requested a few minutes of his time. When he left my side again, he ordered Tom to stay with me.
“Where is your sister?” the adviser asked Cora, his hazel gaze searching the crowd.
“Mingling like the social butterfly that she is.”
“Will you find her and ask her to come over here?”
“Why? Aren’t you keeping the queen company?”
“Just do it, please? I need her. I mean, I need her help.”
Cora arched a brow but then separated from us, getting lost in the throng of faeries.
“You’re carrying yourself well tonight. Your grimace at your title was almost imperceptible,” Tom observed when she was gone.
I shook my head. “Must you always have a needling remark?”
“A needling remark? I paid you a compliment,” he retorted, matter-of-fact.
“If that was a compliment, then it’s no wonder Thea is clueless about your feelings for her.”
His eyes widened, and I clamped my hand over my mouth in disbelief with myself. “That’s enough of that.” I placed my wine glass on the nearby table. “Tom, I’m sorry I said that.”
“Not here.” He clasped my shoulder and glimmered us to the foyer of Rolamin Manor. Once we were inside, he glanced around to make sure we wouldn’t be overheard. “I don’t have feelings for her,” he said low.
Typically, I wouldn’t meddle, but the wine in my system pushed me to say things I wouldn’t usually say. “You don’t have to admit it to me, but you should seriously consider admitting it to Thea.”
“There is nothing to admit.”
“If you say so.” I shrugged and turned to leave.
“Wait.” I remained in my spot, staring at him. He stared back. “Do you think I have a chance with her?”
“Why wouldn’t you?”
“Because she’s Thea. She’s sunshine and wildflower meadows, and I’m…me—dark clouds and rain.”
My heart squeezed at the comparison. I couldn’t believe he was opening up to me, letting me glimpse his vulnerability.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen if you tell her but ask yourself this: would you rather tell her and know how she feels or spend your entire life not knowing what could have been?”
He scoffed. “Wise words. If only you would heed your own advice.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know what Thea will say if I confess my feelings. You know perfectly well what Gray will say if you let him back in. I have a good reason for hesitating. What’s your reason? What are you waiting for?”
“For my heart to heal after his betrayal.”
“I understand that, but only you decide how long that will take. It’s obvious to anyone that you and Gray are drawn to each other. Why fight your feelings for the sake of some arbitrary timeline?”
I opened my mouth but found I had no argument. “Wise words.” I smiled softly. “Perhaps I’ll follow your advice if you follow mine?”
He blew out a harsh exhale. “What I need to do is a far greater challenge.”
“But think of the payout. Either way, you’ll be happier, with or without her. You’ll be able to move on.”
“You know if this doesn’t work, I’ll blame you for all eternity.”
“I’m willing to take the risk.”
He puffed out another breath. “I’m going to find her.”
“Go get her.”
“I’m leaving now.” He turned and began strolling away.
“Good luck.”
“It’s not too late to stop me,” he threw over his shoulder.
“Not going to happen.”
“This is all your fault,” were his last words before he exited through the double doors that led into the gardens.