Chapter 20
NARYA
As the court doors opened, a cool draft swept over me, lifting the loose strands at my neck.
“Narya?”
Daigen’s voice registered but I couldn’t move.
Without the cloak, I felt vulnerable. Exposed.
The thought of so many eyes on the collar, judging me, laughing…
Oh, gods.
A deep onyx floor flecked with garnet unfurled before me.
Red-crystal chandeliers hung from a vaulted ceiling of black-and-red stained glass.
Light poured down, cutting through black pillars wound in gold ivy and ancient runes.
The Bloodstone Court glittered like stars over a night sea, beautiful and merciless.
Daigen stepped forward. I couldn’t make my feet move, even when his gaze burned through the side of my skull. I thought I could do this, but the small strip of courage the cloak had given me all but melted away my confidence.
Before me stretched a bottomless pit, eyes blinking at me, waiting for me to fall in and drown. Chairs scraped back and heads bowed.
Daigen’s hand settled at the small of my back. “Come. My court awaits.”
He nudged me, not gently, and I lifted my chin and let him steer me towards the high table. Two thrones waited there—the Bloodstone Throne, which I had seen once before, and beside it, the Consort’s Seat, empty and gleaming.
He guided me around the high table towards the thrones. There, he placed his hand on the Blood Throne and looked at me. When I moved to sit, he merely chuckled and stepped in front of me.
“I think not.” A wicked, unrepentant curve twisted his mouth. “You’ll sit here, on my lap, and keep me warm. I want everyone to know who you belong to.”
I glared at him. His eyes glinted, daring me to protest. I didn’t. I went to him because, deep down, I wanted to. He pulled me down onto his lap. With a surprised gasp, I clutched his shoulders to steady myself. His teasing chuckle engulfed me as he brought his mouth to my ear.
“Three weeks, remember?” His hand fell upon my thigh and slid upward, caressing me through the thin layer of clothing that shielded me. “As for the rest of you—sit.”
They sat without a word between them. Why was Daigen’s court so frightened of him?
I squirmed on his lap, trying to get comfortable and shake the thought of him with another woman. Why did the thought make me feel sick?
Why did it make me feel anything at all?
“If you keep wriggling,” he murmured, “you’ll make me forget we have an audience.”
I shuddered, barely suppressing a moan as his breath tickled the sensitive spot behind my ear. A shocking, wicked part of me wanted him to forget.
“You’re making me hungry.” His hand tightened on my thigh, caressing me. “Be a good little slave and fetch me a plate.”
Before I could speak, he lifted me off his lap and tapped me on the behind.
I yelped, startled, and laughter rippled through the court. Heat flooded my cheeks. Daigen’s look said it was just a playful tease, and I hated that I wanted to tease him back. He lifted a brow in warning when I didn’t move.
“As my slave, your duty is to tend me. Obey my every command.”
“And as your queen?” I asked, my voice sharper than I meant it to be.
Daigen’s eyes glistened as he smirked at me. “Would you like to find out?”
I fled to the banquet table without looking back.
Daigen chuckled, and I felt his gaze on me every step of the way.
At the banquet table, Emerias stood at one end while an unknown guard, also heavily armored, stood at the other.
Was it to make sure no one tampered with the banquet?
I made a note of that, wondering if it was a common practice or if Daigen had reason to be suspicious of his court.
I suppose every ruler would have reason to be suspicious of those close to them.
I stacked warm rolls onto a plate, added generous heaps of butter and cheeses, slices of ham and shredded beef. Emerias side-eyed me when I poured a goblet of red wine.
“Don’t worry,” I muttered. “I’m not going to poison him.”
He laughed, his eyes scanning the court, ever watching.
“That’s a relief. It would be a pity to see your lovely face maimed.”
“Do you always flirt with women like this?” I asked lightly.
He grinned. “Women, men. Depends on my mood.”
I glanced at him, taken aback by his frankness. “I see.”
His head turned in my peripheral, watching me hover over the plate of chicken covered in crispy, golden skin.
The breasts looked delicious, and smelled divine, yet I hesitated.
It was silly, really. I didn’t want to eat or touch the chicken because it reminded me of Pennywing and how devastated Rueren would have been when she found out what had happened.
I moved over to the berries and grabbed a handful of them instead.
“I’m sorry about that,” Emerias said, nodding to the chicken. “Izyák can be quite—”
“Despicable?”
“I was going to say difficult at times.” He gave a cheeky, wolfish grin. “I sure hope the little one wasn’t too distraught.”
Rueren would have been, but he didn’t need to know that.
I nodded and stepped back from the table. Thràena caught me just as I was about to make my way back to the high table. A gentleman accompanied her, their arms entwined with each other. He looked older than Thràena. Old enough to have taught at the Sunstone Academy.
Curtsying quickly, Thràena’s voice was as excitable as always.
“My lady! I am so happy you are here, but what of…” She frowned at my dress. “The cloak?”
“Forgot it,” I said, shaking my head at myself.
I was about to tell her that I’d managed to find a way to visit the archive, but something kept the words locked up in my mouth. I didn’t want to risk her telling the king about the secret passageways. The less people that knew about them, the better.
“Oh, well, nevermind.” Thràena waved a white gloved hand dismissively. “There is always next time!” The man beside her cleared his throat. “Oh! Forgive me. Introductions! Lady Narya, this is my husband, Lord Kalias. My lord, this is Lady Narya—”
“The King’s Star,” he finished for her. “My lady, the court whispers of your light, but it does not do it justice. I am honored to bask in it."
I blushed a little as I returned his bow.
His voice was much softer than I expected.
But then, the softness suited the former scholar, along with the warmth in his amber eyes that shone down at me.
He was clearly of Sunstone descent with his dark bronze skin and gold markings that glowed softly along his neck.
It was his hair that struck him as unusual for his kind.
The thick, coarse-looking braids were tied into a topknot at his crown, and were a deep shade of burnt red.
Not typical of Sunstones, as far I knew, who were known for their blond, caramel, or sometimes fiery, manes.
He must have had some Bloodstone in him.
Lord Kalias leaned over in a bow. “Lady Narya! I must say I am deeply honored to make your acquaintance.” Straightening, he looked over his shoulder and held a hand to his mouth, though he whispered none too quietly, “I daresay I happen to be the first from His Majesty’s cabinet to meet you.
Now let that be shoved up Morrinta’s pipe and have him smoke it! ”
“My lord!” Thràena gasped at him and tapped his arm in what appeared to be outrage.
She was smiling at him though before she turned back to me.
“We are just seated down there, my lady, by the black candelabras.” She pointed to one of the long wooden tables that faced the right side of the high table. “If you should need me—”
“Send a blasted smoke signal, with the volume of candles in here,” Lord Kalias grumbled, much to his wife’s horror.
“Really, my lord!”
“Oh, Lady Narya is smiling. Clearly I am a delight to her!”
I laughed—truly laughed, causing my cheeks to ache—and said to him, “Smoke signal it is. Although hopefully I don’t set the hall ablaze, but by the looks I’m getting from some people, they’d probably be glad of the distraction.”
For a moment Lord Kalias just stared at me, then he burst into raucous laughter.
“Oh-ho! A keen one we have here! Yes, a very bright star indeed. Wonderful!” His entire face beamed with amusement, the slight flush to it causing the freckles on his nose and cheeks to stand out.
“We shall both keep a diligent eye for those signals!” Taking my hand, Lord Kalias brushed his lips over my knuckles lightly.
“It has truly been a pleasure, my lady!”
“Likewise.” I quickly pulled my hand back, inwardly cringing at the unwarranted physical contact. What was wrong with me? Why did the slightest touch of a stranger make me tense so badly? “I can see why Thràena is besotted with you,” I said warmly. “You are very charming.”
Although clearly delighted with the compliment, before he could say anything—
“Wine!” came Daigen’s booming voice from across the hall.
I glanced at him, slouched on his throne, his boots resting up on the table, arms crossed over his chest. It reminded me of the way he’d sat at the Stargala like he couldn’t be bothered with the event. But even as he slouched, his dark eyes were locked on me in silent warning.
“Hurry with it,” he said, loud enough that his voice echoed.
Thràena stared at me in equal surprise. All the blood seemed to drain from her face while I felt my own flushing with irritation. Why was he being so rude?
“Pardon me,” I said, grabbing the goblet I had left on the table. “His Majesty would like some wine.”
Which I’m going to throw in his damn face!
I marched away from them, ignoring the sneers and looks that followed me.
Daigen took one look at me when I climbed the dais, and raised a brow.
“If you throw that wine in my face, I’ll have you lick every droplet clean.” His face lit with twisted amusement. “In fact, I quite like the sound of that. Go on then, little moondove. Do what you marched up here to do in front of my court. I’m sure they’ll be entertained.”
I slammed the plate and goblet in front of him. “Here is your wine, my liege.”