Chapter 6 #2
“Happy Solstice!” He doesn’t need a voice amplifier. The Fae strain their ears so as not to miss a word from his lips.
I can’t blame them. I am the same.
“Dear friends, I want you to welcome Lady Seleste Berigander.”
A small round of greetings goes through the hall. Great. I fight the urge to shrink like a human penis in cold water. Humiliating but very entertaining to watch.
“I promised to address the matter of conscription. I apologise to all the suffering families.” What conscription?
“I am working on creating a solution to the situation. For now, let’s focus on the Summer Solstice.”
Was it his idea, or did the order come from Hanovel?
Normally the Navatian line answers directly to the Royal Family.
The Beriganders rarely interfere, leaving the Sand Court to rule as they please.
But with no Berigander in the Capital, it must be Chief Gerald’s doing.
Courts can govern freely on most matters except war.
A High Queen rarely meddles in daily affairs, though I’ve seen my grandmother intervene when punishments turned cruel or when human trafficking was involved.
It’s a difficult trade to end when the humans ask for it.
They sign a cyrograf, gain endless coin, glory, health, or pleasure, which are easy enough for us to provide.
But every deal expires, and when it does, they are dragged into Zeznia.
We drain their essence, and those who stay sane are questioned for any knowledge of their world.
Now, when rulers play dirty, there is no High Queen to stop them.
My stomach twists, my half-dead heart hammering against my ribs.
Once, Santorili and Hanovel stood bound by trust. Now, nothing holds. The absence of a Queen has crippled the Capital. Trade falters, and lesser rulers slip through reforms that would never have passed before. Even Jestin has taken advantage.
I shake my head. Maybe I got that wrong. He must have meant conviction or prediction, or something completely different.
I force the thought away and fix my gaze on Jestin instead.
“Everyone is welcome in the Palace Gardens later today, we will begin the Solstice with an annual ‘get together.’” He smirks, and laughs follow.
A grin spreads across my face. ‘Get-together’ is far too polite a word for it.
A huge grin takes over my face. 'Get together' isn't the right term to describe it, not at all. It's more like every hole is allowed: pussy, ass, mouth, the space between your toes, your tits if they're big enough, or maybe your nose, if you're High Priest, whose nose is gigantic.
“I also encourage you to take advantage of today’s Trading Festival blessing and go shopping. Remember, the shops open the moment I stop speaking,” his eyes dart playfully around the room, “and close with the first moon.”
He is right. It will be nice to leave before the rest, so the market isn’t too crowded. The Trading Festival is my favourite holiday, because you are required to spend your coins. How can it be any better?
I need to get access to my fucking riches. I should have some in my room here, but it’s nowhere near enough for what I have in mind.
“Tomorrow at noon,” Jestin announces, shooting me a daring look. “Lady Seleste and I will perform a mass.”
Sneaky fucker.
Murmurs ripple through the crowd before I can react. I try not to flinch, wishing I’d sneaked out yesterday.
“Then a celebratory feast will be held at the palace. Happy Solstice!” Jestin finishes, and the room erupts in cheers, everyone already shuffling to leave. I should be one of them, running for the market, but I stay when Jestin gestures for me to wait.
In my defence, he looks apologetic, as he approaches.
“Was I that boring?” he asks, fully aware my expression has soured like spoiled Fae wine.
“Yes.” I school my features to show as much disapproval as I can manage.
He rolls his eyes, unbothered, still every inch the embodiment of elegance and grace.
“Why did you do that?” I demand.
“It’s going to be fun, I promise.” He gives me a half-smile, the kind that always softens me.
I’m powerless against him. He could snap his fingers, and I’d bend without a thought. That fucking smile. It makes me stupid every time. The number of times it’s landed me in trouble…
And every time, I hit back twice as hard.
Once, I teased him to bring me a troll’s jewellery chest. Jestin, Dante, and Nulok caused such chaos that their parents sent them to the Draghtrall camps for an entire summer. But I still have that chest in my room.
He sighs, guiding me out of the hall. “I took the liberty of settling your debts. Betting shops, really?”
“You shouldn’t have bothered,” I reply, my tone flat. But I’m not heartless. I’ll save my thanks for later. Just not when he’s using this to soften me up.
He sighs in resignation. “Take a servant with you to carry the shopping.”
“No need.”
His eyes lose all warmth, and I feel a pinch of guilt before I remember that he deserves it for throwing me under the troll.
I dig into my satchel for a piece of paper to make a shopping list, wondering if the gold in my room will be enough.
“Sels, what’s the deal with the Simon?” He finally asks the question I was expecting and dreading at the same time.
“Didn’t he tell you already?” I retort. Suddenly self-conscious of the brand, I tug my gloves higher to make sure it isn’t visible.
He raises a brow.
I cross my arms. “Do you think I didn’t notice the glances you two were throwing at each other? I know you were talking mind to mind. I expect you know as much as I do.”
“And here I was thinking we were being discreet,” he teases as we near the door.
“You weren’t,” I murmur.
He looks around, making sure no one will overhear. “How have you ever landed yourself in that situation?”
“I… needed to run away from Uncle Filip, and the portal backfired.”
“What happened?”
I blush. “I was asking him to get my coins.”
He studies me and shakes his head. “I will sort it out for you.”
I nod.
“Are you planning on cutting the deal?”
Panic. That is what I feel, and I am shocked by it.
“It’s the smart thing to do,” I reply, perfectly aware it’s not a real answer.
“Right, and here goes the hope,” he sighs, like I am a hardship, and stops before he enters the corridors.
“I will let it unfold first,” I say.
I know the smart thing would be to cut the deal right now, but for some strange reason, I do not want to, even if I’m not sure Gorok would grant me his favour and destroy the blood bond.
It feels kind of… nice to have someone bonded to me. Pathetically less lonely.
“Sure, if you ever decide, I will go with you to the temple,” he offers, and I nod and pivot to leave, but he surprises me with another revelation. “Sels, I found you a tutor.”
“What?”
“I found you a tutor,” he repeats with a big ass grin on his face.
“You’re pulling my leg.”
He shakes his hand, his grin transforming into a knowing smirk. “I will introduce you two at today’s celebration.”
“Oh, I can’t wait to waste my time with another pretentious asshole,” I hiss before I can stop myself, and guilt sinks in. He only means well.
“Do you prefer a replay?” His tone is gentle, considering the question cuts my very soul.
Of course not, you stupid fuck. “No, but I don’t need any tutor.” I turn on my feet before I can see the disappointment on his face.
“Sels,” he starts, but I don’t care for his meddling anymore.
“Send me a boy to carry my bags,” I shoot without turning back and leave. Even if my stupid heart begs me to stay.