Chapter Fourteen #2
A few of the people greet us as we walk by, sending an acknowledging smile or bob of the head.
Finally, we approach Artemise, Opal, and Aenwyn near the center of the gathering, as they enjoy glasses of wine.
Artemise spots us first and greets us with a gentle smile.
The others turn to greet us with their own smiles.
“We were concerned we had lost you,” Artemise says with a laugh as both Eve and Cora release my arms.
“I admit, I had hoped to spend the rest of the night watching the stars,” I offer a half-hearted smile, “but Eve and Cora tell me that I have to participate in the Weaving.”
Opal extends her arm, offering me a glass of wine. “It goes quickly and is just an opportunity for others to meet you officially.”
“I’m surprised the entire temple isn’t here lining up to meet her. It’s hard to miss the silver-haired female that looks like Celesta walking around,” Aenwyn laughs goldenly.
Taking the glass filled with the light pink liquid, I draw it up to my nose. It smells good enough, a light floral scent. It’s quite unlike the pungent dry wines offered in the hells, which were often mixed with blood.
Lifting the glass, I test its flavor. It’s light and crisp, fruity and floral. A strange concoction indeed—but not a flavor I immediately hate. I wouldn’t say I enjoy it, but it doesn’t turn my stomach.
“When does the dancing start?” I ask, dreading the answer.
“Right now,” Eve laughs as she grabs my hand, pulling me through the group toward a space that is beginning to clear as other pairs fall into a large circle.
As I stumble along behind Eve, Opal retrieves the glass from my hand. She and the others laugh as Eve drags me toward the growing formation of dancers.
“I’ve been told that I need to dance with you first,” she says, tossing a glance over her shoulder.
I give her a confused glance and she mouths a name. Druka.
I purse a frown. Of course.
Druka must be watching through Eve’s eyes, a shadowed and silent spectator from the corners of her mind. The music shifts into a lively tune, and faces turn toward Eve and me again as they position themselves around us. It’s then that I realize Eve and I are the northernmost pair in the circle.
Those not interested in dancing moved to the outside of the formation, congregating in small pockets where they continue their conversations. Their eyes remain in our direction, waiting for the dancing to begin.
Eve rests one of her hands on my hip, holding my hand with the other. “Place your hand on my shoulder, and just follow as best you can. This isn’t anything as formal as a solstice dance—it’s more about feeling the music and the joy of the moment,” she explains with a grin.
Her explanation doesn’t clarify things at all.
Everything I’ve read indicates mortal dancing is a structured, metered series of steps set to music. Rigid and counted motions with a partner more for grace and beauty than actual enjoyment. Such dances also exist in the hells, and I’m not fond of those either.
Drawing in a deep breath, I rest my hand upon Eve’s shoulder and tilt my chin up to meet her eyes. For the first time, I realize exactly how tall Eve is. Aside from that, she’s beautiful—no wonder Druka chose her.
A sharp pang of jealousy shoots through my chest, one that I spare no time crushing. I’ve no right to be jealous; it’s been centuries since I’ve seen her last. Eve continued speaking while I lost myself briefly in my thoughts, but her laughter draws me out of my reverie.
“We will go around the circle for one full rotation before you’re passed to the next partner. The process repeats until you’ve danced with everyone. You’ll have a full grasp on the dance after a rotation or two.”
Swallowing hard, I nod nervously.
Hopefully, what I missed wasn’t important.
I open my mouth, wanting her to repeat the first part of what she’d said, but I’m jerked to the right as the dance starts.
Eve takes off in a sweeping, galloping pace, dragging me along with her.
Her feet bounce in time with the music, while I run to keep up with her, stumbling over my robes and terrified of having my feet stepped on.
Eve pulls me closer with a laugh. “You have to skip. You’ll fall on your face tripping on your robes otherwise,” she says and I attempt to bounce in time with her.
It takes me a second, and I feel utterly stupid, truly foolish—but I manage to find my footing as we continue.
Halfway through the rotation, the movements needed to keep in time with the music become clear.
Eve had been right, this was going to be a fast moving dance.
I’d be lucky to have thirty seconds with each partner.
I settle in and draw in a deep breath.
I can handle this.
The garden, the lights, and other dancing pairs whirl about me at a dizzying speed, my unbound hair flying across my face. There’s laughter, the sound of bouncing feet and billowing robes intermixing with the music.
“You ready?” Eve asks and I give her a look of concern. “It’s time to pass you along. I’ll find you after the Weaving to show you to your room. Have fun tonight, Vestaris.”
Eve smoothly passes me to the next person who seamlessly places their hands where Eve’s had been. I’m now dancing with a human woman whose blond hair is as unruly as my own. Her green eyes sparkle with excitement.
I rest my hand upon her shoulder as we keep moving.
“May her light illuminate your heart, Vestaris,” the woman greets with an even-toothed smile. “I’m Nicola.”
This trend continues with each new partner, each one greeting me with a blessing sentiment and then introducing themselves. There will be no way I can remember them all, not in the mere seconds we spend together.
As the night rolls on, I find myself laughing and smiling along with each dance partner. My face begins to hurt from how much I had been grinning. My hair now a windswept mess, I grow breathless, but I continue dancing anyway.
Some time later, as the festivities begin to wind down, I’m passed to my last partner for the evening. Turning my face with a smile ready to greet them, my breath hitches in my throat as my eyes meet theirs.
Amused hazel eyes lock onto mine and the stunning red-haired fae female laughs her greeting. She has to be the same female from earlier—the one racing across the hall in excitement with the fae male trailing behind her.
Like many of the others I’ve danced with this evening, she’s dressed in silver robes. And while each partner I’ve danced with featured beauty in their own unique ways, this fae is unnecessarily gorgeous. Her hair a shade of crimson I’ve rarely seen, her skin a pale shade that reminds me of ivory.
“May her shadow reveal your path, Vestaris. I’m Lilith.” Her voice lilts, musical and intriguing.
Unable to stop myself from staring, there’s something about the color of her hair that draws all of my attention. It’s so vibrant, a shade not commonly seen among fae. It reminds me of the forest fae, but their lines withered centuries ago.
“Are you enjoying the celebration?” she asks, winded. She’s nearly as breathless as I am, but it doesn’t dampen her excitement.
I laugh, shoving my suspicions and concerns aside. “I’m not usually comfortable with celebrations like this, but I have enjoyed this evening.”
She meets my stare, her hazel eyes twinkling under the mage lights. “I remember my Weaving. I woke up sore from all the dancing,” she muses, flashing a dazzling smile. “You’re lucky, you’re almost finished.”
Her smile prompts me to smile in return. “I must admit, this isn’t the type of dancing I’d expected.”
“Wait until solstice celebrations,” Lilith drawls in amusement. “You won’t catch me dancing at those. Too formal. You’ll find me here, in the gardens, with copious amounts of wine.”
She shoots me a grin and a wink, leaving me confused as the music winds down and we slow to a stop. Glancing around, I find the crowd has thinned to where roughly twenty people remain. Lilith releases me from her embrace as she glances around, almost as if she were searching for someone.
“Thank you for the dance,” she offers in genuine tones.
With a broad smile she pulls me in for a hug, and I freeze, unsure how to respond. She presses her cheek against mine and whispers, “Trust neither Celesta nor Artemise. You have allies in Ollora.”
My eyes shoot wide.
What in the nine hells does that mean?
Her words kick my tired brain awake and it responds with half a dozen questions. Lilith pulls away, a tight-lipped smile on her face.
“I hope to see you around, Vestaris,” she says in audible tones, not needing those words hidden.
Stunned silent, I stand motionless as she leaves, watching her disappear into the sanctum. Chasing after her with questions would only draw attention. My questions will have to wait until we meet again.
Eve snakes an arm through mine, pulling my attention to her. Her stare is fixed on the sanctum doors.
“So much for keeping you away from the royal family,” she says, her voice low.
“What do you mean?”
“You just met Lilith, the Sovereign Queen Emeritus,” she answers, shifting to meet my stare.
“The mother of the Sovereign King?” I nearly choke on the words.
Eve bursts into laughter. “No.” She shakes her head. “She’s the widow of the last Sovereign King. Lilith sits on the Moon Temple council and typically attends our events.”
“Is she someone I have to worry about?” I ask.
“I want to say no, but…” her voice trails off. “Yes. Yes, she is.”
A pit begins to form in my stomach.
Day one in the living realm and my list of mortals to avoid continues to grow.