Chapter Twenty-Five
Iapproach two large wooden doors that stretch all the way up to the top of the ceiling. Two guards on either side of it see me and bow low. They straighten up, and go to grab each handle, pulling it open.
The room opens up to hundreds of people, dancing. Orchestrated music travels through the air, hitting me instantly.
It seems as if I am late to my own party.
Feeling insecure about having to walk in alone, I turn around to the two guards. “Uh, are you guys going to come in with me?”
They look at one another, then back to me. “No, my lady, we are to guard.”
“Oh.”
So, walking in alone it is then.
I glance at the guards holding the door open and give them a quick smile. Stepping forward into the room, I hear the doors shut loudly behind me.
Light catches my eye causing me to look up.
There are grand crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, stretching across the room.
The ballroom walls are colored with crimson wallpaper and adorned with black molding.
Large, tall arches that are built into the wall circle the room.
Cream drapes are hung up, bordering each side of the arches.
The floor is black marble, swirled with accents of white so shiny, I can see my reflection.
As my eyes drift up, I realize multiple people in the room have stopped what they are doing and are now staring at me.
I am the only one in white.
Vampires fill every space in the room. If I was not one myself, I would turn and run the opposite direction.
The women have on extravagant ball gowns of various shades of blacks, blues, purples, and reds.
The men wear dark-colored suits, some with long tailcoats that fall to the ground.
They talk amongst themselves, some even whispering to one another as they look me up and down.
I shift uncomfortably where I am standing.
Just as I am about to turn around and run right back out of those wooden doors, I see the top of a head moving toward me, as the crowd starts to part. A head that hovers above everyone else, topped with raven black hair.
Draven steps fully into view. My heart stops in my chest, then rapidly starts back up again for him.
As he moves closer, heat travels throughout my entire body, lighting me from within. This time I welcome it.
He looks formidable, cutting through the crowd in an all-black suit. His hair looks like it was styled, but he ran his fingers through it one too many times. His cheeks are pink from his time in the sun.
I find myself jealous of the large star to be able to touch his skin like that.
He comes to a stop, standing in front me. My eyes roam greedily over him, taking in his appearance as his do the same to me. His golden-honey eyes looking much different from the last time I saw them. My chest starts to ache because I have missed those eyes so much.
As I start to mentally prepare my apology, he reaches down and grabs my hand, softly. Bringing it up to his lips, he places a gentle kiss on the top of it, his lips warm against my skin. A shiver runs down my spine.
I forgot what I was even going to say.
“Hello, little sun,” he says as the side of his mouth lifts in almost a sad smile.
My breath hitches in my throat. “Hi.”
Pulling me closer to him, he loops my arm through his own. He brings his other hand up and rests it on mine.
I inhale deeply, desperate to smell leather and vanilla again. Shadows begin to gather at the bottom of my feet, caressing my ankles in a familiar touch. Draven starts moving us forward, back to where he came from.
As we walk through the crowd, everyone continues to stare. I am used to everyone staring at Draven, but this time they are looking at me. Some gazes filled with jealousy, some filled with curiosity. It is hard not to cower under each.
“Do you like the dress I had made for you?”
Draven’s voice pulls me back to the present, grounding me as we continue weaving through the crowd.
“That you had made for me?”
“Yes, do you like it.”
I look up him, my brows drawn together tightly. “Wait, you knew about this?”
I swear I hear him let out sigh.
“Yes, I did. Before you ask, I did not tell you because you had a lot going on and you were healing. I also was going to tell you and never got the chance.”
Right, because I acted like a fool then he left and we haven’t spoken to each other in a week.
I nod, deciding to let it go.
“I love it, thank you,” I say, changing the subject.
“No, thank you. It is truly a sight on you,” he says, watching me intently as we walk. “I have a few people I would like you to meet if that is okay.”
“Okay.”
We continue to walk through the crowd to the front of the room, his thumb rubbing circles on the top of my hand. The gesture is sweet and comforting, melting away every doubt I had about how he would feel toward me.
It feels as if the room is endless, until King Vesper comes into view. I watch him as he is in an embrace with another man, a smile on his face. He is clapping the man on the back as if they are old friends. What an odd sight.
The man pulls away from him, turning toward us as his face comes fully into a view.
I see his ears first, noticing the way they draw up into perfect points at the end.
His skin is flawless, a stunning umber color against his tan suit.
His eyes are a deep hazel, and his dark brown hair is shorn close to his scalp.
He has a smile on his face that shows radiant white teeth.
His canines are pronounced like my own, but not as sharp.
He is so otherworldly looking that it sends the hairs on the back of my neck standing straight up.
The first fae I have ever seen.
I look next to him realizing that he is not the only one watching us as we approach.
I suck in a breath at the blue eyes that meet my own.
Queen Maura Briar’s eyes. Her features just as perfect as the man next to her.
Although I have seen a picture of her already, it does not do her presence in real life any justice.
She is wearing an ice blue satin dress that hugs her tall, slender figure.
Her skin is golden and glowing as her long sun-kissed hair falls past her waist, each strand as straight as a piece of thread pulled taught.
A delicate, golden crown sits high atop her head.
Her deep blue eyes stare deeply back into mine, warm and gentle.
Her gaze travels over to Draven and she gives him a knowing look and a soft smile.
Guards stand behind them, encased in gold plated armor covering every inch of their bodies, including their faces. Each one looking like a knight from a fairytale. More fae stand in conversation with one another behind the king and queen. Advisors, I assume.
As we move forward, anxiety creeps in. I am about to meet some of the most important people in Draven’s life.
I take deep breaths as we walk. Draven notices and squeezes my hand in response as we stop in front of the three rulers.
I pointedly ignore King Vesper. He does the same to me, nodding at his son in greeting.
“Maura, Sander, this is Solene Jourdain,” Draven says.
Hearing my full name roll off his tongue sounds like the sweetest kind of music to my ears.
Queen Maura steps forward first, grabbing my hand and holding it in her own. She smiles deeply at me, a true sight to behold.
“Oh, you are so lovely,” she says to me.
Her voice is soft and high pitched, sounding like a song in its own.
I feel the overwhelming urge to give her respect. I start to slowly drop down into a curtsey, but she gently pulls me up before I can go any lower.
“Oh no, dear, that is not necessary. Never to us,” she says.
I smile softly at her. “It is very nice to meet you.”
“Likewise. I have heard much about you. This is my husband, Sander.” She gestures in the fae man’s direction.
King Sander smiles at me and tilts his head downward in respect. I follow suit.
Maura squeezes my hand once more then drops it, turning back toward Draven.
“Oh, Draven, she is as lovely as you described and more.”
“She is, truly,” Draven says as he looks at me.
Maura starts to look around the room. “I am not sure where your pesky brother has gone. I would imagine he is somewhere talking to the ladies of the court.”
She turns back to me. “He has a problem, you see. He loves females but it seems he cannot pick one to settle down with so I may have a grandchild.”
I fail in attempt to suppress a laugh. She smiles at me.
“A woman has to actually like Alaric first before you get a grandchild, Maura. Patience is a virtue,” Draven says with a wink.
“I just fail to understand what the complication is,” she says, shaking her head.
“I am sure everything goes well until he starts to speak,” Draven says, laughing.
Maura huffs, looking at me once more. “We will speak again soon. I have much to talk about with you.”
“I am looking forward to it,” I say honestly.
She turns around and walks to stand by King Sander’s side, falling into conversation with him and King Vesper.
I watch the way King Vesper looks at her. His eyes soften when he listens to her speak, like he does not ever want her to stop. He looks different talking to them, his features are relaxed and he almost looks happy. If that could even be possible.
Maybe the fae queen reminds him of the queen he once had.
Draven watches me as I watch the three rulers talk amongst each other.
“Sander is a man of few words,” he says.
“He seems very nice. They look a lot different than us. We at least look somewhat human, but they look almost too perfect to be real. Like something out of dream.”
“Indeed, they are different than us in many ways. But in my heart, we are the same. They are my family.”
I smile at Draven, going to open my mouth to respond when he jolts forward, almost falling on his face. Auburn hair barely shows over his shoulder as he gets pulled back up.
“I thought I heard my name, what are we talking about?” the voice says.