Chapter 29 #2
I’d barely returned my attention to the lordling before he said, “My grandmother wasn’t happy about my appearance at the council meeting today. She said I, and everyone else, who testified on your behalf created quite the performance.”
My lips downturned. “Performance? Is that truly what she called it?”
He winced. “Unfortunately, yes. I’m sure you can imagine what my grandmother thought of it all, but I just wanted to let you know that not everyone in my House agrees with her rash judgment of you. Certainly not me.” He stepped closer to my side, and his hand brushed against my waist.
I faced the lordling, and out of the corner of my eye, I could have sworn that Kole’s jaw began grinding. “Was she really not swayed at all by those who have known me my entire life? What did she think, that we bribed them to be there?”
Nathaniel stared at my mouth again, and considering that energy pounded into my back, I knew that Kole was watching every single interaction between the lordling and me.
“On the contrary, I think she thought they were genuine, but she still felt it was a performance. My grandmother isn’t exactly the forgiving type. ”
“So you’ve warned me.” I drained the last of my champagne.
He laughed. “I did, and speaking of your visit in which I issued that warning, I have some good news for you. I heard back from my colleague in Ironcrest.”
My lips parted, and a genuine smile streaked across my face. “You did?”
“Indeed, and he told me something absolutely fascinating.” He paused, as though enjoying the eager way I leaned forward. “He said that it’s believed the Goddess of Light is the creator of one of the creatures found in the other realm.”
I cocked my head, and my mind began to spin. I didn’t know much of the other realm. Few fae did, so all I could do was stare blankly at him. “I’m afraid I’m ignorant of the creatures there.”
“As am I, but he said the Goddess of Light is believed to be the original creator of a creature called a vampire.”
I ran the tip of my tongue over my upper lip. “A vampire? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
Nathaniel watched my tongue, his aura heating. “Me neither, but he said that vampires sometimes visit the Nolus capital when they cross over from the other realm.”
“Truly?” My mind began to buzz.
“Indeed, and even more interesting, he said that vampires all have fangs, but those fangs only appear after they’ve been changed, which correlates with the verse you found.”
I gaped. “They have fangs? Stars and galaxy. And how does one become a vampire?”
“Commonly from another vampire bite. It’s said those bitten become infected from that bite, but he said it’s a process and the bite must be done in a certain way.”
Infected. My mind began to stir, and I berated myself for all the champagne I’d drunk. I needed a clear head for this. If that was even possible at this point. “So they turn into vampires from a bite and not a potion?”
“Correct.”
“Did he tell you anything else?”
“He said vampires are no different than you and me in how dangerous they are, although he did say that the reason they have those wicked fangs is so they can drink blood from others.” He shuddered.
I made a face. “Are you jesting? They drink blood, and they’re considered harmless?”
“Perhaps not harmless.” He shrugged. “But apparently, they’re clearheaded and not raving murderers. They only drink blood for sustenance.”
I frowned. “That doesn’t align with the creatures after me. They’re dangerous.” But maybe it aligned with what Timith had been becoming. I tapped my finger to my chin. “But what of the God of Night? And what about the other things that lore suggested?”
“He’s still looking into that, and he said he’ll get back to me.”
I mulled everything over and thought again of what Timith had been turning into.
Perhaps it was this so-called vampire since the only things that had ultimately changed in my uncle were his pale skin and the fangs.
And since he’d never fully changed, we didn’t actually know what his temperament would have been or if he still would have been Timith versus a monster like the creatures who’d infiltrated the maze.
And if what Nathaniel’s colleague said was true, it was possible Timith wouldn’t have been dangerous at all.
But he still would have been something other. Something not inherently him.
I nibbled on my lip more. “But that still doesn’t explain the other creatures, the ones after me,” I said more to myself than Nathaniel.
“What was that?”
I shook my head. “Just thinking aloud.” My forehead furrowed as I tried to understand what vampires could have to do with me or any of this, especially if they lived in the other realm. That was a realm the Silten fae had nothing to do with.
Cocking my head, I asked, “Does your friend have any pictures of vampires? Or perhaps additional details of what traits and characteristics they have?”
Nathaniel grinned. “You and I think very similarly, Primelle. I’ve already asked him to send me all of that information, and he’s promised to courier it to me this coming week, along with what he finds on the God of Night.”
I clapped my hands. “Oh, that’s wonderful news! Thank you so much, Nathaniel.”
He chuckled. “You’re very welcome, but seeing as we can’t learn anything further until then, will you dance with me in the meantime?” He held his arm out.
Once again, the feel of Kole pulsed toward me, but he was far enough away that I didn’t know if he’d heard what Nathaniel had said.
He could have been thinking that my delight in the lordling’s company was simply because I was enjoying him and not because he’d just provided more information than Kole, Ree, and I had learned all week.
But I was so over the moons by all that I’d learned that I ignored my grumpy warrior and gladly took the lordling’s arm. “I’d love to.”
The evening wore on with more dancing and drinking.
Koraline and Neb gave several speeches, all inside thankfully, and our parents and Neb’s parents did the same.
It was a festive party, fun and light, and I allowed myself to get swept up in it, especially since we’d finally made some progress on finding answers.
Nathaniel also asked me to dance so many times I lost count, but he wasn’t the only one. Word seemed to have spread that I wasn’t someone to fear, and more than a few lordlings had begun to look at me differently.
Every time a new male asked me onto the dance floor, I accepted their offer since it was expected of me, and I was still trying to win fae over.
Acting sullen, reclusive, and avoiding all males who spoke to me wasn’t going to make that happen.
Although I would have bet rulibs Kole preferred that. When that thought hit me, I snorted.
I was still a little tipsy by the time midnight came. I’d stopped drinking champagne following the information Nathaniel had given me, but I still stumbled slightly toward the sitting area near the musicians.
Kole followed, positioning himself near the wall, but before I could ask him to join me so I could learn if he was as irritated as he looked, my uncle Arnel sat down on the settee.
I smiled in delight. “Uncle Arnel! So good to see you again.”
He chuckled and smiled pleasantly. “You as well. Are you enjoying the party?”
“Quite. And you?” Like my ball, the extended family had all traveled to Whiteolf again to be present for Koraline’s celebration.
It’d been wonderful to see everyone again, and like me, my youngest cousin, Valeena, was also enjoying the attention from many of the young lordlings.
I eyed Darius across the room. He wore a sneer for no apparent reason as he stared at the partygoers.
Well, it was nice to see most of my cousins again.
My uncle nodded toward where Koraline and Neb danced. “They seem like a happy couple.”
“I truly think they are. I hope they have many wonderful centuries ahead of them.”
He murmured something similar and took another sip of his champagne, then hastily lowered his glass. “Say, I almost forgot. I meant to tell you that since returning home after your ball, I’ve spent some time looking through my archives, and I think I may have found something that’ll interest you.”
I perked up. “Oh? What did you find?”
He scrunched his eyebrows together. “Truth be told, I’m not entirely sure.
It’s in ancient Elvish, so I’m not certain if I’ve translated it correctly, but it speaks of an infection that can turn fae into a nighttime creature.
” His brow furrowed. “Your father has informed me of what you’re dealing with.
Truly, I’m very sorry to hear of what you’ve experienced, but my findings sound quite similar to what he’s told me. ”
My heart began to pound, and my jaw dropped. Tonight was one bit of fortune after another. I angled my body to face Arnel more. “Did it say anything more than that? What created them? Or how such an affliction can spread?”
He made a face. “Truly, I wish I knew, but my Elvish is quite bad. I was planning to call in a professional translator to take a better look at it.”
I laid a hand on his arm and squeezed. “I could look at it. I’m fluent in Elvish. Well, reading it. Not speaking it.”
His eyebrows shot up. “You are?”
I nodded. “It’s one of the reasons the Whiteolf Academic Library hired me.
I studied the language at university. As you probably know, the names of many plants in our realm are derived from Elvish words.
If you understand the ancient language fully, it enriches one’s study and allows cataloguing them to be much easier. ”
He laughed heartily. “Well, Stars Above. I never knew that. In that case, would you like to see the text yourself?”
I nodded enthusiastically. “Indeed! Kole and I could come right away, even this weekend.” I peeked at the warrior over my shoulder. He still looked surly, but once he heard about Arnel’s discovery, I had a feeling his frown would turn upside down.