Chapter 77 Serena
SERENA
Ding, ding, ding.
A hush settles over the diamond-encrusted hall as Eaton stands, champagne flute in hand. Sorscha beams up at him, sunlight pouring from her eyes.
“I’m not one for speeches—especially long, sappy ones—so I’ll keep this brief. I know this wasn’t in the cards. Quite frankly, I’m just as surprised as all of you.” Eaton’s blue-eyed gaze bounces around the room, earning him a few light chuckles.
“But I have waited a long time to feel something real. And now that I’ve found it, there’s no way I’m letting it go.
Sorscha, I vow to be the kind of male you deserve.
To be a husband and partner you are proud of, and to be a king worthy of a land such as this one.
Everyone, raise a glass to the angel seated beside me.
You are proof that perfection exists and that the gods are good. Cheers.”
Tears well in Sorscha’s eyes, her smile quivering as Eaton takes her hand and sweeps her up into a deep kiss. Thunderous applause shakes the chandeliers and crystal glasses dressing the tables.
I watch them, heads pressed together, Sorscha grinning for the first time in months. They’re beautiful. Their bond is beautiful. So simple and easy.
I’m happy for them. So why does seeing their smiles, their joy, make me sad?
I swirl my glass, the bubbles inside popping and fizzing before I toss them back. Something grazes my arm from elbow to wrist, whisking away my empty glass and replacing it with a warm hand.
“That isn’t allowed,” Zadyn says, dropping my flute onto a silver tray and leading me to the dance floor.
“I’m sorry?”
“You standing there alone, looking that pretty. Not dancing,” he explains, pulling me into his arms. I suppress a smirk.
“I’m going to look a lot less pretty when I’m tripping over your feet.”
“Lucky for you, I’m an excellent dancer.” He sends me spinning to prove his point. “And I promise I’ll catch you every time.”
He holds me close, and we dance, cheek to cheek. Over his shoulder, I see Eaton and Sorscha, locked inside their own little bubble. She tips her head back and laughs at something he said, the sound like twinkling bells.
“They make perfect sense.”
Zadyn pulls back, following my gaze. “Don’t they? I mean, I wanted to kill him at first, but look at them. They’re two sides of the same coin.”
Twin flames. Two matching rays of sunshine—pure warmth cut with a surprising degree of ferocity.
There’s a soft smile on Zadyn’s face as he watches his friend. “You’re in a good mood tonight.”
“What can I say? I love weddings. Especially when you’re not being forced into them.”
I chuckle. “Sucker for a happy ending?”
“Does that surprise you?” he scoffs.
“I just didn’t realize you were such a romantic.”
“Then you haven’t been paying attention.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Hey, can I ask you something? About...mates?”
The levity in his eyes evaporates as they snap to mine. His swallow looks strained. “What about them?”
“How does it work? Sorscha said she just knew. Is it like love at first sight?”
“It can be, but not always. Sometimes there’s a moment when it all clicks. Other times, it’s more of a slow burn.”
A slow burn. Like Zadyn.
“I know it’s annoying, that ‘when you know, you know’ saying. But in this case it’s true. It’s a visceral reaction. When you find your mate, they just feel like home. Everything about them—their scent, the way their touch feels.”
His thumb skims over my spine, leaving behind a trail of goosebumps.
“Is it—like a pull of sorts?”
“It can feel like that. But it’s more than just attraction. It’s an instant recognition and this excruciating, desperate need for that person. You know immediately you would do anything to see them smile, to make them happy—even if you’re not the answer. There is nothing you would deny them.”
It’s my turn to swallow, the weight of his words wrapping around me and drawing me closer.
“You mean it can be one-sided? That seems so unfair.”
“There are few things in life that are ever truly equal or fair.” He smiles, his voice melancholy. “It isn’t always reciprocal. Just like accepting the bond isn’t mandatory.”
“So there is a choice,” I confirm. His brows draw together. “If someone really didn’t want it, they could choose differently?”
“Why are you asking me all this?”
We’ve stopped dancing. We stand perfectly still, attached to each other while ballgowns swirl around us like a tornado of tulle and glitter.
“I don’t know, just curious, I guess.”
“Do you think you—”
“No.” My answer is too quick. Probably see-through. “I mean—I would know. Like you said. Right?”
It’s a test. I wait for his response, holding my breath, holding his stare. Another tight swallow.
“Right. Of course.”
Disappointment settles over me. “You seem to know a lot about the subject.”
“I’ve heard from people who’ve experienced it.”
“But not from firsthand experience?”
He looks at me, saying nothing. I decide to come right out and say it.
“Do you have a mate, Zadyn?”
His jaw clenches. But he doesn’t answer.
Tension sizzles in the sliver of air between us. The dance comes to a close, but we’re frozen in time, his fingers grazing the skin of my lower back, his eyes on my mouth, stirring a string of dirty thoughts in my mind.
“It’s time!”
The room explodes with joyful shouts. We break apart, like two dogs zapped by a shock collar.
Confetti rains down on us as Eaton and Sorscha are hoisted into the air on a set of gilded chairs and towed into the hall. I lose Zadyn in the rush of bodies and find Kai sunken into one of the velvet alcoves, a crown of laurel leaves adorning his head.
I plop down beside him as a female he’d been dancing with earlier saunters over and flings herself onto his lap.
She’s clearly had a couple of drinks—her lids heavy, limbs loose.
Kai tenses, then gently shifts her off, depositing her at his side.
Bristling at his blatant rejection, she stands and stomps away.
I gape at him. “What was that all about?”
“What?” he asks, dusting off his lap as if she’d left behind a string of cooties.
“I’ve never seen you turn down a pretty girl. Especially one so…readily available.”
He shrugs, indifferent. “Eh. Not my type.”
“Your type is anything that breathes.”
“Maybe I’m reformed.” He smiles faintly, tipping his glass to his lips.
“You can have anyone at this party.”
“Are you offering?” he teases, eyes dazzling.
“Correction. Anyone but me. I’m off limits.”
“Don’t we all know it,” he mumbles. “Honestly, I’ve already had half the females in this room. Not looking to stroll down memory lane tonight.”
“Poor little siren boy.” I take the crown from his head and plop it on my own. “So far above the masses.”
“Don’t mock me, Little Miss Can’t-Make-Up-Her-Mind.”
“Excuse me?”
“Don’t kid a kidder, sweets.” He tips my chin up. “I’ve seen that look before.”
He nods toward Zadyn, standing near the dance floor, wrapped up in conversation with Cece.
“You don’t know anything.” He purses his lips, unconvinced. “Let’s circle back to you. Your favorite subject,” I say.
“Always happy to divulge my deepest, darkest secrets.”
“Of course you are. Would this newfound celibacy have anything to do with a certain Pirate King?”
“Now that”—he steals back his crown—“is a subject I refuse to broach tonight.”
“Kai.” I clasp my heart. “I think she’s changing you.”
“Not that deep, savior. She’s simply a puzzle I am intent on solving. And by solving, I mean getting very naked in my bed.” He gives me a double brow wag and polishes off his drink.
I sneak another peek at Zadyn, monitoring his reaction to Cece in a silver gown similar to mine, except with a plunging neckline accentuating her absurd cleavage. Jealously bubbles up inside of me as she tugs him toward the dance floor.
I stand. “I’m gonna go get some fresh air.”
Kai tips his empty glass to me. “You do that.”
My fingers curl into fists as Cece slinks closer to Zadyn with her damned long legs and perfect bust-to-waist ratio.
Freaking fae barbie.
I bite back my frustration and force myself to keep walking.
They make no sense together. Cece is vapid and vain. Not Zadyn’s type at all. Not that I really know his type. But I guess if he’s in love with me like he said, then it gives me somewhat of a baseline.
The party fades away as I make my way onto the crowded terrace and down the stone steps leading to the gardens. To my relief, I find them empty. That is until I stumble upon a familiar shape beneath a weeping willow.
Jace is seated on a swing beneath the drooping vines, idly pushing himself back and forth. I draw closer, undetected, until a twig snaps beneath my heel and his head flies up. *
“I didn’t think anyone would be out here.”
“I had the same thought.”
I drop the hem of my shimmery gown and sink into the empty swing beside him. “How are you doing?”
For the first time tonight, I get to appreciate how handsome he looks—the way his lush, velvet onyx jacket molds to his shoulders and arms, his polished war medals pinned beneath the silver king’s collar draped around his neck.
His dark hair is slicked back for a change, making his proud facial features stand out.
He looks like a brooding warrior prince.
“I’m fantastic. My betrothed finds her mate the night before our wedding and runs off to elope. This is one of the pinnacle moments of my life.”
“Jace.”
“What.”
“Stop feeling sorry for yourself.” He blinks up at me. “You didn’t want this. Any of it. This isn’t a problem. This is a solution. You’re free now.”
“It’s not that. I’m happy for them—I’m relieved. But am I happy? No.” He stares at the moss-covered ground. “I might be if I thought it would change anything.”
“You don’t have to be king—this changes everything.”
“Does it? Does it change things between us?” His golden eyes meet mine, glowing in the darkness.
I say nothing.