Chapter 9 Grave
GRAVE
“Can you just sit already?” Amalee’s tone teetered on the edge of annoyance. “Your pacing does nothing but stress everyone out.”
“Speak for yourself.” Sky nudged her. “I think it’s sweet that he’s anxious.”
“I’m not,” I lied. “I don’t want to be late, and if she takes any longer, we’re definitely not going to get there on time.”
The end of the week arrived quicker than expected. I’d been so busy that I’d spent little time with Audryn. Knowing I had a limited amount of time left, I made a choice. I wouldn’t waste even a single moment without making my interest in her known. Regardless of nerves, I’d tell her how I felt.
Footsteps padded down the stairs, and I waited at the bottom with my gaze up.
My mother’s seamstress had talked me out of the all-black dress I had in mind for the occasion.
Instead, she crafted a gown made of silver silk with black beading across the corset.
It was a nod to Kuroden’s secondary royal hue while still using the black primary hue with the adornments.
The sleeves were thin, sheer pieces of fabric to rest on her shoulders while the corset’s structure kept the gown from drooping. The mesh paneling on the sides of the abdomen left her partially exposed, but my sister had convinced me to go with the emerging design.
Audryn turned the corner, and I nearly lost my breath. She kept her eyes fixed on the steps in front of her. When her feet hit the ground level, I was all consumed by her hazel eyes drawing up at me, the brown flecks in the edges twinkling against the candlelight.
The world seemed to tilt.
Words escaped me; no compliment could do her beauty justice. I adjusted the length of my black jacket and did my best to appear casual. “Ready to go?”
Her brow furrowed, and she flinched. “Did I shove myself into this gown for … that?”
I took half a breath before stepping to her, letting the fronts of our bodies ghost each other. When she didn’t retreat, I gathered all the words swirling in my head and strung together a sentence.
“Don’t mistake my manners for anything other than what they are.” I took up the final space between us. “You are absolutely remarkable,” I breathed. “Your beauty has nothing to do with the gown and I will rip it from your body the moment you request me to do so.”
Audryn’s face flushed, and she exhaled a slow steadying breath. “How—how did you know the gown would even fit?” she stammered.
“My hands will never forget the parts of you they’ve had the privilege to touch.” I caressed a thumb across her jaw. “You may not know me well, but your lines will forever be etched in my memory.”
“You never speak to me like that!” Sky playfully smacked Amalee’s shoulder.
My sister rolled her eyes. “Are you two done, or do you need the room to yourselves?”
The women headed out the front door, leaving it ajar. Several breaths passed, and though I didn’t want to leave, we would be late if I didn’t. I reached over Audryn’s shoulder to the hooks behind her. The lids of her eyes fluttered closed as if she were waiting for my touch to land.
“Jackets,” I whispered and leaned forward, letting my breath kiss her ear. Her body shuddered as I pulled away and handed her the riding jacket. With newfound courage, I offered my hand, unsure if she would accept. But without hesitation, she interlaced her fingers with mine.
Zalzre and Dysis waited in the street, both looking curiously from the corners of their eyes. I was grateful their conversations weren’t shared aloud and instead were held captive in their minds.
Sky and Amalee took their seats on Ralti and a moment later, the creature bolted into the air, maintaining a circular pattern above. Audryn eyed our wyverns contemplatively.
“Can I help you up?” I dropped Audryn’s hand, feeling the emptiness of her skin the moment I’d withdrawn. Pushing forward, I walked to Dysis and gestured to Audryn; she shook her head. “I know you don’t want help, but you’re in a gown.”
“No, I just”—she drew a breath, biting into her lower lip—“I’d prefer not to fly at night on my own, I’ve yet to do so.”
“I’ll be next to you, you’re safe,” I reassured. Dysis huffed behind me, blowing loose strands of my hair forward.
“I can’t straddle her neck easily,” Audryn protested. “It would be much easier to sit sideways.”
“Would you like to wear pants? You don’t need to wear the gown—”
“Really, Grave?” She threw out her hands. “Do you need me to spell it out for you? Perhaps send you a missive?”
“Col,” I mumbled.
“What?” she snapped.
I was less bothered by the nickname than others were, but there was a cataclysmic ricochet bouncing through my chest each time the word left Audryn’s mouth; it felt wrong.
“Please, call me Col.” My gaze sat everywhere other than on her. “Or by my full name if you must, but my preference would be Col.”
“And when I address you by title, would you prefer King Grant?”
I gestured her toward Zalzre and looked up at the night sky to see Ralti still circling. “You never need to address me by title. And before you ask—I don’t give a fuck that your prince says otherwise.”
With a hand on her hip, she turned and faced me. “Stop saying he’s my prince.”
I held up my ring finger and tapped a knuckle, mimicking the large aquamarine sitting on her finger. “Isn’t he?”
“You’re an ass.” I spun and walked in Dysis’s direction. The wyvern quickly flattened, taking full advantage of the situation I’d somehow managed to fuck up.
I moved to help her.
“Get away from me,” she warned with enough venom for me to retreat.
I took a few steps back and raised my hands.
Audryn made numerous attempts to haul herself on top of the creature. Dysis had nearly laid her slick body completely on the ground, effectively decreasing the distance the woman needed to climb. Finally taking her seat, Audryn lifted a brow at me in challenge—point fucking made.
It was only a ten-minute flight to the celebration, but it felt much longer as I re-lived how our interaction had fallen apart.
The chilly wind rippling against my chest wasn’t nearly as cold as the shoulder Audryn was giving me.
I didn’t dare speak to her. Each time Zalzre moved closer to Dysis, Audryn’s creature gathered speed to get further away.
When Zalzre landed next to Ralti, I looked up to find Dysis making sweeping lines for a gradual descent. People could say all they wanted about wyverns, but they’d never be able to deny their intelligence and their swift ability to adjust for their rider.
My vision landed on the crowd, who were also watching the shadowy lines streaking across the starlit backdrop.
Dysis moved into one sweeping circle after another before finally landing next to the others.
I offered to help Audryn down, but the beast and its rider threw a hefty warning my way.
With glistening silver skirts, she swung a leg over and rested on her stomach across the beast. Dysis tilted to the left, allowing Audryn to gently slink down to the awaiting ground.
“That’s one way to do it,” Amalee mused at my side. “What’d you do to piss off two females at the same time?”
I ignored her jab.
Sky took Amalee’s hand, and the two walked toward the crowd. Several times a year, every fae was invited to attend the event on the High Mesa, a flat area accessible by any means. The festivities provided each person with a renewed sense of optimism, no matter the difficulties they faced.
Despite my mother’s protest, my predecessor had discontinued all celebrations, claiming the cost wasn’t worth the benefit. Resuming the activity was my first order of business upon taking the throne. And though my mother had not returned since, a vacant chair at our reserved table sat in her honor.
“I shouldn’t have said what I did.” I spoke low as we assessed the crowd. “Should’ve kept my mouth shut.”
“Yeah.” Audryn blew out a breath. “But it’s the truth, right? Gotta point it out, otherwise I might forget.” She walked toward the table where Amalee and Sky held a hushed conversation.
Even though my preference was to sit among the crowd, I was obligated to do otherwise. The long table was filled with chairs on one side and kept clear on the other, giving people permission to approach and voice concerns with the seated royals.
“Nice of you to finally join us,” Micah called from the table. “It only took you an hour longer than it should’ve—it wasn’t like we wanted to eat on time anyhow.” He took a long drink from his glass. “Nice date.”
“If you weren’t such an ass, I’d give you a proper introduction.” I kept my eyes on the woman who’d stolen the night. All eyes were on her, and it was easy to see why.
“Who needs an introduction when my hands have been not only on her, but inside her, which is more than you—”
My fist met his face before I could see through the rage. Several gasps echoed, and conversation among the group completely vanished. Even the stringed band of four had stopped playing.
“Fuck.” I shook my hand and extended it to Micah, who was sitting in the dirt. “I’m sorry, I—”
“Nah, you definitely should’ve.” He took my hand, stood, and threw an arm around me into a half hug. “I didn’t realize things were serious with her.”
“You and me both, Brother.” I turned from the still-staring crowd and contemplated leaving. The evening hadn’t gone at all how I had hoped, and was only getting worse by the minute.
“Please, continue,” Amalee said, motioning to the crowd. She turned to me. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” She hooked her arm around my elbow and attempted to move me from the area, but I refused. “You can’t go around just hitting people.”
“I’m our father’s son, what else do you expect?” I said, shaking her arm away, and exhaled.
“Well, if that’s not a shit excuse, I don’t know what is.”
“Look, it’s been a long day, and I need some food.” My eyes darted to Sky and Audryn, who were speaking quietly a few steps away from the table. ”What’s that all about?”