Chapter 19 Ladies and Gentlefae… Her
Eryx
I t’s my mothers birthday and yet all I can think about is her .
Her hair, her eyes, her smile. I know them. Why do I know them? Where could I have possibly seen her before?
Flashes of memories from when I was a child keep flashing on the back of my eyelids while I try to sleep.
There was a child born five years after me, I vaguely remember her but I know I was betrothed to her before the girl and her family went missing. I can never remember her name but my mother might, I needed to speak with her about it.
I’m just not sure if bringing up her— presumed dead— best friend is a conversation for the night of her birthday.
This plan Verena and I came up with is messy and I knew it’d end badly but I couldn’t stop myself from wanting to see it play out. When she brought the idea to me, I thought she was crazy.
I couldn’t risk a war I wasn’t prepared for. Especially if he was playing dirty. But seeing the fire in her eyes when I told her I wasn’t interested?
It stirred something inside my chest that hasn’t been anything other than frozen solid in a decade.
When my last betrothal fell through, I swore off women. Not even because I was genuinely in love with her and thought she was my fated mate. I found out she had been scheming against the crown and against me. She never truly loved me as I did her and after I learned of her treason, I knew I’d never trust another female who wasn’t apart of my family again.
Verena, however, was different. As soon as I laid my eyes on her I knew she was who the prophecy was about, regardless of her hair color being the complete opposite of what it’s supposed to be. I have yet to tell her the other prophetic piece of information. And now that I know it was dye and that her true hair color is white? I’ve never been more sure of something in my life.
Verena and I will either save Khyrel…
…Or we’ll destroy it.
* * *
I sit on my throne in the best room of the palace while people chat, dance, eat, and are merry. I have yet to see Verena arrive but I know Esmeray is here, as she stands off to the side of the band, speaking with a guard who is happily giving her the attention she seeks. Hadeon, looking far more pissed than usual as he glares at the male entertaining my sister or my sister herself, it gets hard to tell. I roll my eyes and continue watching the room.
My mother basks in all the attention, smiling bright and being happy. It warms my heart. She dealt with a lot of trauma from my father in their marriage but mates are mates and she couldn’t leave him without leaving us. She deserves to be happy in this life and the next.
I watch as she continuously peeks around the beings in the room and watches the entry door.
Who else could she possibly be waiting on?
The Herald slams his staff on the ground, the booming sound reverberates around the room and silence falls, awaiting the next guests arrival.
“Announcing King Perseus and his daughter, Princess Lieve of Sakaris.” A tall male waltzes in with a smaller fae female. They both have golden hair and their eyes are as blue as the sea. Golden crowns adorn them and while he dons a white suit, shes in a golden gown. They greet me first, per custom, before finally he walks to my mother in greeting. I know when she was ruling, she had made friends across the seas. Our history books tells us of them and we do trade often with Sakaris.
The party continues and I start getting impatient waiting for this stubborn female.
I stand and make my way to the floor for some refreshments before a hand grabs mine and pulls me in with surprising strength.
“Alyra.” I state as fact as she smiles wide at me.
“King Eryx. You have not visited me in so long, I’ve been worried about you and your stress. The council-”
“The council does not run this country. I do.” My skin grows cold where she touches before jerking back from the sensation. She huffs.
“It’s because of her , is it not?” Fury flashes in her eyes and I roll mine.
“If you are speaking of our recent guest then I suggest you choose your words carefully or hold your tongue. She has nothing to do with me not wanting to touch you. Leave me alone and stop grabbing me before I. Cut. Your hands. Off.” Tears brim her eyes but I can’t force myself to actually care. I start walking to the table of beverages and food, needing to get away from her.
“That was quite possibly all the entertainment I needed here.” Another female voice sounds, this one not as familiar. I glance at her, blonde hair in an elegant bun and bright sea eyes gleaming with mischief. “Princess Lieve, your majesty.” She gives me a small curtsy before grabbing her own glass of fae wine and shoving some cheese into her mouth. I stare at her in amusement. “Starving.” Is all she says when she notices my attention on her as she eats as much as she can.
I chuckle before turning back to what I was gathering. I down a glass of blackberry bourbon, not my usual but still delicious. One of Asterlayna’s most famous bourbons. I glance back at the doors, the Harold meeting my gaze and shaking his head. My fist clenches around my newly full glass and my jaw presses harder into the upper one. I feel the muscles in it flinch .
“Waiting for someone?” She asks, still standing next to me, downing her third glass of wine. Princess Lieve, unlike all the other females, doesn’t seem as if she’s trying to sleep with me, thank the Gods. She notes my tense stand before eyeing the door as well.
“Not your business.” I coldly respond.
She throws her hands up in defense, “Not trying to piss you off but trust me, it’s either her nerves getting to her or she’s making sure every hair and speck is perfect. That’s how I am. It’s Verena, right?” She asks and my attention snaps to her, confusion and anger rushing through me. She waves me off, “Calm down, Eryx. Can I call you that?” She asks before not waiting for an answer, “People talk and my lady’s maid heard another speaking about her. I heard she’s pretty and sweet to your staff. That alone is hard to find.”
I go to respond but get cut off from the Herald giving me a look as he bangs the staff onto the ground and silence falls over again.
“Announcing Princess Ruelle of Khyrel.” He stops and anger floods me. I told him only to signal me when it’s her .
Ruelle walks in, greeting everyone and arriving at my side to say hello and grab some wine, too.
Another bang of the staff. “Announcing Princess Verena.” She walks in, a flash of black catches my gaze at her gown.
In strips of black tulle flowing around her looking like my wisps of shadows, You can see her long toned legs through the sheer fabric as it drops from her waist. It sits snug on her torso, trailing up her bust before splitting into separate wide double layered pieces to continue over her breasts and across her shoulders to what I can assume is down her shoulder blades before connecting back together at her waist in the back, dropping elegantly down to the floor in a puff of black markih tulle— a rare stunning fabric from another continent in the court of art, Leatus. Her hair is the same black with it’s blue streak but the blonde is more prominent now. Starting at her scalp it grew a few inches before fading into the black.
I’ve never cared for clothes before. Not until now, as I stare in uncontrollable awe and lust as she steps off the single lifted step, gathering the attention of every being in this room. I feel eyes on me and I break the stare at Verena to look at my mother who stares at me in love, pride, and understanding, whatever that means. As I look back at Verena, I find her staring back at me. Silence ensues, or so I think it does. I can’t tell with my stupid cold heart pounding wildly in my chest, drowning out any other noise.
She looks calm and collected, until she is two feet from me. I unlatch my eyes from her bright indigo ones, trailing down her face, neck, her rapidly rising and falling chest that looks like mine feels. Her breasts are covered in the tulle as it sits thick enough to keep her intimate areas hidden from others. I continue my blatant perusal of her as my eyes track each inch of her skin all the way down to her feet. Those damn bare feet.
When I make my way back to her eyes with fire burning in mine, I see her doing the same to me, indigo blasts with amusement before her smile drops, lingering on the open section of my pitch black dress shirt that sits on my chest. The jacket to match, rests open on my shoulders and the same colored pants sit comfortably snug on my hips and legs— well, comfortable until her gaze sends warmth down my spine and blood rushes to my cock, tightening the fabric.
“Hello, I’m Princess Lieve of Sakaris. You are quite the beauty. Very…queenly.” She smirks and it breaks Verena and I from our reverie. Red travels over her, dusting Verena’s chest all the way up to her cheeks.
She shakes her head from her thoughts, giving us both a curtsy.
“Good evening. It’s nice to meet you. Sakaris, that’s over the sea right? Long travels.” She responds. Irritation bleeds through me as they converse. I want her to look at me again and then I want to slap myself for thinking so.
“Ask her to dance you brute.” Esmeray’s voice hits the back of my head right before she shoves me and I barely stop myself from toppling into the fae who won’t escape my mind.
Ruelle giggles as I glare daggers at them before holding my hand out to Verena, who now stares at me with confusion.
“Dance.” I blurt out, sounding as if it is a command. I can practically feel my sisters roll their eyes at me as Esme smacks me from behind. “If you would like to.” I add softer.
A small smile plays on her face and my heart can’t take it. This female will certainly be the death of me. I just can’t decide if I like it or not.
* * *
Verena
Seeing Eryx upon my entrance was… confusing. Breathtaking. Mind-boggling.
I immediately feel his gaze as I stroll over to him to greet the king— per custom. You always greet the host first, especially if they are the ruler.
But he looks so good. The open shirt revealing his skin made me want to— honest-to-Gods— lick his smooth muscular chest. I’ve never felt this way before. Sure, many of the males in Zorya were attractive, Dryston and Hadeon included. But, my heart never beat faster over their presence, my eyes never wandered further and further down to wonder what was underneath, and I definitely have never wanted to taste anyone before.
His clothing fit him perfect, too perfect. It was tight in every right was, relaxed but still so elegant.
I was devastatingly nervous about the dress I don. The sheer fabric made me feel so open and while I never minded my body before, I did tonight. Especially seeing the stunning golden fae he stands by. The bare feet was my way of taunting him, trying to pull a reaction from him even if it were anger. I want his attention, another first for me. I don’t notice anyone else’s reaction but when I reach Eryx and his gaze licks flames through my body, I know I got the outcome I wanted. I can’t stop the amusement and while this party is a royal ball, for Calanthe’s birthday, I had to do it. I don’t even let Ruelle see me skip the shoes .
Eryx stumbles forward, his sisters quietly laughing behind him as he glares before holding his hand out to me. “Dance.” He commands and my brows raise in some sort of defiance. Esmeray groans out a sigh, slapping a hand to her forehead. “If you would like to,” He adds hastily, cheeks dusting in pink.
My heart beats so hard and fast I worry it’ll jump from my chest and run off. I nod, placing my smaller hand into his large one as he leads me to the middle of the room in the midst of other dancers.
Much to my dismay, they part for us and everyone stops moving, staring.
The Dark King dancing with some random girl. I’m sure it’s the talk of the kingdom.
When the Herald titled me as a princess, I was shocked but I saw Calanthe’s eyes meet mine with pride and I know she was the reason why. I don’t even have to tell him my name— like I was a staple here. Like it’s natural and normal and as if I had been here my entire life.
Something in my heart clicks and something in me feels the deja-vu, like this has happened before.
He pulls me to him, our chests barely brushing as he raises our connected hands and trails his other hand up from my lower back when I freeze at the attention. His hand glides to my arm, down to my fingers where fire trails after him before lightly pushing my hand up to his shoulder, where it rests and he finds my lower back once more. His familiar scent of freshly baked dessert stirs feelings within me. Sending a rush of pleasure to my core.
My breath stutters and I know he feels it, feels my chest rise and fall in rapid succession.
But the closeness? It allows me to feel his too. When I realize this isn’t only affecting me, but him as well, I stare into his heated, darkened gaze. The music starts and so do we. It’s like my body isn’t my own, following his every lead as if we’d danced together a million times before. We fit perfectly together, seemingly made for one another and my heart clenches in my chest.
Fated mates were rare, extremely, and while I’ve read about them, I never thought I might have one because of the fate that awaited me in the Court of Dawn. But this? I’ve never felt like this.
But when you meet your mate, a mark shows up on your body, matching each other in shape and position. And as far as I know, none have popped up. I’d feel it.
I can’t tell if I’m disappointed or not.
Our bodies sway, the entire time no one else joins in but I feel multiple gazes. Questions hang in the air. But his eyes? Those dark brown eyes get darker the longer he stares into my indigo ones. I can’t seem to look away as he leads the dance in a traditional waltz. His jaw ticks, the pulse on his throat throbs, and I feel his hand on my waist get tighter.
I get even closer to him, basking in the warmth even as my body feels on fire.
The music is beautiful and I think I’d dream of this moment for eternity.