Chapter Seventeen #2
Aodhan spots me, of course, when we move a little closer. I dip my head in respect, and he does not move from Dante’s side. Dante’s eyes are fixed on the ground, cheeks flushed. Where is Grant? He should be here.
“Uncle. It has been a while.”
Aodhan huffs. “Of course it has,” he says drolly and moves his own wine glass from one hand to the other. “Long enough for you to get over your aversion to pets, I see.”
He reaches over and curls his fingers around Dante’s shoulder. It takes everything in me to remain in place, to not allow the growl building in my chest to rattle up out of my throat. Dante is not his.
“Please, meet Ophelia.”
Ophelia drops into a perfect curtsey, a charming half-smile on her lips. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she says.
“Your soulbond?” Aodhan asks.
I cannot say yes. I cannot nod. I am not fast enough to twist his words in my mind, to alter the meaning so that the answer to the question he is asking is no longer a lie.
“Of course,” Ophelia says smoothly. She hooks her arm through mine and leans into my side. “Dante is a friend of mine. The best of friends.”
Perhaps she has somehow had a chance to speak with Grant about the rumour he undoubtedly sparked with Zomo yesterday, or she is simply staking her own claim. When Aodhan frowns, she lifts her chin a little higher and her eyes spark with challenge.
More the latter than the former then.
But Aodhan, thankfully, lets go of Dante’s shoulder. “Apologies,” he says. “It is rare to see an uncollared pet.”
Dante’s cheeks redden further. I move closer to my uncle, and Ophelia steps aside, taking her place beside Dante. “I have never been one for collars,” I say.
Aodhan shrugs. He swirls the wine in his glass, looking into the depths of the dark liquid. “I thought you were not one for crowns, either. Much has changed and so quickly.”
“The human realm is different. And my presence here did not appear to be optional.”
“Quite. You allowed her to be taken?”
“No.”
“Those Seelie should be made an example of then. What happens when you wear the crown? Or will your Seelie king protect you?”
He knows about Oisin then, which is hardly a surprise. Where is he? Avoiding Aodhan, maybe, but that does not bode well for our rule.
“They have been dealt with,” I reply, and Aodhan quietly snorts. “It is of little consequence. Yes, I plan to rule with Oisin. It has been a long time since we had a Seelie and Unseelie ruler.”
I am parroting Veles’ words. I do not remember who came before my parents, but right now, I do not care.
“How long, I wonder?” Aodhan murmurs, but he does not appear to be speaking to me. Ophelia and Dante have moved a few paces away, and Ophelia speaks to him in quiet tones.
“Let us only hope that both of you can put a stop to our realm’s collapse,” Aodhan says.
“That is why we are here.” They wouldn’t have trapped me here otherwise. Aodhan knows that, too.
He will make his move after Oisin and I have bonded then; whatever move that might be. It makes sense. Strike now, and he removes any hope of saving the realm. Later, and he can blame one of us, maybe even both of us.
“Well, I suppose I should enjoy the party then.” Aodhan inclines his head mockingly towards me before he strides away.
Ophelia pulls a face at Aodhan’s retreating back, but when I look at Dante, he is breathing hard, hands clenched into fists.
“Are you—” I begin, but he shakes his head.
“I’m going to—I’ll come back,” he says.
Ophelia reaches for him, but Dante walks away—in the opposite direction to Aodhan—before she can grasp his arm. We both watch him leave.
“What do you think he said to him?” she asks after a few seconds. Dante has not gone far. He weaves between groups of fae, most of whom eye him speculatively. No one tries to touch. Good. Collar or not, they at least know not to test me.
“I have no idea,” I reply faintly. What could Aodhan have said to have Dante fleeing from us both now? Even if he does not wish to speak with me, Ophelia is his best friend. Why would he avoid her?
“He’s here then,” a voice says behind us, making Ophelia jump.
Oisin, of course. He smiles when we both face him, and although I am irritated by his apparent desire to avoid Aodhan and leave him to us, it is clear that Ophelia is angry about it.
“Where were you?” she hisses. “Dante was all on his own.”
Where is Grant, for that matter? I scan the crowd. I cannot see him.
“I told you, I do not—”
“I don’t care,” Ophelia says. She plasters a fake smile on her face when she realises some fae are looking our way, but it does nothing to hide the fury in her eyes. “You did all this for a reason. You don’t get to run off when you get scared.”
“I was not—”
Ophelia scoffs, and for a moment, I think Oisin will lose his temper, but instead, his shoulders deflate. He ducks his head as though chastened.
“Lark handled it,” Ophelia goes on. “But this was all a bloody pointless scheme if you can’t rule alongside him properly.”
“I will.”
“And if he”—her gaze flicks to Aodhan, who has stopped to speak with Veles, and then back again—“causes trouble, what then? The crown isn’t going to make you stronger.”
Oisin stares at her. Honestly, so do I. I have never seen a fae so thoroughly told off before, and even if I had, I doubt they would have taken it so well.
“I am sorry,” Oisin says after a long moment, first to Ophelia, and then to me. “I didn’t—It will not happen again.”
Ophelia grants him a nod before she turns her attention back to the party.
“No matter,” I reply. “It was inevitable I would have to speak with Aodhan today. It is unfortunate he cornered Dante first.”
“Where is he?” Oisin asks.
“Aodhan?”
“No. Dante.”
I look over in the direction where I last saw Dante, but he is no longer there.
Where is he? My heart races. Perhaps he has simply gone back to the castle.
He has been, understandably, out of sorts all day, although I would expect some cheer despite it all because he and Ophelia have been reunited and can return home soon.
“There!” Ophelia says, pointing.
My stomach sinks. Dante is heading towards the maze. He is too far to hear if I shout for him to stay away.
“Stay here,” I say. Oisin is already protesting, but I shake my head. “I will be back in time for the announcement.”
“Fine. Hurry.”
I hardly register the words as I head in the direction of my soulbond.