Chapter 40 #2
Hey, I said to Isaiah. He stood directly behind my chair, his eyes on the crowd while I stared at my drink glass.
Hey, he replied smoothly. Are you alright?
I think I need to take a walk, I answered. Wyatt, Aiden, and Rafe were across the room, speaking to Eduardo. Raaz was trailing behind the Queen as she flitted from group to group. She’d spoken to Rafe and Wyatt, but it hadn’t escaped my notice that she hadn’t made her way over to me or Aiden.
I felt Isaiah nod behind me, then pull my chair out so I could stand. I began making my way around the room, equal parts amused and annoyed that no one was speaking with me.
Wyatt watched my every move, his possessive gaze on me even while he spoke to someone in front of him and Rafe. Aiden was speaking to someone else behind them, though he was still close.
Wyatt furrowed his brow at me, and an idea came to me.
A very funny, dirty idea.
Can I get you a drink? Isaiah asked.
No, I replied. I uh…can’t get drunk.
Oh? Interesting, Isaiah replied.
Has Willow texted you yet? I asked.
Isaiah cleared his throat, and I stifled a grin.
She and Mia have both texted me, yes.
I grinned at him before stepping into Wyatt’s arms.
Why are you smiling at the guard? Wyatt hissed.
Now I’m smiling at you, I replied, pressing my hand to his.
Wyatt furrowed his brow, looking down and then nearly dropping his glass as he stuffed his hand into his pocket, his hazel eyes wide as they jumped back to mine.
What the fuck…is that…are these–
I kissed his cheek, patted his chest, then moved to the edge of the room, my heart still pounding. Wyatt stared me down, almost glaring at me now. Rafe stopped at his side, noticing the stare-off and no doubt wondering what was happening.
I only grinned.
“You’re not meant to hide on the sidelines,” an accented voice said from my left.
The smile melted off my face as I tensed, slowly turning my head until I faced the Queen.
She wore a deep green mermaid gown, the silk fabric so shiny it glittered in the light.
The massive set of emeralds on her ears and neck were nearly the size of my diamonds, standing out against her brown skin.
Her tiara was a smaller circlet style, adorned with several large emeralds and pearls.
It was perfectly fitted to her dark hair, in one long braid down her back.
“We’re meant to be out there. Where we’ll be seen,” she went on, taking a sip from her glass.
“Then why are you here speaking to me?”
She turned toward me slowly, her face completely blank. She was a master of controlling her emotions in public. “To explain what’s expected of you. I’m sure you’re the one who insisted on coming here this evening.”
“And if you were right?” I asked carefully.
She nodded, taking another sip. “I figured as much. You remind me a lot of someone I used to know.”
She didn’t elaborate on who that someone was, and I tried to ignore how uncomfortable I was with her standing so close to me.
To anyone in the crowd, it looked as if we were having a quiet gossip session.
To Rafe and Wyatt, though? Well, my Links were tense, standing side by side, drinks forgotten in their hands as they watched us.
“How is your training going? The academy headmaster tells me you have outstanding grades.”
I blinked several times, swiping a glass of champagne off a passing waiter’s tray. I took a sip and barely held in a grimace at the taste. “You ask about my grades,” I said flatly.
“Of course. I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors about yourself. I’m only making sure there isn’t anything for the people to dig into. No skeletons in the basement waiting to drag us the rest of the way to hell.”
Her use of the word basement didn’t escape my notice.
Did she know about Levi?
I was staring at Rafe across the room, trying to keep my anger from surfacing. He watched, concerned, but didn’t make his way over to us.
“You’d know all about that, wouldn’t you?” I replied, taking another gross sip of champagne. “Last I saw, the internet couldn’t stop talking about the Queen who wanted her father dead. Did you know about Holmes when you sent her to him?”
Ramira narrowed her eyes at me almost imperceptibly.
“I know a lot of things about Holmes,” she replied slowly. “What do you think you know about her that I don’t?”
I shrugged, looking down into my glass.
“I know a lot of things about you, too,” Ramira said, stepping in closer to me.
I blinked. “Listen to me. My son will be the first shadow King in nearly two hundred years,” Ramira clutched her glass tighter to her chest. “I am not stupid, Ms. Aria. My son is only one Link in a powerful Chain. What affinities exist to match that of a shadow-wielder?”
I stared at her, my expression betraying nothing. Her frustration grew. She tossed her glass at a passing tray, ignoring the server as he tried to bow to her while balancing the tray of dirty dishes.
“An air and water affinate is not a sufficient Key for a King.” Ramira went on. “A simple fire affinate is not a sufficient Link-mate for a King.”
“Maybe you’re underestimating me. You’re definitely underestimating him,” I started to defend Aiden, but she laughed without humor, drawing some attention. My pulse spiked. Rafe took a step toward us, ready to intervene, but I held him still with my affinity.
“You’re lying to me,” Ramira said. “You, my son, his friend,” she sneered at the mentioned of Wyatt, “I am your Queen. And you lie to me.”
“Technically, I’m from the Gulf,” I said quietly.
“Your kind always did come from the Gulf,” she murmured, then turned back to the crowd. “Make no mistake, Ms. Aria. I know what you are.”
“And do you plan to do something about it?” I asked, my own frustration flaring. I could feel Rafe’s rapt attention from across the ballroom, but I didn’t look at him, keeping my glare on the Queen. “Or are you just threatening me?”
Ramira met my glare with her own. “I would never dream of threatening someone like you. But I do not trust you. And if my son were smarter, he wouldn’t either.”
“Then why did you name me as an Heir?” I almost snapped.
She moved in closer, and I fought every instinct inside me that told me to take a step back. It was obvious we weren’t chatting cordially anymore, and there were too many rumors about the Queen being unstable. I couldn’t add to that discourse, no matter how much my skin crawled at her proximity.
“If you dislike being an Heir, produce a new one,” she said lowly. “These people are delighted by your upbringing in the Gulf, but they will tire of it quickly. You will be expected to marry my son, and you will be expected to produce children. Soon.”
“I’ll be doing no such thing,” I whispered. “You didn’t even do all those things.”
The Queen’s expression smoothed, then she leaned in further, tenderly adjusting my diamond necklace.
“How unfortunate that these are so beautiful on you. I’d had them made for the daughter I never had, you know.”
A camera flashed.
I blinked at her as she stepped back from me.
“You remind me of myself, by the way, if I’d been blessed with more affinities. It’s why you make me so angry.”
She stormed away, a trail of people dropping to their knees as her gown swished along the marble tile.
What…the fuck was that?
Aiden appeared beside me, having come from the hallway. Rafe and Wyatt were still standing together, watching Aiden and I across the ballroom. They were delicious together, both tall and stoic, wearing form-fitting tuxedos while clutching drink tumblers.
I looked away sharply, letting my vision focus on Aiden.
What the hell was that? Aiden asked.
She says she doesn’t trust me, and Rafe shouldn’t either, I said, deciding I didn’t want to share every detail yet.
Rafe grinned from across the ballroom while Wyatt pinched the bridge of his nose.
I’m always surprised when I realize my mother doesn’t know me as well as she likes to think, Rafe mused.
At least she didn’t attack you, Wyatt said. Or maybe she tried and that’s why she knows.
No, she didn’t try, I said, my cheeks heating when Aiden pushed some hair behind my ear. Seems she’s known for a while.
This changes nothing, darling, Rafe said. You are in no danger from her.
No, she told me I remind her of herself and that’s why she gets so angry. She wishes she had more affinities.
Both Wyatt and Rafe seemed saddened by that.
Rafe downed his drink, handed it off to a server, then he spoke only to me.
Time to change the mood, my love. Meet me in the throne room.