Chapter 17
Chapter
Seventeen
A week later, I bit my bottom lip and glanced over at Rich where he was on the small stage off the front hall with a group of harpists, making them sound divine, raised baton, encouraging voice, and pomp bringing out the best of the group. He’d always been better with people than I was. He was a natural commander, could inspire anyone to do anything. Even if he was being ridiculous, he would get results.
He was a lion of the HOSTs. He could be dead serious and usually was. This was him having a joke at my expense. Still, he’d do an impeccable job whipping the small troupe into shape since he’d claimed to be here to help me. Gavriel was with the werewolf chorale on the other side of the building. He would also inspire, but mostly through fear.
It was great that they were here, really, truly wonderful, because the last thing I needed was to get lost in the magical burgeoning love between myself, some renegade musician and the Prince heir, or whatever he felt like being this month.
“Pretty,” Lanise murmured once we’d walked outside into the cool night air, where we’d stand greeting musicians while half a dozen ogres lined the path, showing the strength of the music hall’s might.
I shot her a look. “He’s poisonous to your kind. Don’t let him get you sucking on his neck.”
She returned the look with interest. “Me vampire? Forgot. Thought ogre.”
She’d been using a lot of sarcasm ever since I woke up with a bracelet in my bed instead of the prince heir. She conveyed a world of sass with such few words.
I took my place at the top of the steps, while anxiety crawled around in my chest. Speaking of vampires, the famous organist was due to arrive at any moment.
I’d been so close to falling into the love hammer, letting my brain get smashed to bits, and then Rich had broken the moment enough with that horrible accusation. Rook’s response, his ‘defense,’ was barbaric enough to shake me permanently from the edge of the chasm. I’d avoided him ever since, but he’d made it easy, focusing on his work as Rook the Luthier instead of a stone worker hanging around my hall.
Rook hadn’t denied that he was betrothed to someone else. No, he’d shrugged and said, ‘So?’
So? So I wasn’t some member of his wannabe harem. That’s so. Also can’t believe I almost fell for an ogre, started to think there was something normal about the breed of monster that could be on his knees proposing to me for the sake of my delicate angel blood when he was already betrothed to someone else. So? It still made me seethe when I thought about it. That’s why I wasn’t thinking about it.
Lanise elbowed me. “Angry again.”
I smiled through gritted teeth as a car pulled up to the curb at the end of the sidewalk. Was this Balry the vampire organist, or someone else in an enormous black car that looked like money and paranoia? That car was heavily armored.
When the door opened and the ‘Goblin Authority’ stepped out, wearing a tuxedo and looking sharper than you’d think a guy in a mask could look, I exhaled a breath of relief. I wouldn’t personally have to escort this guy, I’d just welcome him to the hall.
He was flanked by six other goblins, all who had pulled up in separate flashy cars, and they were all shockingly handsome, particularly for goblins. Hm. Looks like someone was using this Jubilee as a public relations op. Excellent, then they’d be less likely to eat anyone. My smile was a little more natural as I welcomed them.
“Goblin Authority, how good to see you and your associates.” I stretched out my hand and Lanise hissed while the goblin authority looked at my hand and then slowly put his own extremely well-manicured hand in mine. I smiled slowly while his eyes narrowed.
Finally, I released his hand, and he pulled his hand back, shaking it slightly. “You spelled me.”
“Not at all. Why would I spell someone who paid me with cursed gold?”
His smile was sharp. “It’s the only kind we have available on short notice.”
“I’m sure I believe you. Please, enter the hall. Tiago will explain everything and then show you where to go for the concert.”
Once the goblins were inside the hall, Lanise elbowed me again.
“Touch goblins? Want them die?”
“I didn’t actually curse them.”
“Arrook rip heads.”
“And make some nice brain yam pudding.”
“You not want goblins sing?”
“Arrook isn’t going to rip anyone’s head off unless someone actually hurts the face of his cause. Even then, he could spin it to get a good angle.”
She frowned at me and put a large, meaty palm to my forehead. “Sick? Fever?”
I pushed her hand off. “I’m fine.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Arrook take poison arrow. Save you. Why you so stupid?”
“So?” Anger ignited like I hadn’t felt in years. “Arrook is betrothed to someone else. Where I’m from, that’s called unavailable. Asking someone else to marry you when you’re already betrothed to someone else is the most vile, reprehensible, disgusting thing I can imagine.”
She frowned at me, studying my face while she considered. “Worse evisceration?”
“Much worse than evisceration.”
She nodded, then cocked her head. “Arrook betrothed? He run fast. Who catch not you?”
“I don’t know. Just someone he forgot to mention.”
She snapped her fingers. “Garnagth. Now remember.”
“Oh, that’s great. I’m glad you remember his betrothal to someone else.” I shook my head and seethed. I’d actually started to trust him.
“Betrothed when born. Stop war. Treaty. She not dead?”
I whirled around to stare at her. “Wait, you’re saying that he was betrothed when he was born to stop a war?”
She nodded slowly. “Bad times. Dark. Blood. Before angel demon war here.”
My stomach started churning. Did it count if Rook was betrothed to someone for a treaty when he was a baby? That explained why he didn’t think much about it. Almost explained. Why hadn’t he said that? He’d just said, ‘so,’ like that wasn’t something he had to explain. Also, he had to break his betrothal with her before he could marry me. That was obvious, wasn’t it?
“Can he break the betrothal?”
She shrugged her massive ogre shoulders. “Could. Rook not like big war.”
“How big?”
She raised her hands up above her head. “One third dead?”
“One third of the ogres were wiped out in the war before the treaty? What in the world did they fight against?”
“Troll.”
“Trolls? Aren’t trolls mostly too lazy to go to war?”
“Garnagth lead. Very big troll. Very hungry.”
My stomach gurgled. I should have eaten more before our big opening, except maybe I’d throw it up. I hadn’t had time to eat more than grabbing a bite here and there while I raced around trying to make sure everything would be in the right place at the right time. Maybe I’d just throw up if I’d eaten at the thought of Rook sold to some big troll. No, a very big troll. No one hired trolls for mercenaries, not when they had no focus on who they were supposed to kill and who they were supposed to leave alive.
“Can we assassinate her?”
“Yes. Then big war.”
“But you can’t just marry someone off to a very big troll to stop a war.”
“King can.”
“Yes, but…” I sighed heavily and almost ran a hand through my hair, but happily I remembered that it was in an elaborate updo that made me look more elegant and pulled together, less like an errant wandering minstrel, before I undid all my efforts.
Another black car pulled up, and out stepped a tall, slender vampire with dark hair and pale eyes. He glided towards me, hand outstretched.
I bowed instead of shaking his hand, but as soon as I straightened, he grabbed my shoulders and kissed both of my cheeks in an exuberant Euro greeting. “You are stunning,” he said in a rich, deep voice while his eyes gleamed.
What was I supposed to say to that? You’re more stunning? “Welcome to Singsong City’s music hall, Balry. Or is it Mr. Balry?”
He gave me a sharp smile. Literally sharp. Those fangs… “You can call me absolutely anything you’d like, my dear.” He turned us towards the door, tucking my arm in his like he owned it. “Now tell me all about yourself. How did a sweet angel get involved with Rook? He seduced you with his music, or was it the instruments?”
I frowned at him as we reached the front doors. “I’m not sure what you’ve heard, but I’m hardly involved with Rook.” I stepped through, trying to disengage him, but I would have had to throat punch him to get him to release me. Even then, he was a vampire and might consider it affectionate.
“Didn’t he repair the organ?” he asked as we stepped inside the front hall, glancing up at the intricate sculptures that had been in horrible shape a few weeks ago.
“I paid him a very large bag of gold.” Cursed gold, but this guy didn’t need to know that.
Lanise snorted behind me.
The touchy-feely vamp gave me another stunned look, shifting his attention from the elaborate stonework to me. “He took money? I’ve been trying to hire him for decades. Claims he doesn’t work for money.”
“It was more involved than that. Politics, you know.”
“Politics? Ah, his cause that places ogres in various levels of society? When he first spoke to me about his dream, I found it as ridiculous as everyone else. But now ogres are the most elite bodyguards, with more discipline than any other infernal creature, including vampires.”
“They’re much more than bodyguards. Their stonework is absolute perfection.” I gestured at the arch above as we walked down the broad hall that led towards the organ hall. The music hall had too many halls.
He gave me a flirty look. “It’s his stonework that you admire? Hm? I can’t remember a musician that didn’t try to woo Rook the Luthier over the years. He’s simply stunning.”
This conversation was so uncomfortable. Did he have any idea how rude he was being? Probably. Lucky that I’d grown up with Rich, so I understood people pushing your buttons just to watch you snap.
“Are you personally interested in Rook? Perhaps he’d enjoy your company. From what I understand, he makes a habit of running from females. Perhaps you’d be more his speed.”
Lanise growled behind me, and Balry gave me an amused glance. “From what I understand, he’s stopped running.”
We reached the door to the organ hall. Tiago should be here at the door to greet and seat the guests. Tiago was a master at directing people, and I seriously needed some help getting this vampire off my arm. The door opened and there was Rook the Luthier in a tuxedo that fit his broad shoulders to perfection.
He met Balry’s eyes and gave the vampire a slight smile. “You’ve arrived. Lanise will escort you to the organ. I will take the Music Master.”
Balry covered my hand with both of his. “You will take her? Just like that?”
Rook smiled, baring his pretty tusks. “Yes. I could rip off your arms, but that would interfere with your concert.”
Balry finally released me and took a step away from me. “That would be a pity, since that’s the only reason why I’m here.” He blinked vacuously at Rook.
Rook’s smile vanished. “Indeed. You will come to the shop after the concert.”
Balry rubbed his hands together. “Good, good. In that case, you’re about to hear the finest performance in the world.”
“Doubtful. Mirabel graced me with the finest concert I’ve ever dreamed of. I doubt anything else will come close to its exquisite perfection.”
I stood there, feeling awkward about being talked about in the third person, particularly that kind of thing. Was he going to tell the vampire that I’d played his heart song, too? Also, that he was betrothed to a troll?
Balry glanced at me, an expression of actual interest in his eyes. “You managed to impress Rook? He’s notoriously difficult, doubtless from all the time he spent with snobbish elves. You know, he actually spent time with Luthiel Sla… You wouldn’t know someone that old and archaic.”
“She would. She played his Dirge for Malevolence. It was more than the composer ever wished for.”
I grabbed Rook’s arm. This was too much. “You flatter me. Don’t listen to Rook, he exaggerates. I am anticipating your performance with all my heart. Is the audience seated?” I looked at the doors and beamed all around. “Then we should begin. Lanise, please escort Mr. Balry to his place.”
Lanise took his arm, like he’d taken mine, and dragged him further down the hall so he could enter from the side, leaving me alone with Rook the Luthier for the first time since that awful proposal.
I started for the doors to find my seat, but he barred it with his arm. I stared at that arm for a long time before I finally followed it to his shoulder, neck, chin, tusks, straight nose, and finally up to those concerned eyes.
“You’ve been avoiding me.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“You’ve been angry. My betrothed is old. Very old. I haven’t met her. I assumed that she would die before I took the throne, but I see now that I should have focused on finding a different solution.”
“She wants to be the ogre queen?”
He frowned, then nodded. “It would be very beneficial for her and her people.”
“Can you break it off without bringing on a big war?”
He studied me for a long time before he shrugged and glanced away. “Perhaps. I haven’t applied myself to a solution. She was very aggressive when I was young, so I was sure she’d get herself killed biting off more than she could chew, particularly after our world merged with yours, but she settled down to wait.”
“How wise of her. It’s not like you were looking for someone to sing your heartsong.”
“I was not.”
I nodded and glanced away, willing myself not to burst into tears from hearing that he wasn’t looking for love, didn’t want to sing that duet with me. “We should go in.”
“The balcony would be ideal. Come.” He took my hand and urged me towards the small stairs behind a door that I’d forgotten about.
His hand felt so perfectly right around mine. I stared at that hand, the way it swallowed me whole. I should have pulled away, but instead, I let him take me to the balcony. It was small, private, and it overlooked the organ with an extremely good view.
Tiago was standing at the front, where I should be, and he smiled and bowed when he saw me and Arrook.
“We must give a big thanks to the Music Master for hosting the Jubilee, as well as Rook the Luthier for sponsoring the event.”
I waved at him and smiled down at the audience, impressed at how many people there were. They must have come in the side entrance while I was worried about greeting Balry properly. Who had directed them that way? I glanced at Rook. Driver had organized so many fine details like directions to each major event, including parking. There was very limited parking in Sing.
Once everyone had clapped for us, we sat down, like I’d done at so many events as the Commander’s precious Miracle.
I was too tense sitting next to Rook the Luthier, feeling all these awful things in my chest. “I guess we could keep it casual,” I said.
“Beg your pardon?”
I shifted in my seat, crossing my arms so I wouldn’t touch him. My fingers buzzed with wanting, like he was a gorgeous new harp I hadn’t touched yet. “I’m not a pureblood angel. There’s no real reason to follow old traditions in regards to old feuds between angels and ogres. We can have a professional relationship, from one propaganda poster to a stone worker luthier.”
He touched my shoulder, the barest touch that sent fire through me. Heavenly fire, because that touch was heavenly. “Or you could toy with the pretty ogre and his pretty tusks until you find a real match to settle down with permanently.”
I shook my head. He made it sound like Belry had put it, females going nuts over him because of how he looked. “I don’t have any plans for permanent…I thought I was betrothed when I was younger, to a very good man, but he knew what I was, and rightly informed me that we were not well suited. I can’t imagine any other lion would feel differently.”
He growled, low and delicious, sending shivers down my spine. “He’s a fool. Your blood burns with heavenly fire. You are more than a match to any who…” He frowned suddenly and glanced over the balcony, searching out the crowd below. I followed his gaze and found my brother and Gavriel surrounded by goblins.
Rook frowned at me. “Unless his blood was less than heavenly. Goblin blood would be a problem. You planned to marry the archangel?”
I shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal, but if Gavriel actually had goblin blood, that was life-altering. “He had the most interesting voice, and such a mysterious aura. He was always stern, but kind. Once he even hid me when my brother was looking for me. Rich used to tease me mercilessly.”
“Yes, your brother’s very annoying.”
I grinned at him. “He is, but it’s mostly for show.”
“It’s very convincing.”
I laughed and squeezed his hand. “I’m not going back to my father, at least not if I can help it. If you can’t help being betrothed to someone else, then what else is there?”
He smiled, but it didn’t touch his eyes. “You played my heartsong, and I accepted it.”
“So, I’m supposed to be your what, exactly? And then when the king passes on, how can I accept someone else possessing you?”
He frowned at me, then his troubled expression cleared as he focused on the organist who had entered to loud cheers and applause. “Perhaps you will tire of me by then.”
“Rook the Luthier and Luthiel Slandriil? Perhaps if you were only one of them, but both? Impossible. It’s not only that, but your voice, this one, and the other, I could never tire of either.”
His laugh was low, melodious. “That does sound problematic.”
“No, it’s fine. We’ll be musical associates. Good friends.”
“We are already mated, but I do not object to us being friends as well.”
I gasped and then pressed my lips together, because I didn’t want to distract from the performance. The first notes had begun, and the organ sang as sweetly as an organ could.
I glanced at Rook. “It sounds heavenly.”
He smiled. “Don’t tell Balry that. He prides himself on conveying the depths.”
“I love you.”
I turned to face the organ, trying to block out the man at my elbow, shocked that I’d said that out loud, and during a concert that was absolutely phenomenal, but not even Balry’s haunting cantata could distract me from the living, breathing work of art beside me.
Rook spoke slowly, thoughtfully. “It would be romantic to throw away hundreds of thousands of lives to love you. This is why romance is so difficult for me.”
I shot him a horrified look. “That’s not romance, that’s idiocy. Your first duty is to your people. Duty comes first. Always. It’s when love is married to duty that it becomes truly powerful. Love without constraints, without sacrifice, isn’t worth anything.” Had my mom felt like it was worth sacrificing her life to have me? Did she really know she was going to die, and choose to have me, anyway?
“You are not very romantic.”
“Angels aren’t. People romanticize us, but…” I shook my head, because I should be focusing on the music. Even if I was staring at the organist and talking out of the side of my mouth, people would notice.
“Love married to duty. Yes. I would prefer that. Pleasure and practicality instead of forbidden romance.”
I glanced at him, an ogre. Thinking of my father, I shook my head slightly. “You’ll always be a forbidden romance to me.”
“Not if we are married according to tradition.”
“My father would have to give me away.”
“He married your mother.”
“He didn’t know what she was.”
“He knows what you are. You are his Miracle.”
“Yes, which is why he wouldn’t give me away to an ogre. Particularly one who is betrothed to someone else.”
“It is a political arrangement.”
“Most angelic unions are, as well.”
“We are mated. It is a lifelong binding.”
“But it is not a marriage. I didn’t understand and choose to be bound to you. I played a song I had no idea you wrote so that you’d make me a harp. I was just your propaganda tool.”
“I love you.”
I grabbed his hand because I couldn’t hear that without agonizing pain going through my chest. I closed my eyes and tried to breathe evenly, holding his hand to my heart. What did love mean to an ogre? I had no idea, but to me, hearing those words from the one I loved, it was everything.