Thirty-Three
[A/N]: In the Air Tonight - Natalie Taylor - LISTEN TO THIS SONG. I've been waiting since Book 1 - Chapter 34 to use this song. And it was sooo worth it for this chapter.
Dedicated to @theakpal for the gift card that purchased the coffee that cranked out this chapter, haha
Julian kept a tight hold on me as the crowd made room for the two of us on the dance floor. Not that we were the center of attention. The others seemed more than happy to stay away from us for some reason.
But even if we were, I didn't care. The sudden relief I felt as he touched me was unmistakable. I could feel the light magic from his hand travel through me.
I held Julian's gaze as he led us away from where Damien was.
He stopped next to another couple and took my left hand, placing it on his shoulder. He took my free right hand while he placed his own right hand at my side not quite touching my exposed back.
I watched him all the while, my eyes lingering on how his calloused hands gently touched my hands.
The large silver buttons of his jacket were all buttoned up to his neck making him look more formal than I'd ever seen him.
While the patterns and thread of the jacket weren't as fine or as intricate as Damien's - it was beautiful all the same.
The faerie fabric seemed to catch every light from the sconces in the room.
He'd shaven too. The beard that I'd gotten so used to seeing him with was gone.
As a song slowly began, I froze. The instruments in the corner of the room were vastly different from anything I'd ever seen.
There were more strings than brass and as they started up, the music was ethereal - nothing like in the human world.
It was light almost as if wanting to lift me. Faerie music.
None of the pounding bass that I'd heard during the Saddaim celebration Naida and I went to.
Julian felt me stiffened and seemed to step back to take me in. "What's wrong?"
"I just realized I don't know how to dance this."
Julian laughed out loud. "Don't worry, my Lady. I will guide you. Follow my lead."
He began to move, small movements that seemed to match the rhythm of the music.
His eyes scanned the room around us as I watched him. He was on edge, watching everything around us.
I was about to speak when he stopped me. "No, not yet."
I cleared my throat, making him look at me.
"Damien mentioned you were a lord, Julian. What are you a lord of?"
A small smile twitched at the corners of his mouth. I could have sworn I heard him hold back a snort of laughter. "I am the Lord of Skryen. One of the largest regions in the Underworld, the main city where I live is at the base of a mountain range."
I tried not to smile. "I've never been to the mountains, do you know if it will be part of the Royal Tour?"
"Not that I'm aware of but if you ever visit," he continued, "I would show you the forests of the mountains. Their beauty is unparalleled especially at night."
Without meaning to, we had somehow closed a small amount of space between us. His hand was on my lower back and I felt like my skin was on fire.
I smiled as I looked up at him. He wasn't as tall as Damien, I didn't have to crane so much to look up at him. "What else?"
Julian didn't tear his gaze from me. In fact, it looked like he was losing his grip again. "Get any closer, Emylin, and I will be spending the rest of my life in the dungeon for what I am about to do. And I won't be sorry for it either."
I shook my head, stepping back. "Sorry. I didn't know I was doing it."
His eyes skirted back to where Damien stood then quickly back to me. "The glamour won't be up for long, no one can hear our conversation but they can see us." He smirked. "So keep your hands to yourself, Emylin."
I snorted. "Speak for yourself, Grabby."
His hand quickly moved back to my side.
I dared a glance back to where Damien had been and frowned. A woman with a long white dress was speaking to him with two guards flanked on either side. "Who is that?"
"The Winter Queen," Julian answered plainly. "She owed me a favor, I called it in. She's the reason we have a powerful glamour on us to hide what we're talking about."
Of course a queen. How could I have missed the frost crown on her sapphire head?
I turned back to Julian. He had been smiling but quickly, it faded. "All I did was leave for an errand. As soon as I came back I found Kymra and Naida in tears in the parlor. What the hell happened?"
I bit my lip, unable to meet his gaze. "We thought you were in trouble. You left a letter saying that you were going against Robyn -"
He scoffed and when I looked at him again, he was rolling his eyes.
"Asmodeus wrote it. He somehow made it look like my writing.
When I get my hands on that little shit he's going to wish he was never a part of this.
" I felt a growl reverberate through him under my hand on his shoulder.
"Kymra told me the bargain you made with him.
" I could feel his anger. "What was the first thing I told you?
The very first thing - never make a bargain with a faerie. "
I felt my own anger rise. "He threatened you. And Kymra and Naida -" I shook my head. "What was I supposed to do?"
It was his turn to shake his head. "You are his now. However this goes down, he owns you. He will be king."
I met his gaze, unflinching. "I don't believe that."
I could feel the frustration, the anger was making his shoulders shake. "Gods damn it, Emylin," his voice was harsher than ever. "You are so stubborn, what evidence have you found that he is alive? Other than your dreams - what evidence do you have?"
I felt tears sting my eyes. "Faith. I have faith he is alive."
Julian growled again looking away from my eyes. I felt him pull me slightly closer. "I can't believe we're in this mess. What did he say to you to make you believe I would actually do something to jeopardize what we've worked on?"
I swallowed. I couldn't tell him everything Asmodeus said. "He said you were trying to spare me from doing it myself. And that you would fail in doing it."
Julian's shoulders tensed.
I watched him. "Is it true?"
He groaned but picked up the rhythm of the song again. "I mentioned to Asmo I was looking into other options." He sighed. "I felt guilty for lying to you, I'm in love with you - so, yes I wanted to find a way to keep you safe."
I froze as he looked at me.
He shrugged. "No use hiding it anymore. I knew I was in love with you that morning in Tartus."
I couldn't move. He said it so nonchalantly, unashamed - like it was something I should have known all along.
Maybe I had and just didn't want to face it.
"I didn't realize I was falling for you the entire time we were living together.
But it hit me like lightning as soon as I saw you enter the room in your training clothes.
" He laughed as if he were reliving the memory.
"Overdressed, overprepared with more protective gear on than I'd ever seen you in.
" He chuckled. "I never thought I'd fall for someone like I did with you. "
A beat later, he cursed. "Aira says she can feel Robyn prying around her glamour.
She has to drop it or he will become suspicious.
" He looked at me, his grey eyes intense.
He smiled. "Here is my last lesson to you, Emylin.
When all else fails, trust in your power.
He believes he has you tamed, that he can control you.
He can't. Not even close. Remember what I told you - your power is yours and yours alone. "
It was his goodbye. He was leaving and there was nothing I could do about it.
Nothing.
What if we never saw each other again? What if these were our last words to each other?
I tried not to dwell on it. I couldn't make a scene in front of everyone. Not in front of Robyn.
As far as anyone knew we were complete strangers to each other.
I nodded absently. "Yes, all right."
His tone suddenly changed. It was as if he flipped a switch.
He was jovial again like he was genuinely enjoying the party.
I knew at once what he was doing, the Winter Queen had dropped the glamour.
"Skryen was once known as the gate of the Rathnure Mountains.
You can probably see that mountain range even from the Keep. "
I tried to feign interest but I was still reeling from what he'd just told me. "Fascinating."
I felt someone approach me from behind. I turned to find Damien.
"Alteazor," Julian addressed him with a small inclination of his head. "I believe I've bored the Lady to tears."
I shook my head. "Not at all. Skryen sounds wonderful." My voice sounded stiff, wooden. Even I didn't believe myself.
Damien only cleared his throat. "Mind if I cut in?"
Julian stepped back from me, letting me go. He took my right hand and pressed my knuckles to his lips as he watched me. "It was an absolute pleasure to dance with the last of the Light Fae."
I could feel my heart constrict.
Julian was leaving.
Actually leaving.
He gently let my hand go and I watched him turn around and leave just as Fake Damien took my hand and resumed the dance with me.
He leaned close, blocking my view as Julian walked away. "You looked like you needed help."
I choked a laugh. "He was right. He almost did bore me to tears." It was easier than I thought to lie to him.
Unlike Julian, Robyn pulled me close not at all hesitant about the boundaries he could be crossing.
And it made my skin absolutely crawl.
I felt his breath on my ear. "Em, what's wrong? You're shaking."
How could I tell him that the reason I was shaking was because of him? That I was shaking because Julian had left me with his very last lesson and I may never see him again?
"I'm sorry," I breathed. I grasped at excuses, something that he could maybe buy.
"He shouldn't have come - I'm going to kill him -"
I grasped his arm as he began to turn to him. "No!"
Robyn looked at my sudden outburst with curious eyes.
I shook my head vehemently. "No, please don't."
He touched my cheek. "What did he say to you to upset you this much?"
I shook my head in a panic. "He didn't say anything, nothing, Damien."
His eyebrows slowly raised in recognition. "It was seeing him again, wasn't it?" He shook his head. "He was there when my Uncle had you - seeing him again, it brought it back, didn't it?"
I let out a long shaky breath and placed my forehead against his chest. It felt as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. "Yes. Yes, that's it. I - I thought I put it behind me. I- I guess I didn't."
He ran a hand through my hair. He kissed my temple. "I'm sorry, dear."
I wanted to puke.
"I need a minute," I finally breathed, still looking at my shoes. "I - I just need a minute alone. Can I just be alone for a little bit? The crowd- it's just too much right now."
I could sense some hesitation and finally, he spoke. "Of course, Em. I'll have someone escort you out."
I nodded against him and in no time, Asmodeus was at my side, grabbing my elbow as he led me away.
Once we were out in the hall, I forcefully took my arm back and wiped my cheek. "Gods," I mumbled. "How did you get the task of Royal babysitter?"
His coal like eyes looked at me with suspicion. "That is none of your business." He paused. "What did he say to you?"
I shook my head as I turned from him and walked down the hallway. "That is none of your business."
He spectered in front of me and placed his hands on my arms harshly. "What did he say?"
I almost screamed at him. "He said goodbye! Is that what you want to hear? He's gone. He's leaving."
I watched a small smirk start to creep.
"Let me go."
He did and I almost stumbled as I struggled free. Once I was free, I spun on my heel and continued down the hall.
"I'm not letting you out of my sight."
I rolled my eyes. "Gods, do I need your permission to pee, too?"
He took a moment and after a breath said, "I'll give you a couple of minutes to yourself in your room. Follow me."
We went through the home and dizzying hallways. Once we made it to the second floor, I recognized where he was leading me.
He opened the door to the room I had changed in earlier. "I will be right outside. I expect you to come down soon and rejoin the party. He can't know anything is wrong."
Of course he was right. As soon as I was in, he closed the door firmly shut behind me.
I looked at the balcony doors on the other side of the room.
I needed air.
I went to the doors and pulled them open, letting the night breeze into the room.
I breathed it in letting it unwind me and settle my nerves. I approached the railing of the balcony and looked over the lights of the city below. The home we were in was perched on a hill with a perfect night view of the city.
I was so distracted I didn't even feel someone behind me.
I didn't even realize it until I felt a thick arm around my waist and a large calloused hand over my mouth.
I was super nervous about posting this one guys. I think you know why. But fret not, there is still much more to come! Less soap opera (haha) more action coming soon!