Chapter 22
Rose-colored chalices are a favorite of his courts.
Standing outside of Cedric’s office, eavesdropping finds me.
“You might be king but I also have a title,” Sawyer seethes, the door muffling most of his voice but my hearing grows stronger with every feed.
“Yes, and that title also includes Emissary to Krue.”
A chair cracks and I can hear wood pieces hit the stone walls. “As you wish, Your Majesty.”
“Enough. Krue is yours. I gave you this task because I trust your leadership, Sawyer. You’re to set up a stable economic situation so they can self-govern in peace. Did you forget the plan?”
“I haven’t forgotten the plan. I simply do not think my presence is necessary permanently.”
My brain recalls the position of Krue on the map. Right between Duresden’s narrow western strip and Lux. The land is contested, but Cedric is working on a plan to give them independence. This must be where Sawyer has sequestered off to in the past few weeks.
Cedric sighs. “You will return to Krue, your station, and continue our work. Further, you will not – under any circumstances – return back to Lux until I withdraw you.”
“So, no thanks for my saving Liv? I was on my way to Krue then, mind you.”
My throat catches and I strain my neck to avoid coughing and giving myself away. Cedric and I are set to depart to Gruyere tomorrow, but I wanted to speak with him about expectations before leaving. If I was caught…
I am to be queen. Is this truly that odd?
“As I have expressed before, I am indebted for your help that day in saving Elivienne.”
“You mean Liv,” Sawyer says back.
Cedric ignores him. “This has nothing to do with vengeance, which I do have plenty to use against you – it has everything to do with roles. This is yours. Do you decline?”
Silence.
Cedric continues. “Since Mother and Father passed, you have wreaked havoc in all areas of your life. Drinking all day, buying women and fine items. Our coffers are well-off, thankfully, but it will go on no longer. Let me also mention your betrayal. For years – years – you visited my mate in her dream state and convinced her of a life she has never lived.”
“So, you are jealous,” Sawyer cooly responds.
“Jealous? No, brother,” he laughs. “No, jealous does not touch the surface on what I feel. Betrayed? Disrespected? Disgraced? Probably. You will never speak to her again without my presence. Your duplicity will be the bane of your existence, Sawyer. Be sure to watch yourself. And show gratitude for my lenience.”
“Is that a threat?”
“Do you understand me?” He ignores Sawyer’s question.
“Is that a—”
“DO. YOU. UNDERSTAND. ME?” Cedric bellows enough to shake the door. I step away quickly, looking over my shoulder for guards. None, but I guess Cedric can handle himself.
After a few seconds, Sawyer replies. “You’ve done it. Really, I’m proud. The big, bad king you always wanted to be.” His hand lands on the doorknob and I skirt a few more steps down the hall into an alcove. “You have my word,” he calls over his shoulder and exits Cedric’s office.
I wait a few minutes and exit the alcove, bumping directly into Cedric.
“Oh!” I rock back from his hard physique. His hands steady me.
“Care to elaborate?” He pinches the tapestry between his fingers. “I really should tear all of these down. Too many places for my enemies to hide.”
“Enemies?” My eyes widen.
Cedric leans in. “Yes, blondes with a penchant for eavesdropping.”
“Hey.” I smack his arm. “Give me more credit. I could be a good spy. Besides, I only heard a fraction of your conversation. I apologize, though.” The lie flows freely.
He motions for me to follow him and offers his arm. We descend a set of stairs and turn onto the main hall that leads to our rooms at opposite ends. “Can I request a favor? If you’re not too busy with the cess.”
“I’m curious,” I defer.
We stop at my doors and he releases my hand. “Would you join me for dinner tonight?”
My eyebrow raises at the thought of dinner as a vampyr but I nod. “Delighted.”
“Seven. Sharp.” He points to his fangs and I shoo him away for his joke.
“At your request, Your Majesty.”
On time, the doors swing open and there he is, an image of male dominance. His dark hair curls around his eyes and temple. A little wild but still clean-cut.
The red gown Jett and Isadora squealed at fits my curves like I was born in it.
The soft material carries down my arms, leaving my shoulders and collarbone exposed.
Jett found a delicate diamond necklace that rests perfectly in the space beneath my throat.
We curled my hair again but looser and painted my lips a deep red. A bold move for a bold invitation.
“Cedric,” I greet. He pushes from the wall and bows before me.
“Liv, you look radiant.”
I glance down at myself again, brushing my hands down the soft folds. “Thank you. My ladies surprised me with a new gown tonight. I’m now understanding why she insisted I wear it.”
“Pardon my abrupt invitation. You’re a hard woman to track down. I hope you enjoy yourself.”
I descend the three small steps from my room. “Me as well. Avonde keeps me busy.”
“Tell me about it?” he asks as he offers his arm. We begin to walk the halls heading to the Chalice Room.
I begin to go over my mornings with the cess in their courtyard. My hands fly around as I animate the different things I have tried recently. I gesture and try to explain the different poses or the purposes behind some of our sequences. His smile and his attention does not waver.
“It makes me happy to see you here, in the castle, doing things that make you happy.” He beams, directing me down the stairs towards the Chalice Room.
“It has not been easy. Some mornings I awake unsure of myself. It is almost as if I can feel or envision the block on my mind. It’s like a wall and really, it is difficult.
It’s difficult to know that on the other side of that wall is me, wholly…
” My voice trails off at the end and I catch my breath.
Reading my body, he slows his steps and faces me. His hands find my face again and I do not flinch.
“Hello,” he whispers.
“Hi.”
“You are here, wholly. I knew you before the accident and I know you now. While there may be some pieces missing, you must know that I see you as complete.”
“I just…” I catch myself.
“Go on.”
I turn to keep walking, brushing my hands nervously. “How are you okay with any of this? Coping must not be easy.”
“No, it is not. But what is the alternative? Liv, I will never claim you, you’re not property, but you have been mine for a long time. I can wait longer.”
We approach the large wooden doors. No guards are stationed tonight, he made sure of that.
“What if… What if…”
Cedric steps in front of me again and places his warm hands on my shoulders this time, as if he can will me to see his truth.
“No more what ifs. We take it day by day. You take it day by day. I am not important in this. Your health, soul and overall wellbeing is astronomically more pertinent. Promise me you will focus on your healing and not obligation?”
“Promise.”
“Good.” He steps back and opens the doors.
Instead of a packed room filled with nobles and courtiers, he’s arranged a private dinner between the two of us tonight. Melting candles light a pathway to our single table in the center.
“Shall we?”
“You arranged all of this?” He leads me to the small table and pulls my chair.
“Why of course. Do you think I love having hundreds of drunk vampyr in here every night?”
I can’t help my laugh, but then that thought is interrupted by someone else in my head. Chills run down my spine.
“Did you say something?” I unfold my napkin.
“Yes.” He points to his head laughing. “I was thinking to say you’re a better sight. Truly, it’s both nice and concerning to have you in my head once more.”
I lean in. “It’s driving me nuts. Did we speak through the bond often before?” A servant enters from a side door and places two goblets in front of us and a few small plates of different foods.
“It depended. It was nice to have a moment to ourselves in public or during court duties. Times of contention when secrecy was needed. Sometimes it was just fun to switch over.”
“But can’t all cess, like Avonde, read minds? That ruins the secrecy aspect.”
He winks. “You’re picking up on it nicely. Yes, we have to know our enemies better than ourselves.”
“I imagine. Okay, so blood…” I point at the golden chalice. He nods. “And wine?” I point to the silver and he nods once more.
He uncovers a few of the steaming plates, revealing a rainbow of color. “I took the liberty of having the chef prepare different meals in a smaller style from around the continent. These are some of your favorites.”
My eyes skim over the different plates and I feel nervous for some reason. The past few times we spent time together, it ended horribly. A lot rests on the success of tonight. Our agreement simultaneously grants me ample and limited time.
“I’m a little saddened,” I sigh as I pick up some meat and rice rolled in grape leaves.
“They hail from Duresden…” He points. “But why is that? Why are you saddened?”
“Because you can’t try any of this!” I take another bite of a red rice dish on my right and practically moan in satisfaction. He watches me shovel food in my mouth, taking sips of blood and wine in between.
“Who said I can’t?” he grins, folding his arms.
“Vampyr can only have blood, no?”
“No, but eating human food is not a replacement. Blood is more like a medicine. An essence. Food is a filler.”
“I take it you don’t indulge much then?”
An eyebrow quirks. “Pardon?”
I sip wine again before pointing at his stomach. “I can’t imagine you maintain a physique like that with human food.”
I pause before my next bite, cringing at what I just said. I just admitted to noticing his physique.
With dramatics, he leans forward and scoops a large serving of a mashed potato mixture with lemon and dill, pausing before shoveling it into his mouth. To match my level of satisfaction, he rolls his eyes and groans. “Delicious.”
We both break down in laughter. For a moment, I forget that I have forgotten him. That I was gone. That I was attacked.
Everything.
We continue eating and talking about everything. Apparently, he did not know my ladies have a crush on Garreth. He shares a story about Steele as a foal. I tell him about the magic I conjured this morning.
The look of elation on his face makes me blush.
“I knew you could do it.”
“It wasn’t much and I don’t truly understand how it happened, but it did and I plan to do it again.” I smile.
“It’s remarkable, and I’d quite like to see that,” he replies. A servant brings a fresh bottle of wine out, which I silently thank him for.
“Well, maybe once I master it.” I wink. “I wouldn’t want to blow dirt in your face accidentally.” He laughs and finishes his drink and I do the same.
Cedric glances down at his watch right as a quartet enters through the opposite side doors. They silently file in, bowing before taking their seats and arranging their music in front of them.
“Music? We get to have music?” My heart leaps. I have been yearning to hear them play again.
“If that is what my lady wishes.” He pours a fresh glass.
A little drunk on wine, I clap and turn to face their set up. His eyes are upon me and I try to quell the rising heartbeat within me. To be here with him free of pressure and formality. The night is perfect. I hope he feels the same.
The music carries on with a gentle melody. Everyone in the room seems to lose themselves to it.
“The court musicians are incredibly talented humans employed from across Lux and it could be said their humanism evokes a stronger connection to the notes,” he explains before standing.
He offers his hand to me to dance. We’ve been here before, in this room, an act of trust then. But now, this is more than trust.
I take the leap.
“Just us?” I whisper, resting my other hand on his firm shoulder. It’s miraculous how well our bodies fit together. His hand caresses down the side of my body.
Slowly, we sway together, keeping a comfortable distance between our lower halves. The musicians notice our movement and change the tune to a melody rhapsody. The song sounds like a story being unfolded before us. We step slowly as he leads, completely overtaken by the moment.
Our eyes lock and we take some turns about the room.
“Trust me,” he says before releasing my left hand and spinning me around a few times.
I laugh as I come barrelling back in, colliding with his chest. We stay like this, slowing down with the song and swaying loosely.
My wine-filled head gently rests on his chest and I make a mental check to calm my breathing down.
And my thoughts. He might be able to hear them. I can surely hear the speed of his heart and breathing.
I am not the only one who’s seemingly lost control of their composure.
“Liv.”
“Hi,” I manage, barely making a noise. We hold in this stance and I realize we’ve stopped moving. Cedric brings our clasped hands into his chest and rests his chin on my head.
“Cedric?”
“Hmm?”
“You’ve stepped on my toes.”
“Oh.” He lifts his foot and smiles down at me. “My apologies, my lady.”
“Hmm.” I rest again back on his chest and sway. The song has changed to a very solemn sequence at a higher pitch. The hairs on my arm raise because it feels like love and heartbreak at once.
“Thank you,” I barely whisper. He should know how important this is to me. Tears flow softly down my face, taking remnants of the kohl with it.
“Is everything okay?”
“Perfect, really. Everything is just perfect,” I exhale into a soft grin. Is it wrong to feel that we have grown closer? He’s proving to not be the monster, the enemy, I once thought.
And it would be remiss to ignore that in this moment, he could act on many things. But for now, in better judgement, he leans forward to plant a soft kiss on my forehead. He holds me there, delicately, for a minute before releasing and spinning me out once more.
It is perfect.