Chapter 29 #2
Carefully, I weed through the crowd though they provide a wide berth as I meander through.
No crown is upon my brow but they treat me as if so.
Perhaps being the bonded of the strongest king of the continent has its perks.
Servants keep an eye on me and provide refills without a request. Along the perimeter of the room are portraits of Cedric’s line.
I pause in front of who I believe is his father.
His Majesty, Julian Nexul, King of Lux
The male’s hair is as dark and long as Cedric’s, though more kempt.
He wears a similar doublet as Cedric and a detailed coat.
Black as night with red threaded embroidery, charcoal fur along the lining.
All vampyr look young but this portrait must have been redone later in his life because he looks middle-aged.
The expression upon his face tells a story, though, one of hardness.
Something inside me reads it, feels it. Perhaps a lingering memory.
“A tough man to please,” a voice from behind startles me. I jump and press my hand to my chest. Turning to face him, I do not hide my displeasure.
“You.”
“A thank you would suffice, Lady Elivienne,” Sawyer replies, taking a sip of his wine. “It’s probably best you do not remember my father, in truth. A nasty brute.”
“My condolences,” I say, remembering the gruesome death both our parents faced. Sawyer is not my favorite but he is not evil. Broken, yes, but not evil.
He finishes his silver chalice and places it on the tray of a passing servant. “Come,” he offers me his hand, looking away at the crowd.
“You’re mistaken – I’m not going anywhere with you,” I reply, taking a step backwards. He turns to look at me and laughs, re-offering his hand. “A dance, Liv. Please do me this one honor.” Our eyes lock and for some reason, I accept his offer.
The musicians begin a waltz as we slowly gravitate to the center of the room.
“Isn’t this improper?” I whisper as my hand finds his shoulder.
My other rests softly, nearly avoiding touch, in his.
Sawyer leads us slowly in a circle, our feet seldom bumping into one another.
The formed circle looks at us with intensity, which is something I notice on account of avoiding Sawyer’s stare.
“Improper?” He spins me around before recapturing my waist. “No, but maybe a little scandalous.”
I groan my disapproval, praying for the end of the song. We take a few more turns as more couples join the floor in an organized rhythm. Above us is a skylight showing the beauty of the moon bright above.
“Liv?”
“Sawyer.” I respond, finally looking into his eyes.
“Are you happy?”
“Of course, why would I not be?” Sawyer spins me again.
“Is your mind better? Is there progress?”
“I— That’s a loaded question,” I murmur, wary of vampyr ears. “You shouldn’t call me Liv here.”
Sawyer shakes his head, slightly disappointed or annoyed, I cannot tell. He always has been hard to read. The smell of wine on his breath makes me realize his dishevelled look. His shirt is slightly untucked, his cropped hair is messy and he’s sweating despite the cold temperatures.
“Sawyer,” I whisper as he scans around over his shoulder. “Sawyer,” I repeat, squeezing his hand. He looks back to me, unwary.
“Are you okay?”
“Quite.”
We continue stepping in flow with one another, looking in opposite directions as the harmony builds.
I face him as we turn past the courtier I just met. He continues to fish, to prod. “Listen, I know there is little reason to trust me but—”
I step back to pull away but he holds me tighter as the song begins to die down. “Please,” his stare hardens. “They haven’t broken the curse and—”
“How did you know it was a curse?” I feel my face heat.
“I’m a member of the privy council but beside the point, your mind is not better, I can tell. It’s obvious. How much longer are you going to keep up this ruse? Until Avonde and her cronies decide to be more invasive? That could take weeks, months, years.”
I furrow my brow. “No, Cedric and I have an arrangement. If we cannot remedy the ailment then I can leave at any time. We agreed to it.”
“You’re not safe here,” he snaps.
I crane my neck and laugh shortly. “Safer here than I was with you.”
“And Cedric is prepared for an assault from Duresden? I’m the Emissary of Krue. I only traveled here today to bring back a legion into the main villages.” His voice is strained and urgent. No, insistent.
Sawyer leans closer to my ear as the song slows.
“It’s been how many months now – nine? Come on, Liv, do you really think he will let you go that easily if things don’t progress?
My brother is good-natured, but he is the strongest vampyr on the entire continent.
Powerful. Possessive. Do you even grasp what a vampyr bond is?
You belong to him. He will push and push and push until something happens.
You want to accept that? Fine. Just don’t lose yourself in the process. ”
“You speak as if you know the details of my life,” I utter. “You don’t.”
“I have had the privilege to know Liv and Elivienne and they both have been larger than life. The last thing I want is to lose either of you to the madness of magic the cess can conjure to bring both personalities into one.”
I raise my eyebrows and feel sweat run down my chest. “They would never do that. They value me: Liv. Cedric honors that.”
His throat bobs on the last word and he pulls back slightly before leaning in once more.
The song has ended and some of those around us have noticed our interaction.
I try to school my face neutral but I’m shaking.
“If you need an out, a passage, I will provide that to you. If you can trust one last thing from me, let it be that I would never force you to change. You would never have to compromise Liv in pursuit of a lost past.”
Softly, and perhaps unnoticeable to the rest of the crowd, Sawyer presses his lips to my head before walking back into the revelry.