Chapter 48
“Lady Ciana Visseau, Your Majesty.”
Ciana gave the guard a warm smile, shifting from foot to foot. He ignored her, of course, keeping his attention dutifully trained on the ornate dining room door.
“Show her in!” The king’s muffled voice echoed through the door. Ciana tried to keep the butterflies in her stomach from jumping into her throat.
She really hoped the king had wine. She needed a glass desperately.
The guard pushed open the door. With a deep breath, Ciana straightened her spine and brushed inside.
As she’d expected, the dining room attached to the king’s private quarters was resplendent yet also warm and comfortable.
Decadent smells drifted into the space through a door that she assumed led to the kitchens, and a table shaped from a single tree trunk stretched through the room.
Two place settings were arranged across from one another, set with crystal glasses and perfectly polished silver.
Niktael leaned against a cart ladened with beverages and liquors. He’d forgone the crown tonight, his rich brown hair slightly more relaxed and rumpled, the top button of his cream shirt undone and the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
He also wasn’t alone.
Beside him stood a man with a serious expression on his stern face, red-brown braids falling around broad shoulders, moss-green eyes shadowed beneath a pinched brow. Ciana recognized him immediately; she’d seen him once already, on that day when they first arrived in Vatha.
This was Ydros, God of Earth and Knowledge.
Why was he here? Was he joining them? That would certainly add a strange twist to the evening.
Niktael faced her, an easy smile spreading across his handsome face. To Ciana’s relief, Ydros turned and made for the kitchen doors. He said nothing, but he did cast Ciana a strange glance, so fast she almost missed it.
She fought the urge to shake her head. Gods. So fucking strange, every last one of them.
“Lady Visseau!”
Ciana’s attention snapped back to the king. “Your Majesty.” She gathered the tulle of her skirts, dropping into a low curtsy.
Niktael chuckled. He set his glass down on the cart and strode toward her, earthen eyes dancing. “How many times do I have to tell you,” he said. “It’s Nik.”
“And how many times do I need to tell you that it’s Ciana?” she teased, genuine warmth blooming in her chest.
It was becoming far too easy to banter with Nik. She wasn’t sure how to feel about that.
She certainly wasn’t going to think about that right now.
“One more time might suffice.” Nik’s expression softened, his gaze sweeping down her form. “If I may, you look beautiful.”
Heat spread across her cheeks. “Your staff recommended the best dressmakers in the city. I have them to thank.”
Nik shook his head, a hint of thoughtfulness twisting his full lips. “I don’t think it’s the dress, Ciana. I think it’s just you.”
“I, well…” She cast up a shy smile. “Thank you. Nik.”
The king smiled at the emphasized way she said his name. “Can I get you a drink? I have ale, whiskey, wine—”
“Do you have gin?” she blurted, then winced. How very lady-like.
The king again only chuckled. “Surprisingly, no,” he said. “My mother had an allergy to juniper, so it was never something we kept in the palace.” He paused. “I suppose those habits are hard to shake.”
“Oh,” Ciana said, blinking. She softened her touch on his arm. “I’m so sorry.”
Nik shrugged. “She’s been gone for many years now. We miss her, but we don’t dwell.” The warmth returned to his face. “Can I get you anything besides gin?”
Ciana smiled. “Wine would be wonderful.”
A silent server set an artfully arranged plate of fruits, raw vegetables, and freshly baked bread in front of Ciana, the colors of the bounty rich and vibrant. A second server placed a small bowl of creamy pink soup, and she met the king’s stare with a raised brow.
“Strawberry bisque,” he answered with a grin. “A Vathan summer specialty.”
Fruit soup? Ciana shrugged; she was willing to try any food once. She stirred the chilled bisque, taking a tentative bite.
Tart, fresh sweetness burst across her tongue, softened by a subtle hint of cream. It was rich and decadent, but also sweet and simple. A low groan slipped from her chest.
“Oh, goddess,” she said. “That’s delicious.”
Nik laughed. “I’m glad you like it.”
They were silent for a moment, the tinkling of their silver against the porcelain its own sort of conversation. When Ciana’s bowl was nearly empty, and she had to fight back the urge to lick it clean, Nik lifted his gaze back to hers, drumming his fingers on the tree trunk table.
“Do you mind sating my curiosity, Ciana?”
She cocked her head, dabbing a napkin on her mouth. “What do you mean?”
The king relaxed in his chair. “It’s just been so long since our nations have had a chance to sit down and learn from each other. We know how things used to be in Onita, but…not how they are now.”
Ciana folded her hands in her lap, mirroring his relaxed posture. The appetizer had settled the nerves in her stomach, her mood soaring as she savored the lingering flavors of the soup. “Of course. That makes sense. What do you want to know?”
Niktael’s face lit up. Servers appeared, clearing the plates from the table. He leaned forward on his forearms. “You said ‘goddess’ a few moments ago. What is your people’s relationship with Qhohena? And what of the magic in your kingdom?”
That easy calmness still wrapped around Ciana.
“Well,” she started, “most see and worship Qhohena as a benevolent mother. A goddess of life and fertility. The priestesses maintain her temples and lead a weekly service. Although,” she said with a giggle, “I was never very good about attending. Those rituals weren’t my thing. ”
“They’re not mine, either.” Nik grinned. “What of the other Onitan gods?”
Ciana nodded. “Yes. There’s also Priam, Qhohena’s Consort. I’ve met him, actually, and unfortunately he’s a total dick.”
Nik lifted a brow. “Is that so?”
“Oh, yes. He caused all sorts of trouble for us back in Kreah.”
“Interesting.” Nik tapped a finger. “And Qhohena’s sister? The silver moon goddess?”
“Zadione.” Ciana pursed her lips. “I don’t know much about her.
Mariah has spoken to her—and to Qhohena—but she hasn’t said much beyond that.
I know she’s the goddess of death. That’s a little terrifying to me.
But Mariah trusts her—about as much as she trusts any of the gods—so that must count for something, I suppose. ”
“Are Qhohena and Zadione not here on the continent as the other gods are?”
“No.” Ciana wanted to explain more. The full explanation sat on the tip of her tongue, the full truth behind why her queen was so much more than just a queen, but some instinct stopped her.
A low warning tug deep in the pit of her stomach, right next to that place inside her that she refused to touch.
If Niktael saw her hesitation, he didn’t comment on it. He took another sip of his whiskey, the picture of handsome, casual grace. “And Onita’s magic?” he pressed. “I know of the marvelous ingenuity of your allume. Do your people also have gifts?”
“Some do,” she said. “It is all either fire or wind magic.” She sipped her wine and twirled the small ring on her pinky, savoring the way the tart liquor soothed the thoughts that threatened to wander into places she didn’t want to go.
“We used to believe that both gifts came from Qhohena. But recently, we learned that it’s only the gift of flame that comes from the golden goddess; the wind magic is owed to Priam. ”
“Fascinating. A people with two kinds of magic.” There was true awe in Nik’s expression. “What about Zadione? Do any gifts come from her?”
Ciana shook her head. “She was trapped in Enfara for thousands of years. Even if she wanted to, this world was unreachable to her.” She paused. “But Mariah told me that if she had, it would’ve been the gift of healing.”
Nik ran a finger across the rim of his glass. “What about you, Ciana?” he murmured softly. “Do you have any gifts from the gods?”
“No. Of course not. I wouldn’t be here if I did.” The words burned as they left her tongue, but she forced a smile and a weak chuckle.
Nik looked like he was about to ask something further, but the doors to the kitchen swung open. Servers reentered the room, bearing their main course. Ciana hid her heavy sigh of relief in her wine glass, taking another deep drink.
A man in a stained white coat emerged from the kitchens, halting at the head of their table. “Your Majesty. Lady Visseau.” He bowed to them both in turn. “For your dinner.”
Servers set the plates on the table.
Ciana’s mouth watered.
“I have prepared braised brocket loin, paired with roasted summer squash and onions and served with a white wine, caper, mushroom, and lemon sauce.” He bowed again.
A server refilled Ciana’s wine as another replaced Niktael’s drink with a fresh glass.
“Please, do enjoy.” The servers silently left the dining room, returning to the kitchen on the other side of the wall.
Ciana already had her utensils in hand, about to slice into the steaming food. She paused, lifting her gaze, finding Niktael already watching her. “Brocket?”
He made a face that was somewhere between a chuckle and a grimace. “A small breed of deer. They’re difficult to hunt, and we consider them a delicacy.”
A deer. Okay. “Are they cute?”
“Painfully so, I’m afraid.”
Ciana glanced back down to her plate, hesitating.
She shrugged, slicing into the tender steak. It was perfectly cooked, the center red and soft.
Lots of animals were cute. It had never stopped her before. And this? This smelled incredible.
With her first bite, Ciana decided brocket was her new favorite meal.
They again fell into silence as they ate, Ciana unable to stop her small murmurs and moans as she worked through the plate. Mikael’s cooking back in Verith was incredible, there was no mistaking that. But this? This was life changing.