Chapter 23
The night before we departed for Galanta—Holy Triad, I still couldn’t believe I was going to travel there—the males and I had decided on meeting in the sitting room of Dion’s and my suite and hang out.
To have an enjoyable night preceding crossing over to Alaiann, where we would have to be too cautious to relax at any given point.
Couldn’t say I was looking forward to the whole ordeal.
Of course, even Dion’s murderous expression couldn’t stop me from inviting Rewi and Bryon to our farewell celebration.
The royal kitchen staff had just left after building a giant spread of delicacies on a huge table—everything from enticingly smelling bowls filled with all kinds of foods to cut fruit and desserts.
My mouth watered from simply staring at the feast.
Hmm, would I get away with tasting what looked suspiciously like chocolate treats before anyone discovered me?
After glancing all around me, I slowly extended my hand to the candy but jumped back when a knock pierced the silence and was followed by someone opening the door.
“Hey, am I too early?”
“No, Ireas, come in. Oh, what did you bring?”
“I made a detour to the royal wine cellar and borrowed a few bottles of alcohol.”
“Borrowed?”
“I’m sure it’s alright. I mean, the staff prepared a feast after they caught wind of us planning a celebration.”
“Oh well. We can always offer to compensate. Pay to the royal coffers.”
“I don’t think that’ll be necessary.”
Grinning, I took the beverages from him and ensured they were safely stored in the cooling container. Tonight was going to be fun.
In the end, not only Ireas but also Thain, Fig, and Antas had brought some bottles of different intoxicating refreshments, and when he finally emerged from the bedroom, even Dion carried a flask of schnapps in his hand. I stared at him, open-mouthed.
“Planning on carousing tonight?”
“If that’s the only way I can forget where we’ll be heading tomorrow, then yes. We’re safe here, so I won’t need my magic.”
“What? You’re letting loose?”
“Why no—” Dion’s answer switched into a growl as the door opened and Bryon entered the suite, followed by Rewi.
I narrowed my eyes at the prince, then made a show of getting up and walking in slow motion toward my old friends, full of the intention to hug them both.
But what had I thought?
One step before I reached the two of them, black tendrils curled around my waist and hauled me back, right into their master’s arms. “Princeling.”
The bastard chuckled as I glowered at him.
Rewi watched the casual demonstration of magic with fascination and amusement, and Bryon stared at the dark prince as if he wanted to curse him.
“That’s not funny, you possessive bastard.”
His breath, ghosting over the shell of my ear, was accompanied by a purring whisper, leaving goosebumps all over my skin. “It’s not meant to be humorous. But if you value your friend so little, and you won’t mind him being cut to pieces, by all means, go and let him touch you.”
Anger flared up in my chest, but to my shame, all was forgotten as Dion used the moment and nipped at my earlobe—not once, but twice.
This simple, playful teasing had my body come alive, and memories of a few days prior invaded my mind, flushing my cheeks with red and my eyes with embarrassment.
And, of course, to wriggle out of his hold was impossible.
“Is the rumor true that fae have the tendency to hide humans in towers when they find a fancy in one? I once heard such a tale as a young girl.”
My head shot to Rewi, who’d asked this question, then spun to Dion, glaring at him in warning.
“Yes, that had sometimes happened in the past. You humans are so damn squishy and need to be protected so much more than fae. Although towers are a bit old-fashioned, but come to think about the issue, quite effective.”
The fucker had found a liking to that idea—the approval of this method was written all over his face. Especially since he’d told me—multiple times—he wished to chain me up somewhere far away, so I would be safe. “Don’t you dare. We had this argument more than once.”
“Easy, Nayana. I’m painfully aware that not even the sturdiest wall and the most complicated lock could keep you contained. Also, the notion of you making my life constantly miserable isn’t particularly entertaining. So, you’ll stay precisely where you are.”
“In the Royal Castle in Ivreiana?” Rewi asked.
“No, in my arms.”
“You’re smothering her.” Bryon stepped closer and glowered at the fae prince attached to my back.
A cold shudder ran down my spine and alerted me that Dion had turned completely still and unyielding.
Even without seeking visual confirmation, I could easily picture the murderous expression his face had morphed into.
“Boy. We’re here to have a celebration before the majority of us will march right into a place out of your worst nightmares.
So, if you want to join this party, you’d better play by my rules, which means—in small terms even you can understand—be good, sit down, and be peaceful.
I’m trying, for Nayana’s sake, to accept that some people I despise have to be present. Do the same or leave.”
His tone was icy, but his words surprised me. Yes, his belittling speech was an order instead of a polite request, but his overall behavior was a more diplomatic concession than I’d thought him capable of.
I shot Bryon a pleading look, and he finally nodded, sitting down on a chaise with a sour face. Rewi lounged down next to him, her features dominated by the gleeful amusement she always displayed when Bryon and Dion acted like savages around each other.
Internally, I groaned. My intention was to enjoy this evening, but if my friends kept up fighting, I would become angry and frustrated.
“Come Naya, let’s get you some of that chocolate you’ve been ogling, shall we?” Dion’s voice was a purred caress in my ear.
For once, my excitement wasn’t amped up by his breath tickling me, but by the prospect of the sugarcoated treats I was dying to taste.
“Yes, please.” My mouth was watering in anticipation, and even Dion’s rumbling chuckle couldn’t spoil my glee.
“Naya, Naya, Naya. That sweet tooth of yours—you should have better hidden your vice from me. Nothing can stop me from using this knowledge against you without mercy.”
Oh damn, I was screwed.
A few hours later, we’d filled our bellies with the tastiest food I could have ever imagined.
Thain had lost his Glamour a short while ago because Rewi had been insisting enough, and no one denied my friend anything once she got something stuck in her head. She was sitting between Fig and Ireas and grinned as if she were the queen of the world.
Whenever Dion wasn’t paying attention, I threw side glances at the redhead. Today was the first time he showed his true form in my presence, and curiosity tingled under my skin.
All the soldiers were attractive in their own right, but as with Dion, Thain’s fae appearance was something else. Even if I could never say so aloud—thanks to the prince and his grudge—Thain was extremely easy on the eye. He held himself with a lithe grace without even trying.
In his human Glamour, he was a few inches shorter than Dion, but devoid of the supernatural mask, he’d gained height.
His cherry red hair was slightly longer, but he’d kept his usual style, with a few strands gathered into a little bun at the back of his head, the rest flowing freely.
Observing his pointed ears, I was stunned by how many piercings adorned them, partly interconnected with chains, some decorated with different precious stones—a true work of art.
As my perusal reached his eyes, I did a double-take. On a normal day, Thain’s glamoured amber irises already held a certain otherworldly quality, and I’d assumed the unusual shade would transfer over, but oh my, had I been wrong.
Even without the telltale glow of the fae, there was no way anyone could mistake the light pink color for anything remotely human. If I took the pearlescent sheen of his skin into account, calling Thain man instead of male could only happen to a blind person.
Bryon and Dion ignored each other as much as possible, and over the course of the last hour, I’d noticed some kind of acceptance creeping into my childhood friend’s eyes, filling me with vague hope.
The prince, on the other hand, had planted himself next to me on a settee not intended for two people, especially not when one of them was an impressive soldier beyond six feet, but at least he’d refrained from hauling me onto his lap.
Instead, he’d thrown his arm around my shoulders and kept me tucked into his side.
And since he provided a steady stream of sugary treats, I didn’t protest in earnest, even though he was adamant about hand-feeding me.
Well, I wanted chocolate more than my dignity.
My gaze still lingered on Thain, who opened a variety of the stolen—no, borrowed—wine and schnapps bottles and filled glasses with a grin shining on his lips. “Friends, let’s show the humans how we fae party.”
“Are your parties so different from ours? What do yours include?” Rewi asked.
“Drinking. Celebrating. Playing games.”
“You want to play games?” I blanched at the redhead and ignored the growl vibrating through my seatmate, as he was displeased about me interacting with Thain. Pity.
“First, we’ll drink.”
As a glass with a deep blue liquid—Thain had served us from his canteen—landed in my hand, I examined the substance with suspicion. The liquor smelled sweet and fruity, but the fumes rising from the alcohol had my eyes watering even from a distance. Oh my, this stuff had to be strong.
Dion accepted a glass as well.
“You too?”
“Yes, as I’ve mentioned earlier, we’re safe here. And no party will be complete if there’s no Cintro. Although I don’t want to know where this came from.”