Chapter 27
As we approached the palace gates, the doors swung outward, perfectly timed. The moment we crossed the threshold, the wings had just fully opened.
We entered a giant antechamber, and while I couldn’t allow myself to gape around like an idiot, I noticed the alabaster structures, a massive winding marble staircase, and flowers everywhere. It was as if the designer had tried to capture the prompt ‘nature’ and had succeeded triumphantly.
The guards who’d accompanied us stayed back as Dion turned right to an enormous archway without hesitation.
Every single fae we passed hastened to bow as deeply as they could, but Dion pretended he didn’t notice anyone.
If I hadn’t believed he was royal and feared before, I would have been convinced in this very moment.
He was a god walking among the ordinary folk, the boot to the ant, the perfect predator, and everyone else less than prey. It was obvious he was used to letting those surrounding him experience how abundantly inferior they were compared to him.
Looking around and taking in my environment would have to wait. I kept my eyes plastered on the lush sapphire carpet as I followed the prince and wished from the bottom of my heart to develop the power of invisibility spontaneously.
“Your Royal Highness, I’m overjoyed to welcome you back home.” A male voice rang out, the cutting tone contradicting his words, and when Dion stopped, I almost crashed into him. Damn. I had to be more alert.
But the dread over my near-blunder was soon replaced by my curiosity. Who’d been crazy enough to address the murderous fae prince?
With as much caution as I could muster, I lifted my gaze slightly.
The male fae in front of us had short, dark blond hair, sparkling ruby eyes, and wore a uniform tailored to perfection from golden silk and green embroidered velvet.
Gold jewelry and a leather book dangling from his belt completed the ensemble.
He too bowed before his prince but straightened without waiting for permission.
“Steward Fainic.” Dion nodded the tiniest of nods to the steward, his tone full of icy disinterest.
“Welcome home. Can you confirm that Lord Fiantas and General Fiolar returned as well?”
“Hm, did the fact slip my mind that I’m supposed to do your work or that I’m a lackey destined to do your research? Or why are you bothering me with such trivial questions?”
Dion’s disdain was like a living beast wrapping itself around this male, threatening to swallow him whole.
“But since I’ve been absent for a while and you might have forgotten about who outranks whom—after all, you’ve always had some problems with memory gaps—I’ll humor you this once, so you have more time to refresh your recollection about your own station.
Yes, Fainic, all my comrades have arrived in Alaiann as well. ”
“I apologize most sincerely and ask for your forgiveness, Your Royal Highness. Such oversight from my end won’t happen again.
And I’ll be eternally grateful that you so graciously indulged me with the information.
The High King will be delighted to hear of the successful homecoming of some of his most important confidantes. ”
The eye roll threatening to overtake my face froze as the steward’s scrutiny landed on me.
He didn’t even attempt to mask a sneer of contempt when he understood what I was, and one of his eyes twitched as he scanned me from head to toe as if I were an extremely disgusting insect he’d found on his dinner plate.
When he was done dripping condescension from every pore, he scoffed and returned his attention to Dion.
“Your quarters have already been prepared, sire. Do you wish for me to arrange a chamber for…that thing as well?”
His nose was wrinkling in utter disgust, and I didn’t have to be a genius to conclude that the accommodation Fainic pictured for me was more broom closet than bedroom. Or a dungeon cell, which would likely be his favorite solution.
“My souvenir will stay with me in my suite. There’s more than enough space for her.”
“Of course, sire.” The sneer on the steward’s face returned, and everything in me screamed to educate him on where he could stick his behavior.
Dion narrowed his eyes and shot Fainic a scowl that could only be understood as a massive warning sign about how displeased he was with the steward as well.
“I’ll have one of the attached servants’ rooms vacated and prepared.”
“Fainic. What’s so hard to understand about my wish to keep my Amplifier close?
If you misunderstand me on purpose just one more time or want to dictate to me where to store my property, I’ll see to your punishment myself.
” As he spoke, a telltale warmth spread from my middle through my body and then further—Dion was pulling from my Potential.
What was he doing?
What indeed. Half-transparent darkness surrounded us. Not in the wild, untamed way Dion usually wielded his power, no. This magic was controlled, cold, malicious. A determent.
“There’s a major difference between the two of you, Fainic.
This human gives me power, which makes her valuable and one-of-a-kind.
You, on the other hand, only cause me headaches.
Meaning, this female won’t be accommodated in the servants’ quarters in my wing.
My Amplifier will stay where I can see her. ”
Oh, Dion bared his teeth to Fainic, and I became aware of how hard he worked to keep his temper down.
If the steward was more than mildly irritated, he didn’t show his ire, and I wondered if he was the first fae here who wasn’t afraid of Dion or if he was just an excellent actor.
“Of course, Your Royal Highness. I’ll have the guest bedroom in your suite prepared then.”
“And send the royal tailor to my quarters as soon as possible. You’re dismissed.”
The steward frowned for the smallest moment. He wasn’t happy to be discharged so rudely, and I had to suppress a grin. “Of course, Your Royal Highness. As you wish.”
Dion stalked away before Fainic was even done talking, and I hurried to follow him.
“Wow,” I whispered when we were out of earshot. “You’re an even bigger asshole than I’ve imagined.”
He observed our vicinity, and when he was convinced we were truly alone, his angry eyes found mine.
“Yes. Especially to him. Fainic’s only mission in life is to annoy me.
He despises me as much as I loathe him. Sadly, he’s under my grandfather’s personal protection.
But for his behavior just now, he has signed his own death warrant.
No one disrespects you like that and lives. ”
“Whoa, hold your horses.” We shared a silent look, arguing wordlessly about his over-the-top murder fantasies—at least I did—until I huffed. “But honestly, a lot of your attitude makes more sense after witnessing this scene.”
“You’ve seen nothing yet, Nayana.”
“Do I have to be scared?”
“Of me? Never. But in general? Yes, very.”
Half an hour in Alaiann, and I’d already had enough for ten lifetimes. Before my travels, I hadn’t even perceived all the bowing and scraping anymore, but today, especially with Naya around, I observed every single thing through a magnifying glass.
Gods, how my fingers itched to strangle Fainic.
How did he dare to challenge my authority?
Maybe he’d gotten too comfortable and secure in his role.
If he had the audacity to insult Nayana one more time, I’d show him how replaceable he was and teach him never to disrespect me again, fallout with my grandfather be damned.
And everything would only get worse. If Galrach didn’t summon me within the hour, I’d be more than surprised, and if I were fucked, he’d insist I had to bring Naya along to parade her in front of him.
But I wanted to spare her a meeting with my grandfather at all costs, although I knew better—hoping so was an illusion.
We needed more time, so I could teach her enough royal etiquette to placate the High King, something I’d shamefully neglected. Apart from preparing her as much as possible, I could only try to ensure that she would never be forced to face him alone. That was something within my power. Maybe.
Two servants hurried to open the vast doors to the east wing, where my suite was located, and I didn’t pay them any attention, just marched straight on to my quarters. If I lingered somewhere a second longer than necessary, I’d kill them all. I’d done so before.
“I can open my own godsdamned doors,” I snarled at another servant, who almost stumbled over his feet as he scrambled to push down the handles.
“The sole reason I grant you a continued existence is for you to ensure that no one will disturb me until I send for someone. There’s only one exception to said rule, and if you’re too dense to figure out what I mean, you’ll deserve the death that’s surely coming for you. ”
Naya was studying me without saying a word. Even though we’d all warned her, I was convinced she hadn’t imagined how much worse reality was. But my behavior had to be like this; any weakness would be instantly reported back to Galrach, and avoiding this for as long as possible was paramount.
After we’d entered my suite and I’d closed the door, I filled my lungs to full capacity before exhaling again.
Facing Nayana, I braced myself for her to hurl the choice words at me that she’d surely decided on already. But instead, she stared at the splendor surrounding her, even though this was just the antechamber.
My expression softened as I observed her soaking in the luxury of the room, which was mainly decorated in black and silver, with accents of a cerulean color not unlike the hue of her eyes.
Without disturbing her view, I stalked around her and opened the door leading to my sitting room, grabbed her hand, and hauled her inside.
“Holy Triad, Dion. These are your quarters?”
“Welcome to my humble abode.”
“There is nothing humble about this place.”