Chap 20
Penny smiled up at Evander as they moved with the crowd of dancers.
She noticed quickly that compared to Prince Sebastian, Evander's dancing was far less effortless.
Every now and then she caught him counting quietly under his breath.
Dancing with Evander was fun.
Dancing with Prince Sebastian had felt like floating through a dream.
Her eyes drifted across the ballroom.
Searching.
Trying to find him.
Trying to understand.
Earlier that day he had hidden with her beneath a willow tree.
Helped her escape an awful gown.
Played games with the human flowers.
Nearly kissed her.
In all those moments he had been awkward.
Timid.
Endearingly uncertain.
Yet the moment Evander appeared he had stepped aside without hesitation.
Why?
She looked over Evander's shoulder.
And found something far more important than a prince.
Her stomach dropped.
There in front of the queen knelt a male flower, just like last night.
But this night it was, Wade.
One elegant hand rested against his throat.
The queen's fingers slid sensually downward, pushing the blue hair from his shoulder.
Exposing his neck.
Penny froze.
The queen leaned closer.
Wade wasn't moving.
Wasn't fighting.
Wasn't even looking concerned.
Which somehow made everything worse.
The queen smiled.
Then exposed her fangs.
Penny jumped off Evander's boots.
The commander stumbled as she nearly took him down with her.
"Penelope!"
She was already running.
People gasped.
Dancers scattered from her path.
Behind her she heard Evander's boots pounding against the floor.
The queen's head lowered.
The tip of a fang pierced Wade's skin.
Penny reached them a heartbeat later.
She grabbed Wade by the arm and yanked with all her strength.
The sea prince tumbled backward down the dais steps.
Then Penny turned.
And slapped the queen.
The crack echoed through the ballroom.
The orchestra stopped.
The dancers stopped.
The servants stopped.
Silence swallowed the room.
Penny stared up at the queen.
The queen stared down at Penny.
And somewhere behind her, Wade muttered in the language of the ocean.
"Oh, this is going to be a problem."
Penny watched in disgust as the queen's tongue flicked across her fang.
The single drop of blood vanished.
The queen's eyes fluttered closed.
A shiver ran through her.
Pleasure.
Then her eyes opened.
Cold.
Cruel.
They settled on Penny.
"Laying a hand upon a queen carries the penalty of death."
The smile that followed was triumphant.
Victorious.
As though Penny had just handed her exactly what she wanted.
Slowly she turned toward the king.
"Your laws so decree, my love."
Silence stretched through the ballroom.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Penny felt Evander arrive behind her.
Felt the commander place himself between her and the queen.
The king rose.
His expression gave away nothing.
He crossed the distance on the dais.
Then took Penny's hand.
Not the queen's.
Penny's.
The queen's smile faltered.
Only slightly.
"Indeed," the king said.
His voice carried effortlessly through the silent ballroom.
"My laws do decree that."
The queen relaxed.
Then the king continued.
"Fortunately, Penelope did not strike a queen."
The smile vanished entirely.
The king turned.
For the first time that evening he looked directly at Kaida.
Not as a husband.
Not as a lover.
Not even as a king.
As a judge.
"You have been confined while allegations were investigated."
The whispers began immediately.
"You were found feeding from flowers without permission."
More whispers.
"You were found responsible for the deaths of those placed under your protection."
The room grew still again.
"And this evening you attempted to feed from another flower while under investigation."
Nobody moved.
Nobody dared.
The king's voice became very soft.
"Your title was removed before tonight's ball began."
The queen went perfectly still.
Penny felt Wade stop breathing.
Across the room Sebastian's face lost all color.
The king never looked away from Kaida.
"Guards."
The word cracked like thunder.
Armored soldiers immediately stepped forward.
"Escort Kaida to her chambers."
The queen's eyes widened.
Not in fear.
In disbelief.
As though she genuinely had not imagined this outcome.
The king offered Penny his arm.
Then looked toward the throne beside his own.
"Remove that."
Only then did attendants rush forward.
The queen's throne disappeared.
Leaving only two chairs upon the dais.
The king's.
And Penny's.
The guards finally moved.
That was when Kaida found her voice.
"I'll stake you!"
She pointed wildly at the king.
"I'll stake all of you!"
The guards grabbed her arms.
It did not help.
"You garlic-sniffing, withered, poisoned-blood worshipers!"
A collective gasp swept through the ballroom.
Several nobles looked personally offended.
One elderly vampire actually clutched his chest.
The queen continued shouting as the guards dragged her toward the doors.
Each insult somehow becoming worse than the last.
Prince Sebastian appeared behind Penny so quickly she never saw him move.
Two hands covered her ears.
"Nope."
Penny blinked.
"No?"
"Absolutely not."
He shook his head firmly.
"Those are not words you need to learn."
Penny looked up at him.
Sebastian glared after his mother as another particularly creative insult echoed through the ballroom.
"Especially that one."
Wade laughed so hard he nearly fell off the dais.
Once Kaida had finally been removed, the king released a long breath and turned back toward Penny.
Only to find his human son still covering her ears.
For the first time that evening a genuine smile touched the king's face.
A grateful one.
Sebastian looked slightly embarrassed and quickly lowered his hands.
The king's gaze swept across the ballroom.
The shaken nobles.
The nervous servants.
The lingering whispers.
"Perhaps I should end the ball early."
Penny's eyes immediately darted toward the banquet tables.
Still empty.
The flowers had been looking forward to this part all evening.
Many of them cared more about the food than the dancing.
She knew because Sable had spent what felt like an hour discussing desserts.
Penny pointed frantically toward the tables.
Which were by the doors.
Trying to explain.
The king gently lifted her chin.
His smile softening.
"I think my little Penelope wishes to leave as well."
Penny groaned.
"Wade!"
The sea prince immediately appeared beside her.
"Tell him the flowers still need to be fed."
She spoke quickly.
Urgently.
"Don't let him send everyone away hungry."
Wade nodded solemnly.
Then turned toward the king.
"Your Majesty."
The king waited.
"Penelope says she is absolutely starving."
Penny's eyes widened.
"She further wishes it noted that I selfishly drank refreshments while offering her nothing."
Penny pointed accusingly at him.
"You little liar."
Wade continued without shame.
"She believes this injustice should be corrected immediately."
The king laughed.
Actually laughed.
"An excellent point."
Servants immediately began moving.
The banquet doors opened.
The scent of fresh bread and roasted food drifted into the ballroom.
A cheer rose from the flowers.
Penny sagged with relief.
Accidentally accomplishing her goal despite Wade's terrible translation.
Evander arrived beside the dais just as the first dishes were being carried inside.
"She will be secure, my king."
The commander glanced toward the doors where the queen had been removed.
Then back toward Penny.
"You needn't end the festivities."
The king nodded slowly.
For the first time since the chaos began, the tension in the room started to break.
And from somewhere near the back of the ballroom Sable squealed.
"They have the little lemon cakes!"
Evander offered Penny his arm.
A quick glance toward the king earned him a nod.
Penny slipped her hand into his and followed him toward the banquet.
"Surprise?" she asked.
Evander smiled down at her.
"You will have to wait."
The line moved forward.
Servants filled plates.
Flowers laughed.
Somewhere ahead Sable was apparently trying to negotiate for an unreasonable number of desserts.
Then Evander guided Penny away from the main tables.
A servant stood waiting beside a smaller covered dish.
The moment they approached, the lid was lifted.
Steam curled upward.
Penny smelled it before she saw it.
Fish.
Butter.
Herbs.
Simple.
Familiar.
Home.
The noise of the ballroom seemed to disappear.
For a moment she wasn't standing in a palace.
She was back beside the sea.
Back in her mother's kitchen.
Back where gulls cried outside the windows.
Back where nobody called her Penelope.
Her eyes stung.
Pampering.
Pretty dresses.
Balls.
Princes.
Kings.
None of it filled the hollow ache of home.
Evander's smile faded.
Concern replacing it.
"Penelope?"
Penny looked away quickly.
Because for the first time since she accidentally kissed a king.
She wanted to go home.