Chapter 21 #3
Onyx led the way, curving us into another room, forcing another gasp from me.
The room was massive, the ceiling reaching so far up I felt like I was at the bottom of a gorge.
Where the roof line connected was glass, spilling in the night sky, making me feel even more insignificant.
A second-story walkway lined both sides for viewers to watch everything happening.
Dozens of gold-plated chandeliers shone over the room, the red walls decorated with art and mirrors, enhancing the light in its reflections, like a dream scene.
The black and white marble floor was the only thing lacking color, but the crazy design still popped from under the red carpet laid out to walk over.
The room punched at every one of my senses, from the tactile textures carved into the ceiling and archways, to the strong scent of perfume and flowers which coated my tongue.
For its large size it felt strangely claustrophobic, overpowering and distracting.
I hadn’t even noticed the man sitting on the dais at the end of the room.
“Onyx!” his voice boomed, echoing up to the ceiling. “You have returned!”
A stunning, older dark-haired man splayed over a throne dramatically, his hair braided loosely on top, the sides cut almost to the scalp, his beard trimmed short.
He was wearing a deep red tunic with gold trim, a fur cloak wrapped over his shoulders, though the dozens of fires in the room kept it well heated.
A handful of extremely beautiful women and men, dressed in paper-thin tunics, nestled around his feet, appearing just as bored.
The man swung his pointed boots to the floor, a huge smile taking over his face. His height was shorter than I expected, but there was something about him which took center stage. His happy smile didn’t counter the confidence, arrogance, and authority that oozed from him, making me feel unsettled.
“My dear hersir! How I’ve missed you. It was quite dull here.” He opened his arms, waiting for Onyx to come to him. “You made me wait so long for your return. I felt quite lost without you.”
Onyx bowed before him. “I returned as soon as I could, my liege.” As he rose, the king stepped up to him, cupping his face, kissing both cheeks, and then his mouth.
The action startled me, setting me back on my heels. My father would never show such affection to anyone, including me.
“Emotion is seen as weakness, Wrennlyn. If you show them empathy or favoritism, they will take advantage of it.”
“Rejoice that all my Night Hunters have returned!” He turned to the rest of the group; they all bowed to him. He kissed Bj?rn and Renyx’s cheeks, pausing at Brynn as she rose back up.
“My beautiful Brynn.” He cupped her face, kissing her mouth sensually. “How I’ve missed your sharp tongue.”
“My liege.” She dipped her head.
“Nephew!” he addressed Sven, though there was a prickle to it. “I hope you are living up to your role.” He leaned in. “I won’t have to regret giving you this position, will I?”
“No, Uncle.” Sven dipped his head.
The man watched him for a long while, then he patted his face with a chuckle.
“Good to hear, dear boy. Such a pretty face. So unlike your father. Especially now that he’s been dead for years!
” He laughed. The king whirled around, his eyes darting over the room then going between Brynn and Renyx. “Where is Raelis?”
Brynn and Renyx looked away, bowing their heads. Onyx shifted on his feet, drawing his shoulders up, bearing the weight. “He was killed, my lord.”
“Killed?” the king gasped, his hand going to his chest. “No! Not my dear Raelis!” he exclaimed, going to Brynn and Renyx, clasping one face in each palm and pulling them into him, kissing their foreheads.
“I am so sorry. He will be greatly missed. I will make a statue in his honor for my garden. That would be nice, right?”
He waited for them to respond.
“Yes, my liege.” Brynn nodded.
“Good. Good.” He stepped back from them, the sadness disappearing behind him as though it was all forgotten now. “How did it happen?”
“An arrow.” Onyx’s throat bobbed, as if he was reliving the memory. “The night of our escape.”
“Escape! Sounds so exciting, doesn’t it?
” He turned to me like he was sharing a juicy secret.
His brown eyes finally realizing who I was, seeing the figure under the cloak.
He went still, watching me for a long time.
The unnerving way his attention fluttered over me.
My throat knotted, my pulse tapping in my ear.
“You captured her,” he uttered, taking a tentative step, like I was a wild animal, something exotic and easily startled. “The White Raven.”
His hand reached out and I flinched back, his fingers curling around the hood and tugging it off, my silvery hair tumbling out.
“Huginn-Muninn. She’s so beautiful.” He inhaled sharply, his eyes widening. “The most striking creature I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
He stood only a few inches over me, but I felt his power, his supremacy in every movement.
I was face-to-face with Gavric Helvig.
The Night King.
“What a pretty little thing to cause such divide in our world.” He touched my face, his eyes flashing with a hunger I couldn’t recognize.
“Now you are mine, White Raven, and soon to be my wife.”