Chapter 23 #2
My hand rose, my fingers curling around his elbow, taking his arm. It was so subtle, but I felt his body tighten at my touch. The heat underneath his uniform soaked into me, our heads staying forward as we descended the steps.
The flock of exquisite birds of the night parted for the hunter as he delivered his prey to the feet of the king. The men gawked as I moved by, the women looked on with a mix of awe and hatred. Whispers hummed in my ear.
“She’s so beautiful.”
“I will never call her queen. She is not worthy of the title.”
“She really is the destined one?”
“She looks like nothing but a spoiled girl.”
My head stayed high as Onyx strolled us through the crowd, my fingers digging into his arm.
“Breathe,” I heard him whisper, like he could feel the panic in me rising. We ascended the steps. King Gavric’s smile was thin, turning it to the crowd to show everything was fine.
“Hersir.” The king nodded to Onyx, his tone strained slightly, his eyes shooting over to where my neck tattoos were covered up with paint and jewels. “You have once again delivered my treasure to me.”
“Your majesty.” Onyx bowed, stepping away the moment he could. The loss of his touch made me feel adrift again.
“I should thank you.” The king stepped up to him, his eyes skimming up and down Onyx with an energy I did not understand. “But I am still furious with you. Still deciding on your penance for betraying me so.”
Whipping him wasn’t enough?
“Yes, your majesty.” Onyx lowered his head again, his eye twitching.
“Let us not focus on that tonight.” He lifted Onyx’s face, his mouth an inch from his as he spoke. “However, if you get within a faemr of my bride, I won’t be as kind in your punishment as I was before. Do you understand me?”
Onyx dipped his head. “Yes, your majesty.”
“Good.” The king smiled, leaning in and taking the last inch, kissing Onyx’s mouth softly. “You know I hate fighting with you.”
Gavric seemed to use emotions to dominate people. But this kiss somehow felt more than that with Onyx. The king turned away from him, demeanor changing like blowing out a candle. Gavric’s attention went over my figure with a deep appreciation.
“What an exquisite creature you are.” He took my fingers and brought my hand to his mouth, kissing the back of it. “Huginn and Muninn chose right for me. Though if you ever pull something like that again, I will make sure you will regret it.”
“You think Huginn and Muninn chose me for you?” My tone was low and even so no one else could hear me. “You stole me.”
Gavric’s tight smile curved his lips.
“I get what I want by whatever means necessary, my dove.” He lowered my hand, the threat sparking in his eyes.
“But tonight is not about business.” His timbre and expression shifted in an instant.
“We are rejoicing in our union.” He laced his fingers with mine, facing us both to the crowd.
“My people, our destiny is in reach! Tonight, we eat, we drink, and we celebrate!”
“All hail the king!” someone cheered, the room chanting together in thunderous roar as the music picked up from above, filling the space.
The Night Ravens captured his words like a directive, milling around in conversation and laughter as trays of food and jugs of alcohol were brought out by thralls.
“Come, my dove.” He escorted me down the stairs.
Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Onyx standing in the same spot, not following us, his figure stiff, his gloved hands in fists at his sides. I screamed in my head for him to look at me, to be that last bit of rope before I was taken under. He didn’t look back, letting me sink into the abyss.
Brynn, Renyx, Sven, and Bj?rn, dressed similarly to Onyx, waited at the bottom, their heads bowing as the king stepped onto the main floor.
“Your majesty.” Brynn bowed her head.
“Oh lovely, Brynn.” He cupped her face, peering at the figure next to her. “And handsome Renyx. I should have made you one of my flock.” He nodded to the thralls following behind us. “You are much too beautiful to be wasted in leathers.”
“I prefer my position guarding you, my liege,” Brynn responded.
“I’m willing, your majesty.” Bj?rn smiled widely, his humor dancing in his eyes.
“And I prefer you in leathers,” the king replied dryly.
“I mean who doesn’t, right? My ass looks great in these.” Bj?rn winked over at me.
Despite my mood a smile broke through, my head shaking at his silliness.
The king motioned for them to proceed, the four Night Hunters ushering us across the floor, scurrying the partygoers out of our way.
Small cages hanging from the walls were filled with colorful birds and tiny creatures I had never seen before.
Bright peacocks strolled around, their plumage standing out against the backdrop of black gowns.
The main floor was a forest of cascading moonflowers and night-blooming jasmine, their scent so dominating it lightened my head, taking over any smells from the food being piled on the tables set around the edges of the room.
Instead of everyone sitting down to dinner, like my father preferred, King Helvig focused more on the dancing and merriment, keeping the food to the side to nibble on.
Everywhere I looked thralls strolled around with jugs, pouring wine and mead in abundance, adding to the bewitching tone of the ambiance.
Walking deeper into the huge round room, I noticed a handful of people-sized cages hanging down between the chandeliers, their elegant silver frames reflecting off the moonlight and almost disguising what was inside.
My feet came to a stop, the taste of acid choking up my airways.
“What is wrong, my dear?” Gavric curved his head to me in a smirk. “You do not like my engagement gift?”
Acid raked over my stomach in horror. Hovering above my head, each birdcage was occupied. Women and men, their almost naked figures writhing to the music, their bodies wrapped in sheer gauze adorned with snowy feathers, the moonlight illuminating their white hair and pale skin.
Day Ravens.
“I thought they would make you feel more at home.” His attention was on them, watching them move seductively to the music.
“They are such lovely creatures, aren’t they?
My most prized possessions.” He nodded to them.
“And unlike your father, I don’t enslave your people.
” He looked back at me pointedly. “I collect them.” He reached over, brushing his knuckles down my cheek.
“And you, my dove, are the rarest of all. The most beautiful and sacred of my butterflies. You will bring me so much wealth and power.”
I wanted to laugh at his declaration, tell him what a fool he was.
The sentiment was on the tip of my tongue, but I forced myself to stop.
Sucking in a deep breath through my nose, trying to regain myself, somehow everything felt lighter, all my worries not feeling as important.
The shock of seeing my own people in the cages, being held like collector pieces, dissolved away in smoke.
And it felt good. Not to worry or care. I just wanted to feel happy.
King Helvig’s coy smile grew, his hands brushing over my arms like he needed to touch me. “Yes, experience how good you can feel.” He took a deep breath. “Come, my dove. I have more gifts waiting for you.”
I didn’t fight him, everything seemed more and more surreal as we took steps up to another dais, where two black ornamental thrones sat side by side overlooking the room.
His flock stood in very little clothing at attention around them with trays of food and drink.
Exotic animals scurried in hanging cages behind the thrones, jasmine and moonflowers cascading down the wall behind, filling my nose with more of the floral scent.