Ael clenched his fists. He never told Meir he would choose a wife. He didn’t want a random woman in his bed; he wanted someone he loved by his side. His mind flashed to Seda, and he pushed the thought away. He hadn’t thought that far ahead yet. Umbrea would have a hard time accepting a human as queen, but if she accepted him, they would just have to fucking take her.
A problem for another time.
“Where is Meir?” he asked.
“Not sure, he was in some room fucking that woman. How many guests are staying here tonight? I did not recognize the woman he was with. I assume she was some noble’s daughter.”
Someone knocked, and the door swung open. Fran, the head housekeeper, entered. “You called for me, Sire?” She bowed deeply. Flour covered her tall, curvy figure and blue dress.
“Tell your staff to stop touching me and tostopthrowing themselves at me. It is unacceptable to touchanyonewithout permission.” Ael watched her with such intensity that she fiddled with her apron.
“Yes, Sire. It will not happen again. I will also speak directly with Suza, the servant who was just here. Is there anything else I can assist with?”
“How are things looking for tonight?” he asked.
“We’re getting close. The ballroom is almost done being set up.”
Ael dismissed her with a wave of his hand, and she quickly bowed and left the room, closing the door behind her. He looked at Luelle. “Let me know if you find anything else regarding this and Meir.”
He angrily marched to the door and left, leaving Luelle to finish his grapes.
As Ael entered the ballroom,the sound of stringed instruments suddenly ceased. The crown he hated wearing because it reminded him of his father, weighed heavily on his head. He only wore it on special occasions, and Meir hadinsistedhe wear it again tonight, along with this stupid suit.
Ael really didn’t want to be at this fucking ball, preferring to have some alone time away from prying eyes. His mind drifted to Seda. He needed a plan for when she arrived. How would she appear with ‘mist and flame’?
It didn’t make sense.
Meir spoke from the dais and extended his hand toward Ael, “Presenting King Ael, ruler of Umbrea.”
The hundreds of Fae in the sparkling ballroom bowed deeply as Ael approached the throne at the room’s northern end.
The glittering essence drifted in and out of the open windows lining the fifty-foot ceilings, and the tall, reflective walls glowed with candles lit from a grand chandelier, adding to the magical atmosphere.
The music resumed as Ael took his seat. Meir sat in a small, wooden chair beside him. “This is a lovely event, Sire. All of Umbrea’s finest are within these walls tonight.”
Meir surveyed the crowd and waved toward a woman with dark, curly hair. The woman wore a revealing, emerald-colored dress with a long train that flowed behind her on the floor. The neckline dipped below her navel, and her ample breasts struggled to stay in place. She approached the throne and bowed deeply, causing her cleavage to slightly reveal the edge of her nipple.
Ael caught Meir’s gaze and saw him watching with a hungry look as it slipped out.He remembered what Luelle had told him.
I don’t want your sloppy seconds, Meir.
The woman stood, and Meir cleared his throat and said, “Sire, please meet Neoma. Second daughter of Lord Ephron from the northern Umbrea mountains. She has traveled far to be with us tonight.”
“And where is Lord Ephron? I haven’t seen him in decades,” Ael asked in a bored tone.
“He…” Meir started.
Neoma interrupted Meir in a sing-song voice, “He was unable to make it this evening, Sire. But he sends his regards. It’s wonderful to have our king back in Umbrea. This is my first time in the castle.”Her eyes sparkled as she took in the room.
Ael looked at her and sneered at her impudence, but his expression softened slightly as guests watched the exchange. “Thank you for coming tonight, Neoma. I hope you find your stay welcoming.”
He glanced over the crowd and saw a line of women forming behind Neoma. “I need to talk to you, Meir. You have some explaining to do.”
“What about, Sire?” Meir said nervously as he looked back at Neoma and the girls lining up behind her. Neoma glanced over her shoulder and spotted the other women. She then turned back to Ael and took a confident step forward.
“I have a gift for you, Sire,” she said to him quickly. “May I?”
Ael hesitated before nodding to her. She slowly approached him and raised her leg from the slit in her dress, revealing a sparkling garter with a red ribbon.
