I sat between Edda and Landin while Clause took his seat directly across from me. Food was immediately brought out. The servants did not meet the eye of anyone in the room as it came to life with their swift and silent movements. It was as if the only thing they were allowed to look at was the table before us or the exit. Of those whose ears I could see, I took note of the points, marking them as Sidhe. They all vanished as quickly as they had appeared. Once the table was nearly overflowing with bread, meats, cheeses, and fruits, we were left to ourselves again.
“Help yourselves to whatever you like,” Clause offered, moving a hand openly over the table. We did as instructed, filling our plates with various foods; though, I found myself hesitant to try any of it.
“This room is a work of art, is it not?” Clause averted his attention, beholding the mosaic on the ceiling. “The craftsmanship is exquisite, standing the test of time.”
Briefly, I followed his gaze. “As I have said, it’s beautiful.Though I doubt you have asked for me to come here to show off your decor.”
His gray eyes dipped back to me. “You are not interested in culture or history?”
“I am far more interested in what you hope to get out of this meeting.”
He smirked, holding my stare. “Interesting choice of words. ‘What I hope to get out of this meeting.’ What makes you think I wish for anything other than simply to meet the new leader of the Bavadrin people?” Resting his elbows on the table, he clasped his hands before him.
“You have never extended an invitation to any of the previous leaders,” I pointed out, trying not to think that he could have likely invitedseveralof the previous Leader Superiors, for he was said to have been that old. He may have a handsome youthful face, but that had nothing to do with his true age or the powers he was rumored to possess. If Edda’s suspicions were correct, then I might soon get a glimpse of some of those powers.
Clause’s attention dipped to our plates. “None of you have touched a thing.” It was an obvious change of subject.
But before any of us even had a chance to pick up a single utensil, the door to the room swung open with force and a woman sauntered in. Her skin was incredibly fair, her blond hair pulled back with a thick braid running down the middle of her back. Pale eyes met mine coolly before finding Clause and softening, visibly favoring the Sidhe king. The way she moved, with a predatory grace I had come to know well, I did not need to see her teeth to know she was a Lysian.
But that was not what disturbed me the most.
The metallic smell of blood accompanied her, so pungent that even my Bavadrin nose could scent it.
47
ARIANA
The Lysian female sauntered closer.
“I cleaned up the mess on the outskirts as requested,” she stated with a sickly sweet voice. That was when I noticed the sword strapped to her hip and the blood dripping from it. Her pale gaze turned once more to me, noting my attention on her wet blade, and she smiled callously. “The great Bavadrin Leader Superior,” she mocked, coming to stand beside Clause and folding her arms over her chest. “You look no more than just a meek little Bavadrin.”
Clause clicked his tongue, leaning back in his chair with an arrogance only a King could have. “Behave yourself, Malavika. These are my dinner guests.” He pretended to lightly reprimand, though by the glint in his eye, he was clearly intrigued. There was something unyielding to the Sidhe King. His presence and control had a finality to it. There was no way he did not know the Lysian would enter the room, and that she would be displeased by my presence. In fact, he likely orchestrated it all, but to what end? Allowing someone to insult hisdinner guestsdid not seem like agood way to make friends. However, I did not know if friendship was even his goal.
“My apologies.” She flashed a hostile smile. Not at all sorry. Her gaze drifted over me once more, full of judgment. “So, let’s see your conjuring. It must be spectacular for someone like you to have single-handedly freed yourself from the control of the Lysians.”
They knew so much about what had happened. With dread, I realized that someone must have shared the information with the Sidhe.
Could they truly have spies in my lands?
“I am not here to entertain you,” I stated dismissively, wondering whose blood left a trail behind the Lysian. Whose blood still dripped from that blade on her hip?
She ignored my words. “Why did it take you so long to finally free yourself? Was it because you couldn’t get enough of the royal Lysian brothers? Tell me, did you sleep with all of them like a true Bavadrin tramp?”
Heat flared in my stomach at her words.
Landin’s gaze drifted to me as he clenched his jaw. Thankfully, he remained silent and seated as Edda and I had instructed before we ever came to the Sidhe lands.
Clause kept his focus on me the entire time, monitoring my movement and the emotions that he would not see because of my wonderfully schooled features. I had years of practice controlling my face to hide the thoughts that passed through my mind.
It was clear the Sidhe king wanted Malavika present. He wanted her to burrow under my skin, likely hoping to anger me into using my conjuring. I expected him to at least ask to see my gifts first before trying to force them from me. He did not even give me that chance. Instead, he decided to play things out by force. That only irritated me further, for I did not appreciate theirgames. I was not a puppet. And if they wished to fight dirty, then I could do that too.
Clause was said to collect conjurors, so what was Malavika’s gift?
The Lysian smiled smugly before her gaze drifted to Clause and softened. Her liking of him was her weakness, and I was going to press into that.
Reining in my anger, I smiled pleasantly. “You flatter me, for a Lysian royal could never find such favor in a simple Bavadrin like me. Though I’m sure I could learn a lot from someone as interesting as you, Malavika. Tell me, after you open your legs to your Sidhe King, do you weep sad tears because you know you will never be more than a pastime to quench his utter boredom?”
Her jaw clenched while Clause smirked darkly. It was clear she cared for him and what he thought of her. Though by his reaction to my comment, it did not seem like he cared all that much for her feelings in return.
