“Thank you,” I say to both of them.
Then I gesture at the empty chair across from me. “Please, take a seat.”
Blue eyes stare at me, but my gesture was clear enough. He gingerly sits down. I sigh, this isn’t going to work at all.
“Pinky, I need one of those translation crystals. Unless you want to stay and translate?”
She huffs at me and hurries off.
I pour my guest some tea. This is going to be extremely awkward until she gets back.
“My name is Jamie,” I say as I pat my chest. “Jamie.”
Blue eyes widen once more. Gosh, this is ridiculous.
“Ninian,” he says softly.
I’m smiling like a crazy person. “Ninian?”
He nods warily as if I am some sort of unpredictable animal.
“That’s a lovely name,” I say.
His delicate brow scrunches in confusion. Okay, exchanging names is as far as it is going to get, but that’s okay. I slide a plate of sandwiches over to him and he graciously accepts one.
He looks well. As in, he is neatly put together and I can’t see any marks on his body. His sapphire blue eyes are unsettling though, and not because they are far brighter than any humans, but because they look haunted, hunted. Full of pain. World-weary and despondent, in a face that looks no older than twenty.
Of course, being as he is fey, he could be thousands of years old for all I know. Now that’s an unsettling thought. I wonder how old Rhydian is? I never thought about it before and always simply assumed he was around my age, or a little older. He certainly looks late twenties at the very most.
The door opens again, and this time Pinky is accompanied by Tristan. That was mercifully quick.
Tristan grins at me and strides over. He plonks a large, rough hewn quartz down on the table and waves his hand at it until it glows softly.
“Thank you,” I say.
I wasn’t expecting Tristan himself to come, but maybe he is the only one who can get the crystals to work? I feel bad now. He is a prince. He doesn’t need to be running around doing favours for me.
“My pleasure,” he says with a truly filthy grin. “Any opportunity to see your pretty face is a boon.”
Heat tingles along my cheeks. I cast a surreptitious glance at Ninian, but he is politely sipping his tea and not looking at us. I have no idea if Tristan’s behaviour is appropriate or not.
“Thank you,” I stutter again, uselessly.
Tristan grins once more, and his ruby red eyes sparkle. “I’ll leave you boys to your tea.”
And with that, he strolls away, whistling a merry tune. I stare at the door after it closes behind him. Then I rouse myself.
“Is he always like that?” I ask.
“I believe so,” says Ninian softly.
I grin. The crystal is working. This is so much better.
“How are you?” I blurt.
Ninian carefully places his teacup down onto its saucer. “I’m very well, thank you.”
Damn it. Damn small talk. Damn it to hell. There isn’t time for this. I’m sure Rhydian will find out soon and I’m sure he won’t be happy that I have invited Ninian here. He didn’t want me getting close to his brother, so I can’t imagine he will feel differently about another rhocyn.
