Guilt rose inside me. Truso had been among those taken to the dungeon of Frostveil the day before the king murdered her and many other performers. I’d spoken to her and suggested she deserved what she got. I pushed my guilt down. There would be time to examine it later, but not tonight. This night was for the love of my life.
“I requested the best singer in Myrr.”
Isolde let out a long hum and sipped from a glass of wine that had been brought to the table. “You miss little.”
I raised my glass. “Happy early nameday, my love.”
“To many more with you.” She toasted me.
The servers swept in with a salad, the produce grown in the many greenhouses in Myrr. At the first bite, I made a mental note to thank Sian, and my gratitude only grew as the nightprogressed. With each course, each song, each smile my love bestowed on me, I could not help but feel as though I were the luckiest damned fae to ever live.
And the night was only getting started.
“I can barely move!” Isolde stretched as the carriage I’d arranged to pick us up at The Frosted Rose pulled through the gates of Ramshold Castle. “I can’t wait to kick up my feet in front of the fire. Do you think Thyra will still be up?”
“It’s before the eighth bell,” I replied. “As your sister isn’t an infant, I think it’s likely she’ll be awake.”
Isolde slapped me on my shoulder. “We’ve been busy! Maybe she’s tired.”
If that was the case, that was too bad because I was not the only one with a surprise for the Falk twins. While Isolde and I ate at The Frosted Rose, Thantrel had taken Thyra to another luxurious part of Myrr. They should be arriving back at the castle in minutes, which meant I needed to get Isolde into position.
“Thantrel planned something for her tonight since we have your dinner with our court and the lords and ladies tomorrow,” I said. “I know where they are. Shall we find them?”
“Yes, we should.”
The carriage came to a stop, and I took her hand and led her into the castle. As usual, the corridors of Ramshold were alive with fae, though tonight there were a few more than was usual at this hour, which Isolde could not fail to notice.
“Is a lord visiting Lord Balik?” Isolde asked, eyebrows pinching together. “Should I have been at a diplomatic dinner?”
Yesterday, the Warden of the South had forgiven her, but I got the sense that she was still on edge. Likely because we’d soon march north.
“Everyone knew I was whisking you away, and that you needed time to relax.”
“I can’t deny that. But diplomacy is important.”
I laughed. “Right you are, love. You didn’t miss anything.”
She didn’t look convinced, and only became more curious as we neared our destination, so far from our wing. I listened only to hear dead silence. Had someone put a barrier of air up against the door?
We’ll soon find out.My hand landed on the handle. I opened the door to find that the lights were out. Normally, faelights remained lit late into the night until servants put them out. In some parts of the castle, they stayed on all night. To walk into a room so dark was an anomaly.
“We’ll have to find candles,” Isolde said.
“Seems so.” I strained to hear the bell outside, and when it chimed, the faintest squeal of a hinge on the other side of the room followed.Perfect timing.
Faelights illuminated the room. Isolde let out a squeal of shock and grabbed my arm as dozens of fae appeared and yelled, “Surprise!” in unison.
“Stars! I almost wet myself!” my mate shouted and then punched me in the arm. “Oh! Thyra is here too! This is your doing, isn’t it, Vale!?”
Across the room used for middling feasts, Thyra had entered by a second door. Immediately she lifted her fists, always prepared to fight. Her balled up hands lowered as she looked around, blinking hard.
“It was a group effort,” I replied. “Anna was the one to first bring up a party for just our friends. Something more casual than dinner tomorrow.”
“But Vale wanted it to be a surprise!” Anna shouted, a wide grin on her face as she leaned into Arie’s side. “Exciting, isn’t it!?”
My mate smiled back. “Very!” She turned her face back up to me and stood on tiptoe, bestowing me with a long kiss. “Thank you.”
“You deserve it.” My fingers entwined with hers. “Let’s party, shall we?”
