“Maeve, darling,” she heard her father’s voice call out.
She jumped, and he was striding towards her quickly. Ambrose was in a cheerful mood, it seemed. He came closer and spoke in a hushed voice.
“The Elven Hand would like to sit across from you-next to me.”
“Who?”
“The Prince. Xander.”
Maeve blinked. “Alright.”
“The Prince is staying for dinner?” Mal appeared next to her now.
“Yes, well, you would know that had you not been holed up in the library for the past half hour.”
She smiled at him sweetly. Mal gave her a reproachful look, knowing her sweet demeanor was fake.
“Are you alright?”
“Fine,” she replied hastily.
“Finally! Maeve Sinclair.”
Maeve and Mal looked across the table. Xander took his place behind the chair across from Maeve.
“We meet at last,” he said.
Maeve thought this was possibly the worst time to have to put on a show. She would rather be anywhere else at the moment, and especially not having to charm an Elven diplomat and brother of the Elven Queen.
Maeve plastered on her most charming smile. “It’s lovely to finally meet you, sir.”
“Sir?” Xander laughed. “I’ve only just celebrated my thirtieth birthday. I hope I’m not old enough for you to call me ‘sir’.”
“Apologies,” said Maeve. “I’m sure ‘my Prince’ will suffice, then?”
Mal’s magic tensed up next to her, which brought her great satisfaction.
“Xander will be fine,” said the Elven Queen’s brother playfully, eyeing Maeve with a flirtatious look.
On his breast pocket was a pale blue butterfly.
Kier appeared at Xanders side.
The ice.
The decor for the evening made sense now.
Everyone stood behind their seats at the Grand Dinner Table, and Ambrose took his place at one head of the table and Clarissa at the other. Once they were seated, the rest of the party pulled back their chairs and followed suit.
Mr. Iantrose sat down on the other side of Mal. Mal looked to Maeve with a curious brow raised.
“Oh, Merlin,” muttered Maeve, placing a hand on her temple as Iantrose began barking some incoherent nonsense loudly. She had not paid attention to whose card she swapped with Ophelia’s.
The food was delicious, and it was served on the finest treasure. Clarissa saved the real crystal only for the most important guests. And their home was currently full of them.
The conversation flowed lightly, but Maeve was more reserved than usual, granting her many looks from her father. She was completely in a daze, swirling around a bit of soup. She snapped back to reality when she heard Xander bring up a particularly touchy subject.
“I hear your half human,” he said to Mal. Xander laughed, but an awkward silence fell amongst those around them. “Then I am with great company! My cousin is half human. Down there by Reeve. His second in command, Eryx.”
