A beat passed. One where his eyes narrowed a fraction. But a heartbeat later, he smiled, flashing those perfect teeth. “King drama, indeed. Unfortunately the transition after my father’s death has not been as smooth as I imagined it would be.”
A light breeze caught the air.
“I’m sorry,” I said, brushing the hair from my face. “About your father.”
“That’s life, I suppose.” He arched a brow, seeming unbothered. “Nobody gets out of here alive.”
My chest tightened. “Still. Losing a parent isn’t easy. Is your mother still around?”
Cornelius’s smile faded slightly. “She hasn’t been around for a long time. It’s better that way, though. My father wasn’t exactly easy to live with, and with all the king drama around here, it’s better if she’s far away.”
As he spoke of his mother, I swore he looked younger. Sad, even.
I rested my hand atop his. Mostly because I couldn’t think of anything else to say.I wasn’t exactly the best at comforting others, okay?
“What about you?” he asked. “Your parents?”
I shrugged, keeping my face blank. “My father died when I was young. He was killed by a cursed vampyre.” My throat suddenly felt like closing. All the air escaped my lungs. “My mother is dead, too, though that one hurts more. She was probably the only one in this world who truly understood me.”
My voice hitched slightly and I prayed he wouldn’t notice.
But he leaned further into my touch and said, “We all crave to be understood, Rummy. Don’t let the death of your mother stop you from believing that you have a right to be understood.”
Words escaped me, but thankfully, he quickly straightened and carried on the conversation. “I’ve heard all about the vampyres of Vaehatis. You’re talking about the hungry ones, I presume?”
I nodded, lowering my gaze and wishing away the heat that crept up my cheeks. “Those are the ones.”
“Were they really as vicious as the rumors make them out to be? I can hardly picture it, sane vampyres turning into those monsters?”
“They were…” My voice trailed off. Yes, they were as viscous as the rumors claimed. The constant attacks, the constant fear, were downright traumatic. Never knowing whether I was safe was exhausting. My father really was killed them. My mother had come close to being slaughtered by them, too. I quickly pushed the thought of her death away. “It was always interesting, that much is certain. But they’re gone now. And Vaehatis is quickly repairing itself.”
I pulled my hand away from his and laced my fingers in my lap.
He tilted his head, studying me, his blue eyes intent. “And you live in Scarlata now? A fae living among vampyres?”
I forced a smile, hoping it didn’t look too unnatural. “Yes. Though, it’s easy to forget that they aren’t fae, until they need to eat, anyway.”
He grimaced. “It must be lonely there.”
I stiffened. Dammit, I hadn’t expected to get so vulnerable. Yet here I was. “Yes, I suppose it gets lonely at times.”
“Do they practice there? The same way fae do?”
Frowning, I searched his face. “Practice what?”
“Magic,” he said easily. “Blood magic, natural magic. Do the vampyres practice freely?”
I considered his question. Since the curse on the lands had been lifted, major sacrifices were no longer required to practice magic. And over time, many vampyres had discovered they had special abilities.
“I suppose they do, yes. Though, it’s not common. Most who are serious about learning their magic attend a magic academy not too far from Scarlata. They’re taught to develop their gifts to their full potential there.”
“And you attended this academy?”
I choked on a laugh, then swallowed another mouthful of wine. “Goddess, no. I had no interest in attending Moira.”
He hummed beneath his breath. “And why is that? As fae living among vampyres, wouldn’t you want all the leverage you could get? Magic could keep you safe.”
“Hmm.” I tapped a finger against the hand-chiseled glass tabletop.
