At least she was predictable.
From the other side walked two males, one nearly as covered in the black lines as his father and the other not terribly affected at all. Somehow, he had escaped the worst of the twist overloading his family.
“He’s the baby of the family,” Tarian said, sitting back and crossing an ankle over his knee. He turned Daisy so she was heavily resting against his side and slung his free arm across the back of the couch, getting comfortable. “He’s never been ambitious, doesn’t partake in the family dynamics very much, and is gentler than the average fae.”
“Which means his father thinks he’s weak.”
“Exactly. It might save his life. If the magic is cleansed soon, he should be able to come back from it.”
“But his family is…”
“Utterly fucked. They are too far gone.”
She wouldn’t even have to feel bad when she burned this place to the ground.
He laughed softly. “As if you would anyway.”
Instruments in an unseen corner came to life, the first notes floating up and hanging in the air before more joined them. A collection of fae took to the dance floor in odd groupings, each dance organized but changed a little depending on the number of people they had. She watched in fascination, quite liking the look of their flow and movement.
“I can teach you,” Tarian said, looking down at her with a smile. “I’m sure you’d pick it up quickly.”
“Learning and practicing the magic is much more important.” Which was a real shame, because she would’ve loved the opportunity to dance with him, her hand in his, his body close, his focus solely on her.
“One day, then.”
Sure, why not?
Those not dancing sought out food and drink, holding obsidian plates rimmed with gold and decadent glasses sparkling with a ruby elixir.
“Pixie wine,” he murmured, voice very low so no one could hear their conversation. She wondered why he spoke instead of using mindgazer magic.
He glanced around in obvious boredom.To let them know I talk to you. I share things with you. Things I am not allowing anyone else to hear. That’ll make them more suspicious of me, which will make them try to seek out the things I say. These royals—the court as a whole—are extremely paranoid, and I have more knowledge about the fringe than they do. It might buy me time, which should, in turn, buy you time.
“It is extremely potent,” he continued. “More than anything I’ve tried in the human world.”
“Have you tried moonshine?”
“Moon…shine? No. That sounds like something inspired by Faerie.”
“I think it’s more inspired by getting a kick while saving a buck, but sure. How about absinthe?”
“No…” he drew out.
She nodded. She’d tried those things and knew how her body reacted to them. It could help her gauge pixie wine if she ended up in a situation where it was served to her.
“It would’ve been nice to have a guide in the human world,” Tarian mused. Deep night rolled over the shining marble floor along the back wall. A few nobles gave it furtive glances andsubtly shifted away. “I learned a great deal from the memories of humans, but that is nothing like experiencing it for oneself or getting the surprise of a new sensation.”
His eyes focused, looking straight ahead. Across from them, the shadow stretched across the floor, blanketing the ground. It reached under tables and caressed the feet and legs of various fae it passed. It seemed to engage with those who were the most twisted.
Tarianthiel,a voice said, winding between him and Daisy.HandsomeTarianthiel…
Blackness crowded around their feet. Licked at their legs.
What is it?dark and dank voices whispered. They were like that of the wylds, but…wrong. Nightmarish.
“Twisted magic taking root in the castle,” Tarian said, unperturbed. “Ignore it.”
It does not belong here…The darkness at their feet clutched Daisy’s legs and started to crawl up. The dank cold seeped into her bones. Her skin felt like it was changing, like mold was growing.It does not belong here!
