The blue and white of the Leviathan Prince’s tunic stands out against Troy’s pale green and white. He’s thoroughly engaged in his conversation with Troy, the two of them smiling and laughing with ease.
The sight makes me sigh.
No matter my thoughts on Troy, I can’t deny that he’s built for this, for encounters and nights like this. He’s completely in his element, engaging in a conversation as if it is his second nature. It’s what makes him a great Emissary for Disce.
Next to Prince Isham is another Leviathan, his dark brown skin and braids resting proudly under the sparkling light in the room. I recognize him instantly as the man from that night,Edam, and feel a tug of violence pull at my heart as I continue to walk with the rest of the group.
My gaze takes me back to King Zander, noting that he is now engaged in a small conversation with Keane at his right. His son looks immaculate in a rich emerald tunic and black shirt underneath, the cut down the middle deep and accentuating his broad chest. He looks relaxed and cool next to his father, nodding slightly here and there as he listens to the King in conversation. Next to Keane is Desmond, also clad in an emerald and black ensemble, his dark ebony skin mixing well with his attire as he sits impassively at the table as the Master Informer of the Kingdom of Disce is known to do.
Next to Desmond is Lord Daniel. His brown eyes catch mine as we walk towards the group, his lips tipping up in a grin under his brown beard as I feel my own do the same in greeting. I walk forward with confidence and ignore the few whispers at my back about my dress, my eyes only going wide when Lord Daniel decides to stand up from his seat at the head table.
I smile at his gesture in deep affection, genuinely missing his presence since our recent travel back to Bardot. Both Prince brothers notice Daniel out of his chair and stand shortly after, the two of them looking over the black attire within our group as the King and Queen, even Troy, all stand to greet us.
“Lady Alexis,” King Zander nods, his blue eyes as kind as I remember.
I avoid the other blue gaze and the small smirk from Troy, that violent tug in my heart rearing again and wanting to slap that smile right off his face.
Zander frowns just slightly, his grimace nearly unnoticeable as his gaze darts to Troy down the table and then back to me in an instant.
Fuck. Did he just hear that?
“This court has surely missed your presence,” he continues, “we are happy to have you back.”
“As we are glad to be back, Your Grace,” I give him a proud smile as our full group bows deeply before him. Sera, Alanna and I keep our heads low and angled to the floor in curtsies.
“You enjoyed your travel to the Court of Warriors, then?” Zander asks, taking in the mixture of black and green around me. My eyes dart slightly to the right, catching Keane’s brown gaze for a brief moment before my heart thuds in my chest.
“Immensely, your Grace.”
The King nods with a smile, eyes darting over Sera and Alanna still bowed, “please, ladies, enjoy yourselves tonight. We have a table set and ready for your group.”
The three of us follow the rest of the men who are walking towards an empty table at the front of the court. Cal pulls out a chair next to me, asdoes Holis, while Alanna sits next to Cal with Barnes next to her. The rest of the Warrior soldiers, Sera and the twins complete the circle.
“Whiskey or ale, Lady?” a serving boy greets us from behind.
“One of each, please,” I reply as Cal chuckles next to me, requesting the same. Alanna follows suit, as does Barnes.
“So it’s going to be one of those nights?” Sera looks over the table in laughter.
Our whole group looks at eachother with wicked grins.
It’s definitely going to be one of those nights.
Mana’s hand reaching under the table catches my eyes. He squeezes Sera’s thigh and leans behind her chair to whisper something to his brother, the two of their gazes narrowing on the delegation of Leviathans up ahead. Holis nods at something he says as I pointedly look away from the five Leviathans, my eyes darting across the beautiful room to the other tables as drinks start being handed out. I vaguely hear Cal ordering another round of small whiskeys for us before smiling at a table that hosts a number of the current Queen’s Ladies in Wait. One of the girls catches my gaze and waves from afar, her gaze darting over to her father at the table next to her in a huff as she rolls her eyes in annoyance. I laugh and glance at that table, recognizing the older set of Discerni men with their wives, men that I often found myself smoking with when the end of the night comes.
“Not much has changed,” Cal chuckles next to me.
“No,” I frown in thought. Not much at all.
Everything is exactly as it always is, except tonight I’m doing a double take at all the tables. Most of them are divided between humans and Discerni, separated by race.
Ancients,it’s been right in front of me this whole time.
I scowl at the sight, wishing that I could see the camaraderie of thighs being pressed together under tables and hands being clasped on shoulders. The friendly companionship from those at Warrior is glaringly absent, and I now find the room to be too formal and proper.
I quickly glance towards Keane and catch his brown eyes staring straight at me. He nods in my direction from afar, silently affirming that he’s been watching me come to the small realization this whole time. I flush under that intense stare and force myself to look away, smiling at what does feel normal as I take in the mix of Knowledge and Warrior around me.
Cal pushes a whiskey into my hands, his voice carrying over the tables next to us as he gives a toast.
