He has power, Lady Alexis. Pure, raw, unfettered power to the Lands. The type that only comes around once in a few generations…
Ancients.
That’s power,indeed.
Barnes hands me the second drink and gets to pouring again. I take both to the table and drop them off with Alanna and Cal, then head back to the barrel.
“I fear I may want to do this more often, Sera,” Cal chuckles from behind as Barnes and I grin together.
“We will welcome you any night,” Sera replies with genuine enthusiasm in her voice, “all of you.”
I turn and spot Mana giving his wife another rare smile before he slides his hand under the table to place it on Sera’s thigh. He gives it a squeeze, the sight completely wholesome, as Barnes hands me two moremugs and sends me on my way. I drop them in front of the loving couple and make my way back to my seat.
Barnes pours two more drinks for Holis and I before he finishes off for Lord Daniel and himself. I take my drink in thanks and turn in my seat towards Holis, watching as he reaches out to pour a glass of water for Stormfall.
You’ve missed this pampering, haven’t you Storm?
The Bird of Ash looks at me and gives a small caw in reply, puffing his chest out proudly. I chuckle and shake my head at him in small amusement just as Holis shifts in his seat to look at me curiously.
“Stormfall has missed your spoiling of him, Holis.”
Holis grins and continues to stroke Storm on his chest, the purr of satisfaction greeting his fingers in return. Cal and Alanna are also smiling at the Bird of Ash, but both lift their gazes and drop their mugs on the table, standing swiftly from their chairs. Loud and commanding footsteps grace the café from behind as my heart takes a few leaps out of my chest. I take a deep breath and softly place my own mug on the table and stand to greet the Princes.
Both Keane and Desmond have the looks of clouded exhaustion on their faces, but they both relax when they take in the veranda in front of them. Keane has changed and is dressed in Warrior black, the darkness always looking good on him as he smiles to the table. Desmond is wearing the deep green of Warrior with black pants, also matching his brother in his dark attire. He looks formidable, they both do, a harsh reminder of who they are and what they do for the Kingdom.
We all give the Prince brothers a brief bow in greeting. Keane makes his way to Lord Daniel first, clasping his arm with a small nod.
“Thank you for keeping an eye on the Leviathans.”
Daniel dips his head to his Prince, replying softly, “they’ve been rather quiet over the last few days.”
Keane grimaces but nods in return, reaching out to Barnes as Desmond says hello to the Discerni twins and Sera.
“Thank you for hosting us tonight, Sera.”
“Of course, Prince Desmond. The pleasure is mine.”
Desmond smiles at the beautiful Discerni woman and greets the rest of the table around him, finally heading to the seat next to Alanna. He clasps a hand on Cal’s shoulder in greeting when he walks by, his hard features giving me a silent nod when he sits down.
Keane also turns in his walk to greet Sera and the twins, smiling to Cal and Alanna before taking his seat at the other head of the table. The full of our group sits down with him, my hands reaching for two empty glasses and the whiskey while ignoring the small blush that wants to creep onto my cheeks. I can feel the Prince’s gaze watching my movements, the simple glance making my heart race.
Keane reaches under the table and pulls on the leg of my chair, bringing it and my ignoring eyes closer to him. My full body stills at the movement, my heart pounding rapidly, everything about me not knowing what to do as I feel everyone’s gazes land on the two of us, curious as to our interactions.
I focus instead on pouring drinks for the brothers and wait for someone to begin a conversation,anyconversation. But the table remains silent, as if waiting for the Prince to begin the night.
Keane brings his hand to my thigh with a squeeze, leaning forward to grab the drink I poured for him with a knowing smirk. I silently take a deep breath and pass the second to Desmond, the full of the table still eerily quiet.
Desmond catches my gaze when I offer him the whiskey and nearly laughs in amusement at my expense. His lips pull up in a wide smirk, knowing exactly what’s taking place and what has me so stiff, so I scowl in response and take his drink back before he can wrap his fingers around it. The whiskey is gone not a moment later, my eyes glaring at Disce’s Master Informer as the slight burn runs down my throat.
Keane’s hand on my thigh tightens as he leans back in his chair, a low chuckle gracing the table. Both Desmond and Cal give a small laugh as I pass the empty glass back to the dark Discerni, letting him pour his own drink going forward.
“After all I have done to help you, Alexis…”
I roll my eyes with a smile and sit back in my own chair, letting my gaze finally move around the silent table. Both Cal and Alanna are grinning knowingly behind their drinks, with Cal’s arm still resting casually around her chair. Barnes is looking between me and both of the Princes in small curiosity, while Holis, Mana and Sera all have polite gazes that revert back to Stormfall. But it’s my glance on Lord Daniel that makes me regret looking around the table, because for the first since I’ve met him, the Lord’s face is calm and disinterested, settling into his Discerni features as he gazes stoically at Keane from across the table, not meeting my stare.
I bring my ale up to my lips with a sad sigh, turning to see Keane holding the Lord’s gaze with his own.
Ancients.
