I try my best to hide my scowl and lower my head again.
“Please accept my humblest apologies for interrupting your court, Your Highness…”
When I stand back up it’s with a smirk of my own, my eyes darting over the tables with an unimpressed look, “though it looks like I’m not interrupting much.”
Cal’s choked cough is the only sound that greets the room. I catch his gaze a few seats down from the Prince and offer him a wink in salute.
Keane grins and raises his voice to address the room, “Lady Alexis, here, was under the impression that she would be greeted tonight by copious amounts of ale, fist fighting and sexual proclivities that involve groups of three or more…”
The room erupts with a round of deep chuckles and the banging of drinks on tables.
“And while I’ll never deny a woman any of those pleasures, let’s first make sure she has the stamina that is due to our Court of Warriors.”
Keane glances back down at me, his amusement nearly effortless as he says his next words slowly, “our Courtlastsfar longer than Knowledge, Lady Alexis. In more ways than one. You’re welcome to join us for those pleasures if you think you can make it through the night.”
The roar of mugs and fists banging against the tables is deafening. The Prince laughs with his court and extends his arm to the side of his table, his playful browns eyes dancing across my face as he points to an empty seat at his side.
“Next to me, Lady Alexis.”
Ancients.
I’m in over my head.
I give the Prince one last curtsy and walk towards the end of his table, the long slit in my dress exposing my thigh to the court in the process.
“Is that a strap against her inner thigh?”
“Ancients, it is.”
“And that’s the King’s Golem following her…”
“Do all ladies at Knowledge buckle?”
“I think we need to make a trip to Bardot, boys!”
I turn to Discerni who made that last comment and smile at him in agreement.
“The ladies of our Court would of course be happy to accommodate you all.”
The man’s eyes widen on mine in surprise. He gives me a small nod and then starts chuckling with the men around him, the group actually considering the travel.
“Alexis…” the Prince calls my name in slight exasperation.
I laugh and move around the end of the table, meeting him just as he pulls out the empty chair.
“You couldn’t have sat me with Cal and the twins?” I murmur, adjusting my dress as I sit down.
“Not tonight,” he replies, “I’m feeling a bit selfish.”
I flush and adjust my dress again, tugging at the fabric across my breasts as he takes his seat at my side. Slowly, but with the confidence that comes so naturally to him, Keane reaches for my hand and pulls it away from my dress.
“Don’t hide yourself, Alexis,” he says quietly, “not from me, not from anyone here.”
I let out a deep exhale and force myself to look away from his gaze.
So fucking over my head.
Court turns back to its lively and raucous chatter, the drinks overflowing and being poured by young boys who are running up and down the tables. Pipes of shisha are already being passed around by both Discerni and humans sitting side by side and sharing the smoke, while women and men shoulder up next to eachother in familiarity. There’s no proper seating as there is in Knowledge, no calm chatter over dinner that’s paired with the sounds of harps and flutes. The energy of the room is just soalive, a complete breath of fresh air that’s joyful to look at.
