Almost.
People greeted us with excitement, bowing low and shakingour hands as we moved from group to group. They were delighted to have their king in their presence, but to my surprise, more of them focused onme.
“It’s so good to see you again, Empress Aris.”
“Our fields have never been better ever since you cleared the blight away!”
“How can we thank you for what you’ve done?”
The comments, kind words, and gratitude were endless. It filled my heart to see them no longer have to worry about the blight, and by the end of our first trip around the large circle, my cheeks hurt from smiling so much.
“They love you,” Galen said when we took a break to watch the dancing. “You must be adored by your people back home.”
I let out a short laugh. “I’m getting there.”
If only he knew.
Dion Silenus approached, his pale cheeks pink from exertion, a thin smile on his normally scowling face. The faint scent of alcohol lingered around him. “Your Majesty, Your Majesty,” he said, bowing to each of us in turn. I raised an eyebrow, still not used to his change in demeanor.
“I’m sorry to take you away so soon, but would it be alright if I borrowed Galen for just a few moments? I’ll bring him back to you before the sacrifices begin,” Dion assured me.
“Of course,” I said. “I wanted to try a drink, anyway.” I waved them off as they walked toward the entrance, then searched for a vendor selling some of the delicious wine I’d smelled earlier.
A few minutes later, I had a cup in hand and found a less busy side of one of the bonfires to plant myself, taking some time away from the crowds to watch them dance and sing and mingle. I didn’t have many moments like this anymore, where I could blend into the background and hear myself think, without the pressure of a meeting or someone needing me.
I swayed to the lively band, my eyes tracing the path of flames and smoke curling against the starry sky.Sweet flavors of cherry and spice burst on my tongue when I took a sip of the wine, and I hummed as it coated my throat.
“Careful,” a deep voice said behind me, making me jump. “That wine is strong.”
I turned, and a slow thrill dripped through my body. “Good evening, Lord Reaux.”
He smirked back at me. “Evening, Empress.”
30
Thorne
Iwas an idiot.
I shouldn’t have walked over to her. I wasn’t even sure why I did. Clarissa appeared so calm, so unrestrained, sofree. I was like a moth drawn to her fire, that blazing spirit I could never quite predict but that entranced me all the same.
And when she looked the way she did tonight…
I was helpless.
Her dress pooled around her feet, with gold threads like sunlight flowing over the fabric and making her shine as brilliantly as her smile. A flower crown was nestled in her blonde waves, and that slit at her leg exposed fair skin that begged to have my handprint on it.
I mentally slammed a wall on that sudden image.
Fates, where did that come from? It was as if the old Thorne were knocking at the door, bringing back a side of me I hadn’t seen in years. Nobody since Iris had caught my attention like this. Nobody since Iris made heat spark in my blood.
Nobody since Iris stopped my heart when holding my daughter.
“How are you doing after today?” I asked. I’d been just outside the clearing with Marigold when we heard the gasps from thecrowd, but I couldn’t get close enough to get a good look. It wasn’t until I passed Marigold off to my mother that I saw the guards barreling the would-be assassin toward a prisoner’s carriage, followed closely by Clarissa and Galen.
She looked every bit the strong empress she was as she tried to hold herself together, but I saw the fear in her dark eyes. The confusion. And when I watched that guard grab her by the arm…it was like some beast roared inside of me, the need to protect her so strong, I wanted to rip his arm out of his socket. How dare he touch her like that? An empress and his soon-to-be queen?
That wasn’tme. I wasn’t easily angered. I didn’t have emotions that surged through me like this, white-hot and branding. I was casual, laid-back, sometimes irritable, often worried, but never consumed.
