Aerin meets Fyton’s gaze. There is still rage in his brown eyes. With his position as both bond-mate to the King and head of the Royal Guard, Fyton is almost never questioned. The only creature he answers to is Oberyn.
“Well?” Aerin shoves more bravado into her tone than she’s really feeling. “Let’s go.”
Pushing past the remaining guards, Malice, Emrys, and Khortland move with Aerin. She swallows down her nerves as they walk across Valtara to the Royal Village.
Whatever her father wants from her, it can’t be good. And injuring Fyton, no matter how temporary the wound, would only make things worse. Luckily, Aerin doesn’t have to wait long. Her father meets them in the grand entrance.
Oberyn Tolvare is handsome in his age, like a figurine, not a single hair is out of place. His beauty doesn’t match the coldness that rolls off him in waves.
Upon arrival, the other guards make themselves scarce. Only Fyton, who flanks one side of the entrance, and Malice, who stops at the other, remain. Khortland stands to Aerin’s left. Emrys on her right.
Anger flashes over Oberyn’s face when he lays eyes on Emrys. Aerin places her hand protectively on his back. Her father looks up at her, his golden eyes a mirror to hers. His golden hair a mirror to hers. The Tolvare blessing and the Tolvare curse.
“Prince Khortland, please, Esalin is waiting in the sitting room to greet you properly. The Princess and I will be along in a moment.” Oberyn gestures to a hallway where a guard waits to lead her Paramyr away.
They exchange a glance.
“Ever a pleasure to visit your City-State, King Tolvare. I am elated to spend my summer here.” Khortland gives a slight bow before disappearing with the guard.
“My petulant child returns,” Oberyn says lowly once Khortland is out of ear shot.
Aerin rolls her eyes at him. In response, her father bares his canines at her before snapping his mouth shut aggressively. A warning.
“You are at the end of your rope, Aerin. Keep pulling and I will retaliate.”
Aerin’s anger burns under her skin as she takes a step forward. “You already have me leashed, Father. What’s next? A choke collar?”
Her father matches her step, rising above Aerin.
“You do not want to test me, child. I have never locked you up the way you like to pretend I have. I have given you everything, and yet you continue to disobey me. To disgrace this family.”
He’s always unfair, her father. And it feeds Aerin’s anger, justifies the way it begs to shatter the entire room. She pushes that desire down; her father cannot know she has full access to her magic again.
Aerin takes a deep breath followed by a step away. Back at Emrys’s side she strokes his head, leveling her words. “He’s the first of his kind you know.”
Oberyn’s eyes heat with rage at the acknowledgement of the Wolf. Aerin doubts he believes the lie, but he won’t question the Hale’s for the sake of peace between the City-States.
“Part of Vitus’s collection, made just for me.” Aerin continues to pet Emrys. She keeps her eyes locked on her father. “I know it seems like I spent my whole weekend in Zeneith partying, and trust me, Khortland and I did have our fun…” Aerin gives Oberyn a smile she knows will boil his blood. He narrows his gaze at her as she continues to pet Emrys. “But I also spent quite a bit of time with Vitus. Such an interesting Fae. He showed me his entire collection you know.” Aerin holds her father’s glare. Something else in the gold reflects back at her, a crack is hisfaçade. Perhaps he’s remembering what exactly he did to that Wolf, her mother, in those dungeons years ago. “Wow does he havestories,” she adds casually.
Oberyn’s eye twitches.
Aerin sighs, relaxing her body, dissolving the tension.
“Anyways.” Aerin takes steps away from her father, following the path Khortland took out of the room, Emrys at her heels. Malice shadows her step for step. “I’ll keep your warning in mind, Father.”
Oberyn Tolvare says nothing.
By the timethey get back to Aerin’s apartment building the sun is setting. Tea with her parents had been painful. Cisera joined them, talking up Khortland while Esalin eyed Emrys with distrust.
It was uncomfortable at best, leaving Aerin exhausted.
The elevator comes and she nods to Khortland and Emrys. “You two go; we’ll take the next one,” she tells them, wanting a moment alone with Malice. The blood-bond has been writhing unhappily in her side all day.
As the doors close Aerin says, “You’re really going to keep this up?”
Malice turns, staring down at her, clenching his jaw.
“Yes,” he says with finality before turning back to the elevator.
