He smiled at Calix and me as he walked up to us, looking between the two of us fondly. “I’m incredibly proud of both of you. I know you’ll lead these kingdoms in a new, better age together. One I have no doubt will go down in history.”
I sniffed back tears, throwing my arms around him and murmuring in his ear, “Thank you, Uncle.”
Calix stiffened beside me, and I realized he’d heard me.Damn Fae hearing.
I pulled back, biting my lip as I looked between them. Titan put a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry. Just get through the first dance, and I’ll explain everything. Okay?”
He turned to Calix with a raised brow. Calix looked confused, but nodded in agreement. Titan grunted, nodding back.
It was then we were called back in, so the others entered first, and Calix and I followed them in.
“Uncle?” he whispered to me. The bafflement in his voice was honestly adorable. I couldn’t help giggling.
“Strangely enough,” I confirmed, whispering back to him. “It’s his story to tell, though.” Calix let it go, thankfully. Putting a hand on my back, he guided me to the center of the dance floor, and the music began.
Calix put his arms around my waist as I put mine on his shoulders. I was very thankful once more for those dancing lessons they’d given me previously. Now, I just hoped I remembered all the steps. Thankfully, Calix led, and I moved with him as we swished and swayed around the dance floor.
My dress looked like actual starlight in this light. With the ceiling open to the dark sky and the stars above, a sight I would never tire of, and the reflection of it on the black floors, the sparkle of my dress fit right in. The purple, green, and blue of the Aurora danced above and below us, while the columns of star opal crawling with dragons shone brilliantly in the light. I truly loved this room, and didn’t think any other could compare.
Calix pulled me tight to his body, his wings flaring back before he spun me out, my skirt flying around me. I heard some gasps in the crowd as the layers of starlight glimmered with the movement. My mate pulled me back in and dipped me, taking the opportunity to kiss me as my wings brushed the ground. It was no courtly kiss either. This was full-on tongue invading my mouth and teeth nipping at my lip.
The crowd wolf-whistled and cheered, and we both laughed as Calix lifted me back up.
“They enjoy a good show.” He winked, the smolder he sent me making me bite my lip to suppress the need to jump him.Nox, he made it hard sometimes. It was easier now that I could actually have him, as opposed to the last time we were here when he drove me completely crazy. But—it wasn’tthatmuchbetter.
I was anxious for the after party, to say the least. There was a swing with our names on it, and I was taking that opportunity before the gates of Tartarus opened on us.
The crowd began to join us on the dance floor as the next song began. We danced around them, but as Calix twirled me out, Eryx grasped my hand.
“Hope you don’t mind if I steal her for a bit.” He winked at Calix, who shook his head with a smile. I knew he was off to find Titan and get answers as he walked away. I smiled at Eryx as he grabbed me and twirled me the other way.
“Having fun?” I asked, raising a brow at him.
“Always.” He smirked, that boyish twinkle back in his eyes that had been missing far too often lately with the weight of the war and his role as spymaster pressing on him.
“How are you holding up?” he asked quietly, and I considered his question.
“I think I’m alright.” I finally smiled. “It’s a lot, don’t get me wrong. But Calix has a way of making most of it easy.”
Eryx laughed, shaking his head. “He’s always been like that.”
I cocked my head to the side, and he continued, “He’s always been able to make this job easy. He took to being king like he was born for it—whichhe was. I mean, don’t get me wrong, he struggled at times with the pressure of all his responsibilities, but he never faltered when it came to being king.”
“And that made it easier for all of you in turn.” I realized. Eryx nodded in confirmation, twirling me around once more.
“I was having a hard time when I first began working with Calix,” Eryx told me, and my brows furrowed as I listened. “My parents had been murdered, and I was desperate for revenge.”
I gasped in a breath, shocked at what had happened to him. I had never heard anything about Eryx’s family before.
“I’d grown up here at the palace. My father worked for Calix’s. But when the king died, one of my father’s enemies took the opportunity to take him out. I saw the entire thing and went to Calix for help. I didn’t want him to be arrested. I wanted to go after him myself.” Eryx explained, a grim remembrance all over his face.
“What happened?” I asked him quietly.
Eryx smiled slightly. “Calix helped me work to get my revenge. But afterward, I was lost. Calix made me his spymaster because he knew I could do it after what he’d seen me do during my quest for revenge. But more importantly, he knew putting that responsibility on me would help pull me out of the dark place I was in. He was right.”
Eryx chuckled, shaking his head. “He just made it so easy to fall into the role. And I’ve watched as he’s done the same with everyone else. Finding where they fit in and making it an easy transition. Making all these responsibilities that could crush someone seem even fun at times.”
“I’m sorry that happened to you,” I told him sincerely, and he smiled, giving me a kiss on the cheek.
