The Gold Court arrived first, their young-looking king a gleaming beacon of bronzed skin covered in gold chains that highlighted the ramentum decorating his arms and chest. Four guards marched in crisp formation behind him, their pristine white tunics and breeches covered with an elaborate gold brocade stitching that put our guard’s relatively plain uniforms to shame.
Behind their angelic blond ruler trailed a line of what I assumed to be their competitors for the games. Two by two, they kept steady pace, each of them outfitted in similar white and gold attire save for the addition of two black sashes accented with golden chainmail crossing their chests.
They all looked so regal with their heads held high, their backs straight, and one hand resting on the golden pommel of their identical swords. They had two females among their competitors, and I was surprised to see one of them with gray hair and wrinkles. Apparently skilled magic beat out physical prowess.
The Silver Court followed shortly after, and the difference between the two courts was like night and day. While the GoldCourt was all shiny golden light, the Silver Court was darkness personified.
Their king cut a terrifying image as he made his way into the castle. He had to be older than my father, with a long gray beard that hung halfway down his chest. The hair on his head was pitch black, though, and I wondered if they had hair dye here. I guess vanity spanned all the universes. He wore a long, sleeveless black and silver robe that hung open in front to show off his ramentum. A nervous looking guard held the bottom of the garment off the ground, and the king's vicious scowl could give Sin a run for his money.
Tearing my eyes away from their king, I scanned the competitors lined up behind him. They also entered two by two, but none were dressed the same. If the Gold Court valued conformity, then the Silver Court valued individuality. And lack of clothing. All of the competitors were clad in scraps of silver and black fabric that showed off far more pale skin than seemed necessary. One female clutching the arm of the male beside her wore little more than a silver chain bikini and a few wisps of black chiffon that hung from her waist. She had the body to pull it off so kudos to her.
Behind them were two of the strangest looking Vitaeans I had ever seen. Both wore translucent, shapeless black frocks that covered their entire bodies from head to toe yet still allowed their skin to show through, revealing their dark undergarments and assortment of thin silver chains wrapped around their legs and arms. A solid black strip of cloth covered their eyes, yet I never once saw their steps falter.
My eyes drifted past that couple to the two males behind them. One was surprisingly scrawny and wore his black robe open at the chest with a pair of black and silver breeches underneath, but it was the male beside him that had me shuddering. He wasn’t so much a male as an oversized marble statue brought tolife. He wore nothing but a pair of black calf-high boots and tight black shorts that would look obscene even on a beach. His entire body was rippling, overinflated muscle that was far too veiny and bloated to ever be considered attractive. Thick silver chains hung from his neck, and I could hear them clinking all the way from my bedroom. I gasped as he looked toward my window and his lecherous gaze tracked me watching him. He blew me a kiss, and I nearly gagged.
Moving away from the window, I let the curtains fall into place. I would see more than enough of them at dinner tonight.
Chapter forty-one
I made sure I was showered and dressed before the sisters arrived later that evening. They both wrinkled their noses at my dress choice then disappeared. When they returned, they had a number of different diamond necklaces, bracelets, and a delicate silver chain with diamond teardrops hanging from it. The latter they looped around my waist. It was actually quite pretty the way it draped off my hips, and I had to admit the jewelry did elevate the look slightly.
Dey arrived shortly after the sisters completed their final touches, a flat black case clutched in his hand. “Your father wanted to be here for this moment, but I am afraid—”
“I know, I know,” I said, waving my hand and cutting him off. “Council. Duties. Blah blah blah. I get it. What’s in the box?”
Dey’s face lit up as he opened the case. “You would not be a proper princess without your tiara.”
I stared speechless at the beautiful creation nestled down into a velvet burgundy lining. The delicate twisting of silver and diamonds was nothing like my father’s ostentatious crown. Thiswas far more understated—a thin band with only a single tier of small oval gems in the front. When my father said a tiara was being made, I had been terrified I would have to endure something akin to his own gaudy crown, but this was perfect.
Dey shifted nervously when I didn’t immediately take it from his hands. “Do you like it, Princess? I hope it pleases you.”
“It does,” I admitted, reaching to take it out of the box.
“Allow me,” Dey said, and I let him weave the ends of the tiara into my hair, surprised to find it weighed practically nothing.
Dey held out an arm, and I reluctantly accepted it as we stepped out into the hall.
I immediately pulled up short as we nearly crashed into Sin waiting outside my door. My heart skipped a beat as I took in his dinner attire. Gone was his standard black tunic, and in its place was a resplendent burgundy jacket secured tightly over his broad chest by a series of diamond buttons with a line of smaller stones stitched along the sleeves. Matching wine-colored breeches with black stitching up the sides and tall black leather boots that hugged his calves completed the look. The outfit, combined with his hair secured tightly at the nape of his neck, made him look regal in a way I had never seen before.
“Dreisin,” Dey said stiffly.
“Deylan,” Sin acknowledged, then switched to Rivellan knowing full well I could understand him. “King Verren is looking for you to discuss some Silver Court dietary restrictions that you didn’t relay to the kitchen. I will escort the princess to dinner.”
Dey frowned. “I told the kitchen all the necessary requirements.”
Sin shrugged. “Perhaps you missed one. I don’t know. Simply relaying the message.”
Dey looked torn, but I just waited. He was nothing if not predictable and would always rush to the king's side.
“Apologies,” he said, turning to me. “I am needed elsewhere. Would it be alright if Dreisin escorted you to dinner? I will join you shortly.”
Remembering that I was supposed to dislike Sin still, I gave Dey a frustrated look. “I guess.” I turned to Sin and glared. “Just keep your distance. You smell awful.”
A smirk crept onto Sin’s face. “Whatever the princess desires.”
Apparently satisfied that he wasn’t handing me over to anybody that might be competition, Dey released me and hurried off down the hall.
“You don’t smell awful,” I whispered, taking Sin’s arm. “You smell like heaven.”
