Dyna nodded to Lucenna.
Purple Essence flared in her hands. With a wave of her fingers, a containment dome formed around them in a circle and enclosed them inside. No sound could be heard outside of it.
“This is ridiculous,” Lucenna said. Crossing her arms, she plopped on a sofa. “He wishes to have afeastat a time like this?”
Zev found it odd, too. Rawn’s life was on the line, so why delay? “King Leif seemed nervous,” he told them. “When he was speaking to Lady Aerina, his heart rate had spiked for a few seconds.”
Dyna looked to Cassiel. “What do you think it means?”
It surprised Zev that she cared to ask him, but he was raised in court life.
Cassiel crossed his arms behind his back as he studied the castle. “Leif is either stalling or something else is at work here.”
“I find this very unbecoming,” Keena said from where she sat on Von’s shoulder. “Fae are always eager for revelry, but to put it above the life of an important member of his family seems rather cavalier. What if King Leif doesn’t care about what happens to Lord Norrlen?”
The question left them in shocked silence. That was one thing they had not once considered. If so, why have them come all this way?
“I hate to be the one to say it…” Klyde said, sitting beside Lucenna with his silent nephew.
“Then don’t.” She jabbed his thigh, making him jolt. “Rawn isn’t dead. I can still feel him.”
Zev rubbed the back of his neck. He didn’t like delaying this another day at all.
“What should we do?” Von asked.
They all looked to Dyna, and her shoulders straightened as she took a deep breath. “Oaths are binding to the elves. For the King of Red Highland to make an oath to do no harm, so he must honor it. Rawn cannot be touched.”
For now.
It went unsaid, but they all seemed tobe thinking it.
“We have no choice but to be patient and oblige King Leif today,” Dyna continued. “Tomorrow, we will reconvene on what truly matters.”
Once they settledin their rooms, they all bathed and dressed in the clothing left out for them. Zev eyed the soft fabric of his fine gray doublet and new trousers. If not for his worn boots, he could have passed for a lord.
The drawing room with blue upholstery that he shared with the others was quiet. Von and Klyde had already gone ahead. When Zev went out into the hall, Sowmya stood still and silent by the girl’s suite across from him. The red-winged Valkyrie glanced at him impassively. She was always Dyna’s shadow, even when he didn’t see her. He had to acknowledge that loyalty.
Dyna and Lucenna stepped out into the hall, with Keena fluttering around them.
Zev bowed his head. “My ladies, you look enchantingly beautiful this evening.”
Smiling shyly, Dyna took the skirts of her green gown and twirled, dipping in a curtsy. It was an exquisite dress adorned with a trimming of gold leaves at the neckline and jewels at the bodice. The gown Lucenna wore reminded him of a field of lilacs. Embroidered flowers and pearls as small as dewdrops embellished the bodice. A matching jeweled headpiece and purple ribbons pinned back her silver tresses. Keena wore a dress of crimson petals, and her dark curls glinted with tiny gold beads.
“Flattery will most certainly earn you my favor,” Lucenna winked, giving his shoulder a pat as she passed him.
“Mine, too.” Keena planted a tiny kiss on his nose. “Handsome wolf.”
Dyna flashed him a smile as the girls walked ahead of them. She straightened out her skirts. “Raiden had it sent for me.”
“Did he?” Zev held out his arm, and she took it. He heard Cassiel had also sent gifts with the servants, which she had all returned. “Your color looks better.”
“Lucenna brewed us tea last night to replenish our Essence.”
“Good.”
“Have you spoken to him?” Dyna asked after a pause. He could tell she was worried about Cassiel.
“A little, only to make sure he wouldn’t set Evos on fire.” Though Zev sensed what she had really wanted to ask was if he was still angry. “I have already spoken my peace with him, Dyna.”
