Then we were entering the ballroom of the High Council of Fairy. Muted conversations melded with the strains of string instruments as my sight filled with fluttering gowns on dancing women and the gleam of jeweled sword hilts on dashing men. I was a little taken aback at how very many people were in the room. With all of the clans of the Coven represented, both Councils, the Extinguishers, the Wild Hunt, and every fairy noble who felt the need to be included in such a momentous affair, the room was near to bursting.
Everyone was dressed as if to show the others how important they were. I actually felt a little underdressed in my simple ruby velvet. I pulled self-consciously at the ombré aubergine stripe in my hair, twirling the lavender tip around my finger. The only jewelry I had on was my star pendant; a gift from my parents... all of them, in a way.
Keir, who was dressed as a king of Fairy with crown and all, smiled down at me and waved someone forward. It was Ainsley and he held a purple cushion with my crown on it. My crown was a daintier version of my father's; a platinum circle of thin spires topped with diamond stars. It was tall, as far as crowns go, and I generally tried not to wear it. But amidst this group, it seemed imperative that I did.
“Princess,” Ainsley smiled at me as he offered the crown to my father.
“Sir Ainsley,” I smiled back. “Thank you for playing the role of crown bearer.”
“My pleasure,” Ainsley bowed after Keir took the crown and then removed himself and the pillow discreetly.
“Daughter,” Keir lifted the crown and I edged forward enough to indicate that he could place it on me. He settled it firmly on my head, the thin layer of padding within the rim helping it to stay in place. “Beautiful.”
“Yes, indeed,” Uisdean agreed as he sidled up to us. “Brother,” he nodded to my father.
“Brother,” my father gave Uisdean a measured look. “I've heard of what you did for Seren. Thank you.”
“The Goddess called,” Uisdean shrugged but his pride was obvious and I wouldn't be surprised to hear him repeat that phrase throughout the night.Yes, well the Goddess called me herself blah, blah, blah.
“And he exacted payment,” I added.
“You made my daughter pay for your assistance?” My father narrowed his eyes on Uisdean and Tiernan tensed beside me.
I'd forgotten to tell Tiernan about the dragons. He was just going to love this, we'd gotten rid of one only to have a whole court of them thrown in my lap.
“Merely a request for her help in an ambassadorial matter,” Uisdean waved his hands out expansively. “That's her job, is it not?”
“What matter?” My father leaned toward his brother aggressively and the conversations around us ceased.
When two kings of Fairy argued, you paid attention. If for no other reason than to know when to run and in which direction.
“I have a meeting with the Court of the Nine Sons, nothing too dangerous,” Uisdean's eyes were like pits of darkness but his lips smiled wide, reminding me a little of a dullahan grin.
“Nothingtoo dangerous?!” My father let go of my hand and edged into Uisdean's personal space. “You want her to accompany you into a dragon court and you say it's nothing dangerous? Fairies have died from merely standing too close to a dragon argument.”
“Or an argument of kings,” I muttered. “Perhaps this isn't the best place for this? Or time?”
“Perhaps not,” Keir clenched his jaw as he breathed heavily through his anger.
“This is your daughter's duty,” Uisdean went serious. “She's our Ambassador, that means helping to keep the peace... in every kingdom. You cannot hoard her to yourself, Keir.”
“We'll discuss this later, Uisdean,” Keir growled and turned away, right into his sister, Moire.
“Awkward,” I groaned as we faced my aunt. The last time I'd seen Moire was when she'd come to ask for her son's release from our dungeon. It hadn't gone so well.
“Keir,” she hissed.
She looked fully recovered from the bloodthorns my father had inflicted upon her when she tried to attack me. But recovered didn't mean healthy for Moire. Her emaciated frame was enveloped in pallid skin, as white as bleached bone, and her hair matched it perfectly. It made her look like she didn't have eyebrows, a very creepy visual in my opinion. In fact, she was almost colorless, the only hint of life was within the barest blush of blood on her lips and in the gray of her eyes.
“Moire,” Keir barely glanced at his sister before brushing past her. He did stop to speak with her son though. “Bress, how are you?”
“I'm well, Uncle,” my cousin nodded politely but there were shadows under his eyes as well as within them. His slate-blue hair puffed around him like angry clouds as he bowed to me. “Cousin Seren.”
“Cousin Bress,” I found myself leaning forward to kiss his cheek and whisper, “The offer still stands. You'll always be welcome in Twilight.”
When I pulled back, I found him staring at me in shock, a thin film of moisture over his steel-swirled, sapphire eyes. He quickly blinked it away though and recovered his composure, giving me a jerky nod before turning away to attend his monstrous mother.
I don't know why I felt pity for Bress. He'd once tried to do horrible things to me. But then I'd seen how abused he was, how broken his mind was, and I'd felt bad for him. Danu had just spoken to me about keeping myself open to love. Maybe she had meant Bress... and the Goddess must not be ignored. Besides, I didn't have a lot of family left. If I could bring Bress back from the dark side, it would feel like a huge win for me.
