“Princess Seren,” the rolling Spanish accent alerted me to Gabriel Alegre's presence before I turned to see him. “I would be honored if you would introduce me to your father.”
“Prime Elder Gabriel Alegre of the Beckoning clan,” I said politely, “this is my father, King Keir Bloodthorn, First King of Twilight.”
“Your Majesty,” Gabriel bowed.
“Prime Elder Alegre,” Keir inclined his head and held out a hand.
“It's a pleasure to meet you,” Gabriel shook the offered hand with a warm smile. “I'm looking forward to cementing a truce between our people.”
“I as well,” Keir nodded. “I'm sorry to hear about the difficulties that arose for your people when they entered Fairy.”
“Ah, yes,” Gabriel frowned. “I had wanted to visit but now I don't believe I shall.”
“Sarah is fully recovered,” I offered. “Danu has returned her to her previous form. But there was a very unusual turn of events as far as Tristan is concerned.”
“More unusual than what had already happened to him?” Alegre lifted a thick brow.
“Tristan has been changed into a sidhe and now holds a place in the High Fairy Council,” I just put it out there.
Both Gabriel and my father looked at me in shock.
“The Princess is trying to say that the Goddess has blessed Tristan's faith in her by giving him the form he secretly desired and placing him in a position which lies close to her heart,” Tiernan explained tactfully. “He resides on the holy Isle of Danu now. I'm sorry but he won't be returning to the Human Realm.”
“One of our own has been changed into a full fairy by the Goddess?” Gabriel blinked. “That's wonderful news. Hopefully he can become a symbol of our unity for our future.”
“Yes, hopefully,” Keir agreed but he was staring at someone off to his left, giving him a warning look. I glanced over and saw High Councilman Lorcan, who must have overheard our conversation and didn't seem to feel as positive about Tristan's transition as we did.
“Some may find his rapid advance unsettling,” I said to Gabriel, though I was actually speaking to Lorcan. “But when the Goddess speaks... or acts, we must obey her wishes and accept what she has done.”
Lorcan gave me a bitter look but nodded and moved away.
“Unfortunately,” Elder Alegre said, “we cannot count on the Goddess returning all of us to our previous forms if we should happen to be changed by Fairy too. So I think I'll remain in this realm and deny myself the pleasure of speaking with her.”
“I think that's the wisest course,” Keir agreed. “Besides, we don't yet know if the Councils will agree to visitation.”
“You're right,” Alegre inclined his head. “I shouldn't lament things which may not even be within my reach.”
“But perhaps they are withinmyreach,” Elder Crispin Arterbury came forward to bow to me. “Princess Seren.”
“Prime Elder Crispin,” I nodded. “This is my father, King Keir Bloodthorn of Twilight. Dad, this is Prime Elder Crispin Arterbury of the Bite clan.”
“Yes,” my father shook Crispin's hand. “We met earlier. How are you enjoying the party, Elder Arterbury?”
“Well, I'd enjoy it better if I had the pleasure of dancing with a fairy princess,” he lifted a brow at me.
“And you'd have a better chance of that happening if you didn't call me a fairy princess to my face,” I teased him.
“Oh, I should have known better but the crown threw me off,” he recovered immediately. “A modern woman like you must prefer those titles that you have won rather than been given. I beg your forgiveness, Ambassador.”
“That's better,” I laughed. “But the first dance is always reserved for my boyfriend,” I nodded towards Tiernan. “Perhaps the second?”
“I'll wait with bated breath,” he vowed dramatically.
“On that note, gentlemen,” Tiernan nodded to the men and then offered me his arm. “Would you like to dance, Twilight Star?”
“Lead the way, Lord Hunter,” I took his hand.
Tiernan whisked me into the middle of the dance floor and pulled me close. I looked up into his gleaming silver eyes and knew there was no other man I wanted to be there with. Raza's kiss might have been hot and exciting but Tiernan could keep the heat going beyond the initial flutterings of desire. Tiernan could make love to me with a look and touch me deeper than any mere physical connection would allow. That was something to be treasured.
