Dreary. I chuckled at the word. My grandfather had never known dreariness if this was what he thought exemplified it. Then again, there was that corpse. I glanced at Halvram as we left the cell and spared a second to pity him. He had likely started as a normal Danutian; it was the power that changed him. I could understand that; I had once been a little high on power myself. But I had done the right thing and returned the asha I'd taken from Prince Terial to its rightful owners. I had risen above the allure of divinity and because of that, the Gods of Danu still considered me a friend and a little goddess.
But I wasn't a goddess and I didn't want to be. I took Everan's hand as we left the dreary dungeon and smiled. My life was perfect as it was.
Chapter Fifty-One
My grandparents and uncle met my husbands and consort—that's the title they gave Kyrian—for the first time. It went well, especially since my men were partially responsible for saving the realm. The color of Malik's eyes even won a gasp of amazement from my grandmother. In Danu, only monarchs have purple eyes but Malik's title helped to ease my grandmother's shock. He might not have enough magic to be considered a prince in Danu but he was a prince nonetheless.
After the introductions, Uncle Nial took my men, Braxis, and I on a tour of the Northern Kingdom. Everan was the only one who had seen all of it before but he seemed to enjoy it anyway. Our reactions to the glorious kingdom full of lush forests, dramatic mountains, and wide plains doubtless entertained him. Watching the other men definitely entertained me. I loved seeing the surprise fill their eyes when strange creatures passed by and their general awe at the magical grandeur of Danu.
Malik's reaction to the Pixies was my favorite.
A flock of them took to the air as our open carriage passed by their meadow. Once they realized who was in the carriage, they swooped around and down to greet their prince. Nial lifted his hand graciously and the Pixies swirled around it, touching it with their tiny fingers before flying away. Their gossamer wings caught the afternoon light and shifted through opalescent, pastel colors. Hair in the colors of the rainbow adorned their little heads and delicate garments clothed their miniature bodies. Their laughter lingered like the echoes of birdsong as they flew away.
“What the hell were those things?” Malik asked in a low, wary voice as his wide, amethyst stare followed the flock of Pixies.
“Pixies,” I said with amusement. “Why do you look ready to bolt?”
“They're tiny Danutians with wings,” Malik growled. “A small creature with the mind of a personandflight! A swarm of such beings could be deadly.”
“They're just Pixies, Mal.” I took Malik's hand reassuringly. “They're harmless. They only swarm when they're flying away in fright.”
Malik looked unconvinced.
“Thoseare Pixies?” Braxis asked, then looked at me. “It appears that I must come up with a new name for you.”
“You will not give my mvarra any such endearment,” Malik growled.
Braxis sighed but inclined his head in acquiescence to Malik. I gave Malik a chiding look.
“What?” Malik asked me. “I don't wish for him to give you playful names to express any intimacy. How is that in any way wrong?”
“It's not,” I conceded. “You're right.”
Malik glared at Braxis and Braxis met his glare steadily.
“Why are your eyes that color, Prince Malik?” Braxis asked casually.
We all went still.
Malik's eyes were amethyst because of the Amaranthine Elixir but that was a secret we couldn't share—one my men would kill to protect. When Malik visits Hell, he wears the Bleiten version of contacts to cover the color of his eyes but he hadn't thought to put them on for Braxis.
“They're contacts,” I said brightly. “Eye films. We can't take the risk of humans seeing Malik's eyes shift to red so he wears them to prevent that.”
Braxis frowned.
“Contacts?” My uncle asked.
My men had met my family privately so Braxis hadn't witnessed my grandmother's surprise to Malik's eyes. But now, Uncle Nial was confused and likely wondering if we had deceived him.
“Yes, they're thin coverings that can be worn over the eyes to improve vision or change eye color,” I said to Uncle Nial as I widened my eyes at him pointedly.
“Ah, how interesting,” Uncle Nial declared, covering for me even though he didn't know why.
I'd tell him later—something I tried to express through my grateful smile.
Braxis frowned deeper but then he said, “Maybe I should acquire some eye films as well.”
“That might be a good idea,” I agreed, then cast a relieved look at my men. “Your height alone will cause humans to stare at you.”
