I walked beside Dreynthor toward the ballroom, our footsteps ringing against the vast sweep of the palace balcony.
"And when might we expect Lady Elariya's arrival?" Dreynthor's voice was smooth, polite on the surface. But underneath, there was a condescending edge, sharp enough to draw blood.
I kept my expression neutral, my pace steady, my gaze ahead.
"She'll be here any minute," I said evenly. "The carriage left some time ago."
“Carriage?” His brows shot up to meet his hairline. “She does realize this is the magical realm, right? You could have portaled her in. Or does she prefer to be horse driven? Most humans do.”
I cut him a scathing look. He’d been more of an asshole tonight than ever. I’d arrived twenty minutes ago and it had been one jab after another with him.
“I have Crown-Elk, not horses. You know that.” I held his gaze. “My wife like the carriage ride and the view of the kingdom.”
“Of course she does.” There was tone again, dripping with his haughty arrogance. "I certainly hope yourmateunderstands the importance of tonight."
“All I require of her tonight is to be here. That isall.”
His gaze hardened to steel. “That is not all, Wolfe. Someone should have seen to it that she was properly instructed in the etiquette of our world. It already looks bad enough that you’re marrying beneath your station.”
Merciless Gods be good. I needed strength — or something stronger than restraint — to stop myself from strangling him.After the day I’ve had it would take a lot hold be back. Especially when it came to my uncle.
I knew Elariya would be evaluated by him most of all. But there would be others. One misstep, one moment of weakness, and they’d use it against her. Dreynthor wanted me to know that. Wanted me to feel the weight of it.
But I wasn’t concerned with their opinions. The only thing that mattered was how they behaved around her.
No one wanted a problem with me. They wouldn’t be foolish enough to create one by mistreating my mate.
The hallway widened ahead of us as we passed through the ornate doors.
We both gazed below as we entered the ballroom.
The room was already brimming with people, but what drew my eye were the Kings of Vaelthorne. They’d come. All of them ten of them. Along with the high mages from the mage realms. They gathered beneath the chandeliers like a constellation of crowns.
The turnout was far larger than I’d expected. The invitation had gone out this morning—and none of them had been compelled to attend. They had come anyway. For me.
I glanced sideways at Dreynthor.
For just a heartbeat—so brief I might have missed it if I hadn't been watching—something flickered across his face. But I caught it.
Unease.
And judging by the tension now radiating from him it was clear he hadn't anticipated this level of support. Or that I had more backing from the kings across the realm than he’d ever assumed. Their turnout told him that I was not alone.
"Seems I have more allies than I thought." I made no effort to hide the satisfaction threading through my tone.
Dreynthor's smile was tight, nothing reaching his eyes. "Yes. It seems that way." His gaze fixed on the gathering below. "Though it would have strengthened your claim considerably had you chosen a princess from one of their kingdoms."
"Clearly I don’t need to strengthen my claim." That shut him down.
Dreynthor's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, but he said nothing more.
We continued along the sweep of the balcony, the music from below rising in a steady hum of strings and low conversation. Torches burned in their sconces, casting their glow across the marble floor.
Then something tightened low in my chest.
Not pain. Not warning.
Recognition.
