"Thank you for complying and for your hospitality. I truly am sorry that we had to do this," I told them. "If you ever need the same from us, I am more than happy to take a truth serum or help in any way to help this empire. The Allura Empire is my home."
"And it will always be your home." The emperor nodded respectfully.
Empress Lovington smiled, glancing at the emperor. "It seems we might have to cut dinner short before we actually get to eat. My husband is not going to rest until he gets to speak to Emperor Lloyd."
"We completely understand," I assured them.
"Please feel free to stay and eat. We will still serve your dinner. Our home is your home. We have a beautiful garden that you're welcome to visit at all hours of the night," Emperor Lloyd told us as he got to his feet. "If you'll excuse us."
The emperor and empress left the dining hall, and we stayed seated to eat.
A lingering feeling of betrayal tickled in the back of my mind. I didn't trust Matthieu at all, and I had a feeling our mission here would be something he orchestrated to distract us from what he was really doing.
7
FAWN
I satcross-legged in the center of the large bed in the room the emperor and empress allowed us to stay in. My wet hair hung behind my shoulders, sticking to Aimon's large t-shirt that hit me mid-thigh.
My eyes were shut as I summoned all five elements to circle around me. Recharging my magic also recharged my cats, and I loved providing them with magic when I could.
"Gentle yet fierce winds that whisper through the trees, I call upon your element to bring me peace and ease." Oz's spirit thrummed from the rune on my arm, and he jumped out with a loud meow.
"Raging and calming fire that burns so bright, I call upon your element to bring me passion and fight." Karma's spirit burst forth from my rune, and she made a yowling sound.
"Strong waves that crash upon the shore, I call upon your element to bring me serenity and more." Cosmo sprang forward with excitement, stretching his spirit as he freed himself.
"Robust earth that holds so hard, I call upon your element to bring me stability and guard." Charm purred as she leapt out.
"May spirit be with me endlessly, filling me with power. Spirits of Hexarium bless."
Power filled my body and soul and extended to my phantom cats.
"I love watching her do that," Cas murmured.
"Could seriously watch her perform magic all day," Jas added.
"I could watch her do anything all day," Aimon sighed.
"She is beautiful in everything she does," Bastian mumbled.
"She is gorgeous," Silas agreed with the majority. "But I'm tired, so I'm going to bed. We need to report to Emperor Lloyd tomorrow, and I don't know how happy he'll be about the truth serums."
"Heshouldbe ecstatic that they showed their loyalty so readily." I inhaled a breath and opened my eyes.
My magic buzzed underneath my skin, and my cats floated above the bed, lazily sleeping off their magical fullness.
"And he may be. But we didn't follow his orders to bediscreet." Silas ran a hand down his face. "I just don't want to fuck up our mission more than we already have."
"We haven't fucked it up," I told him, climbing out of the bed.
"But we also didn't follow his orders exactly as he intended."
I tilted my head, staring at him. "You really are by the book. It might get things done, but it's no way to live."
Silas's gaze burned into mine. "It's the only way I know how to live."
"Then maybe you should learn to branch out more." I moved closer to him, leaning forward and staring into his sparkling blue eyes. "I wouldn't mind helping you do that."
