The heels, although uncomfortable, were a nearly perfect match to the deep purple shadowing my lids. Matching delicate straps weaved up my lower legs like vines, bringing the entire look together. If Alejandro had seen this dress on me, he would’ve beamed, clasped his hands, and said, “My work here is done, darling.”
I didn’t just feel beautiful in this dress; I felt sexy.
“Thank you,” I said again to Kai, and squeezed her hands between mine—she had worked a miracle.
Chapter 32
A Feast of Inclusion
Iexited the bedchamber to find Nevander looking dapper in his finery. He took me in, and a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“Shall we?”
I smiled up at him. “We shall.”
“Why isn’t Thaddeus escorting me?”
“The event started over an hour ago.”
“Oh,” I said, feeling embarrassed.
My expression must have given me away, as Nevander turned to me and said, “Don’t worry, it started with a mingle and drinks beforehand. You should be right on time for the dinner.”
His words put me at ease, but a fluttering sense of anxiety built as we walked toward the lion’s den.
Chatter and soft music filled the corridor. It wasn’t the loud, demanding beats of dance music or the chittering excitement of a celebration, more the demure murmurings of genuine conversation. I prayed it stayed like this and that there’d be no dancing as the night went on.
Once at the entrance, Nevander stepped aside as if it were timefor him to melt into the background. Knowing I wouldn’t be afforded such a luxury, I took a deep, steadying breath and stepped into the room.
Eyes turned my way, and conversations faded. I kept my head high and my back straight as I walked farther into the room, causally scanning for Thaddeus.
A large male stepped toward me, impossible to avoid. I smiled inwardly, realizing that I had, in fact, described the high lord of the Autumn Court to a tee.
“So, this is the woman who has the courts abuzz.” His voice had a gruff timber to it, like the crunch of dried autumnal leaves underfoot.
“High Lord,” I said and curtsied, offering him a soft, feminine smile.
His brows raised, and I wondered if he’d hoped to catch me off guard—see how I’d interact with him without knowing who he was.
He recovered quickly. “Nyleeria,” he said, echoing my formal tone with a dip of his chin.
“Apologies, High Lord, but I’m at a loss for your name.”
There was a quick tug at the corner of his mouth before he said, “Well, allow me to formally introduce myself, then. I’m Lord Wymond, high lord of the Autumn Court, and commander-in-chief of the Axelian Army.”
“Axelian, as in Axel?” I asked, surprised.
“One in the same.”
“You command an army named after the ancientFather of Peace?” Surely, I’d heard him wrong.
“You do not disappoint, Nyleeria.” He tilted his head a fraction, then leaned in so only I could hear. “What better way to have peace, than to hold power?” His words contained some sort of promise, a threat, even.
“A peace that isheldis tenuous,” I whispered back, keeping his gaze. “High Lord,” I said with a tiny curtsey, then excused myself to join Thaddeus, who was standing with Caius.
I felt Wymond stare after me and resisted the urge to shudder.
“Nyleeria, it’s good to find you well,” Caius said in greeting. “I see you met Wymond.”
