The Court of the Mourned had outdone itself, transforming paradise into something even more breathtaking than before. But Brynn barely noticed the enhanced beauty around them: the additional waterfalls creating new rainbows, the flowers blooming in wilder patterns, the light somehow more welcoming.
Her focus was entirely on the man walking just far enough behind her. Close enough to appear to be escorting her, far enough to maintain distance.
His shadows reached for her ankles before he yanked them back.
Every time they did it, want and fury twisted together in her chest until she couldn't tell which was winning.
"Lord Caelum certainly knows how to make an impression," she observed as they approached the white marble palace, making polite conversation that completely ignored the tension crackling between them.
"He does," Dante replied, his voice neutral. But she caught the way his eyes flicked to her exposed shoulder when she turned her head, the tightening of his jaw. The way his hands clenched at his sides like he was physically restraining himself.
Her skin warmed under that gaze. She hated how much she wanted him to stop restraining himself.
The palace terraces were already crowded with hundreds of beings in their finest attire. She'd never seen so much otherworldly beauty gathered in one place: warriors from Seraphina's desert courts, in armor that gleamed like bronze; ethereal spirits from Thessa’s domain, who seemed to fade in and out of visibility; golden-eyed courtiers from Vex’s realm, radiating hunger and dangerous beauty.
And all of them turned to look as Dante's party arrived.
"Welcome!" Lord Caelum's voice carried across the terrace as he approached their group, his arms spread wide. Tonight, he looked particularly magnificent in flowing white and gold robes, his ageless features radiating warmth. "My friends, what an honor to have you join our celebration of unity and cooperation."
He embraced Lady Seraphina warmly, clasped hands with Lady Thessa, and even managed a brief touch with Lord Vex, despite the other Death Lords’ reluctance to get too close.
With Dante, he offered no acknowledgment at all—turned away as if the Lord of the Forsaken weren't standing three feet behind her.
The slight was obvious. Cold flickered in Caelum's eyes before the warmth returned so quickly she almost thought she'd imagined it.
Interesting.The Lord of Peace and Mercy snubbed another Death Lord in front of the entire gathering. So much for tonight being about "unity and cooperation."
Then Caelum turned to her, and his honey-brown eyes seemed to light up.
"And the remarkable Lady Brynn," he said, taking her hand and bringing it to his lips. "You look absolutely radiant tonight."
From the corner of her eye, she saw Dante take a half-step forward before stopping abruptly. His hand had moved toward her before he'd caught himself, clenching into a fist at his side.
"You're very kind, Lord Caelum," she replied, letting her hand linger in his just a moment longer than necessary.
Dante's shadows spread across the terrace before he wrestled them back.
A hand-kiss. That's all it had taken. She hadn't evenstartedyet.
"Please, just Caelum," he said, his eyes crinkling with warmth. "Tonight is about friendship, not formality. I want everyone to feel completely welcome and at ease."
"Shall we join the festivities?" Caelum motioned toward the dance floor, where music was already starting to play. "I believe they are about to start the first set."
As they moved up the pathways toward the main terrace, Brynn walked between Caelum's easy charm and Dante's simmering tension. Conversations paused as they passed, courtiers from all the realms taking note of her transformation. Taking note of how she walked beside Caelum rather than behind Dante. How she smiled at the Lord of the Mourned's conversation while maintaining distance from the Lord of the Forsaken.
She could feel Dante's gaze on her back. Could practically hear his restraint fraying with every step she took away from him.
But her heart ached anyway.
"Lady Brynn," a familiar voice called out, and she turned to see Lady Vivienne approaching, one of Dante's court members, the magical theorist who'd always shown interest in her abilities rather than just her proximity to power. "You look absolutely magnificent tonight. That dress is remarkable. The way the crystal work channels light is quite sophisticated. Is that ward-pattern I see woven into the beading?"
Brynn smiled, pleased that someone had noticed the craftsmanship beyond just the surface beauty. "Thank you. The tailors were very accommodating of my specific requests."
"Indeed, they were." Lady Vivienne's expression grew thoughtful as she glanced toward where Dante stood speaking with Lord Vex and Lady Seraphina, his posture rigid. "I must say, the dynamics tonight are quite fascinating to observe. So much tension beneath the surface of diplomacy."
The comment was neutral enough, a scholarly observation rather than gossip. But Brynn caught the subtle curiosity underneath. Lady Vivienne was always studying patterns, analyzing relationships, and power structures.
“Yes,” Brynn replied, keeping her tone equally neutral. "It'sremarkable how much can be communicated through what isn't said.”
