“In our room,” Stil said. “It didn’t seem proper to bring animals to dinner. Though if Roland—that is, Puss—is here, I imagine he’llattend.”
“He and Gabrielle are here,” Angelique confirmed, “along with several Arcainianrepresentatives.”
“Excellent!” Stil beamed. “Shall we go,then?”
Delighted with the additional tablemates, Angelique accompanied the others. She entered last and was surprised Firra and Donaigh marched toward the mage table, but Stil and Gemma peeled off in the oppositedirection.
“Aren’t you two sitting with the mages?” Angeliqueasked.
Gemma shook her head. “Not tonight. A close friend of mine is here, so we’re going to sit withher.”
Almost on cue, Queen Linnea, the Queen of Verglas, stood up. “Gemma, this way! I had Princess Elle reserve yourchairs!”
Gemma smiled and waved to her friend while Stil eyed Angelique. “Will you be all right over there? Do you want to sit with us?” heasked.
“It will be fine,” Angelique said. “I’ll enjoy the chance to catch up with Firra andDonaigh.”
“I see. Seek us out if they turn out to be a bunch of bores,” Stilsaid.
“Iwill.”
Stil and Gemma slipped off to their table, and Angelique took the tiniest step toward the table assigned to themages.
“Angelique!”
Angelique startled when Gabrielle gently touched her elbow. The Arcainian princess was as beautiful as ever with her honey-crème hair and ambereyes.
“What perfect timing,” she started. “We wanted to ask you to sit withus!”
“Who is thisweto whom you refer?” Puss demanded from his perch on Gabrielle’s shoulder. “Goodness knows I’ve seen enough of the mage bratalready!”
Gabrielle made a show of tapping her lip. “That’s odd, considering you spent the majority of the trip planning how we could spend the most time withAngelique.”
“Quiet, you impudentthing!”
Gabrielle smiled, amplifying her natural beauty tenfold, and squeezed Angelique’s forearm. “Say you’ll sit withus?”
Angelique was about to emphatically agree, when Prince Severin and Princess Elle joinedthem.
“Yousee, Severin! You shouldn’t have forbid me from placing Angelique at our table,” Elle complained. “Itoldyou she didn’t have to sit with her fellow mages.” Her playful scowl turned to a grin when she glanced at Angelique. “If you want to sit with the Arcainian representatives tonight, at least promise me you’ll sit with Severin and metomorrow?”
Severin didn’t rise to his wife’s bait, and instead he stared into the room with what looked like resignation. “I didn’t forbid you; I merely reminded you that you could not be a glutton with the Lady Enchantress’ time given her popularity among our guests.” He shifted his gaze from Elle to Angelique and continued, “I believe Colonel Friedrich of Erlauf wishes to sit with you soon to deliver a verbal message from his wife, Queen Cinderella,” Severinadded.
“Thank you for the invitations,” Angelique said when all parties had finished speaking. “I am honored bythem.”
Puss snorted. “With the number of countries you’ve helped, it would be a pretty poor showing if they weren’t all clambering for your attention. Come on—tonight you are ours.” Puss crouched on Gabrielle’s shoulder, slightly wiggled his bottom, then leaped to Angelique’s shoulder. He butted his head against hers and purreddeeply.
“Excellent—that means she’s ours tomorrow,” Elle said. “Have a lovely evening!” A grin and a wink, and she was off again, arm-in-arm withSeverin.
Gabrielle finally released Angelique’s elbow so she could lead the way. “I think our table is this way,Angelique.”
Angelique scooped Puss off her shoulders so she could cuddle him in her arms. She cast a quick glance at the magic users’ table as Firra and Donaigh joined them with big smiles and hearty laughter, but she didn’t feel at all regretful as she followed behind theprincess.
Puss placed his front paws on her shoulder and latched his claws into the fabric of her gown. “You might still be a bit of an outcast among the magical crowd, but I dare say you’re beloved by many of thosepresent.”
“They’re very thankful,” Angeliqueagreed.
Puss lashed his tail back and forth as he thought. “It’s more thanthat.”
