I return to my seat, uncertain how I feel about what transpired. Ultimately, Gliss was right. Dusana was punished. But the way the punishment was meted out reminds me too much of how Malak used to operate.
Strike when they don’t see it coming.
Ahead of us, Thaden and my brother are exchanging a rapid, but silent communication. I read wariness, uncertainty, worry, unease…
But it’s Thaden whose eyes meet mine across the table.
Of course, I suddenly realize that my family may be unaware of what exactly happened back in the mountains. Gallium arrived after the fight. He didn’t see what occurred between me and Dusana and Gliss beforehand. He could have been told anything.
It’s also true that neither of them has attempted to come see me, although, judging by the way the Queen operates, that could be for any number of reasons, including by her design.
What’s more, I’m now comprehending the paleness in Thaden’s face when he looks at Erik.
Erik’s new appearance will mean a lot to him. Erik looks human again, unlike Thaden, whose bronze scales are very much on display.
We’re seated too far away from my family to talk with them, but I promise myself I’ll find a way to speak with them without going near any of the other fae. Especially since the ones seated nearest to me and Erik have shrunk as far away from us as possible, even with the empty chairs already between us.
I smother my sigh.
I won’t let their fear get between me and my family.
The next hour is filled with a stream of food and drink, much of which I don’t recognize, but everything I try is delicious. Drinks flow freely, but a single sip tells me they have a high alcoholic content, so I keep a full glass in front of me, drinking no more of it. Erik does the same.
The more intoxicated the other fae become, the louder their conversations become until the room is filled with a raucous cacophony of sound.
On the positive side, I very much doubt a Frost fae could pick up anything we say. On the negative side, each time I glance at Erik, I find his jaw clenched, the tension around his eyes increasing when the noise peaks.
It can only be painful to his sensitive hearing.
I cast my eyes around the table, dismissing the pretty cloths and landing on the nearest candle. Pulling it toward me, I dig into the softer part near the top, wadding up two small blobs of wax.
Leaning toward him, I reach for his face, as if I’m about to whisper a secret into his ear. Which I sort of am. “For your ears.”
With my other hand, I press the wax into his palm.
He glances down and seems to catch on quickly to my intent. “Thank you.”
Within moments, he’s pressed the plugs into his ears and the tension around his mouth and eyes eases.
When I look up, I’m conscious once again of Thaden’s piercing gaze and I know I need to make a move to speak with him soon. I just need to find a way without causing a scene…
Directly opposite me, I suddenly find myself the focus of the Queen. She clicks her fingers at Elowynn, who seems to know exactly what her monarch wants.
Elowynn immediately heads toward me. The other fae don’t seem to notice, they’re so caught up their own conversations and apparently delirious with drink, which makes me even gladder I barely touched the liquid.
I tense as Elowynn approaches, aware of Erik also watching her carefully.
She lifts her hands a little, as if to show she comes in peace. “Come with me, please, Asha. Queen Karasi wishes to speak with you on the balcony.” She glares at Erik when he begins to rise. “Alone.”
When he ignores her command, continuing to stand, the furrow in her brow deepens. “Don’t make me fight you, wolf-man.”
“I’ll be okay,” I quickly reassure Erik. “The Queen has more to fear from me than I do from her.”
When I rise from my chair, Queen Karasi does the same, slipping toward the arched opening leading outside.
My family watches her and then looks to me, but they remain seated and it’s impossible to know what they’re thinking.
Elowynn stays close on my heels until I step onto the balcony. The fresh air is a welcome relief from the cloying scent of vanilla. So is the quiet.
