I tugged him. “It’s fine,” I whispered. “Please.”
Finally, Jax turned stiffly and escorted me to the end of the table. We passed House Dallinger on the way, and I subtly looked for Aerobelle again, but I didn’t see her anywhere.
Once I was seated, Jax leaned down, and his fingers dug into my chair’s armrest. “I’m sorry about this.”
I forced a smile. “Don’t be. We’ll figure it out.”
Jaw locking, he returned to the head of the table to sit by his parents.
The second the royals were all seated, all of the other nobles followed suit, and then the hall erupted into a flurry of activity. Servants glided about. Silverware clanked. Glasses were lifted. It was obvious this type of meal was the norm for most of them, and I was the only anomaly.
Thankfully, the seat that I’d been directed to wasn’t next to any of the spiteful females or House members that had been on the ship with us to Faewood. Instead, I’d been seated by a young girl who couldn’t have been older than fifteen.
“And what House are you from?” I asked her as a servant placed a plate of food before me. Rich scents of roasted hen and succulent vegetables rose from it.
She arched an eyebrow at me. “House Luvinteen. And you?”
I hastily took a drink of water. Wine was present and freely flowing, but all I wanted was the crystal-clear water in my goblet. I downed all of it because I was so thirsty, and a servant immediately refilled it. “I’m not from a House.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “You’re not? Then what are you doing here?”
Her direct question was so youthful that I actually smiled. “I’m a friend of the prince.”
Her lips curved. “Oh, I see what you mean.”
Heat rose in my cheeks. “No, I’m not his, I mean?—”
She laughed lightly. “Don’t worry about it. You’re not the firstfriendhe’s brought to a meal, and I’m sure you won’t be the last, not even after he marries. You know he’s to marry one of the females his parents have chosen, right?”
I gripped my goblet harder, my fingers curling around the smooth glass. “I’ve heard. Speaking of which, do you know where Lady Aerobelle is? I would have thought she’d be here tonight.”
The girl waved her hand. “They arrived back from Faewood this morning, but she wasn’t feeling well. I guess she got sick on the ship, so is currently at home.”
A flare of triumph coasted through me. So that was how the semelees had taken care of her meddling.
I picked up my fork and began to eat, although my eyes drooped. The events of the past six weeks and the huge use of my power were catching up with me. And now that everything was calming, my utter exhaustion was creeping in.
But I took some comfort in this new reality. Even though things still looked disastrous for Jax’s and my future, at least he was free, Bastian was well, King Paevin had been stopped, and tomorrow, we would find a way to free the half-breeds.
Yet a part of me wondered what this new reality would be like if I’d asked the semelees to twist fate in Jax’s and my favor. Perhaps the king and queen would have welcomed me with open arms, likely insisting that I sit with them.
But I hadn’t changed the course of our realm more than what was necessary. It was dangerous enough what I’d done. Time had been rewritten. New paths had been forged, and with each turn of fate, new possibilities arose.
And who was to say those possibilities would be positive.
I took another bite of food, chewing slowly. No, it was best that I’d kept it to the necessities only. Everything else between Jax and I would eventually be made right. We would have to see to it ourselves, and surely, we would find a way.
CHAPTER 23
The second the supper meal was over, Jax was up from his chair and striding toward me. He ignored everyone else, even when some of the House nobles tried to engage him in conversation on his way past.
His focus had settled on me, his intent clear, and from the rising tide of anger in his aura, it was apparent he wasn’t happy with his parents’ treatment of me.
I sighed. I wasn’t exactly happy about it either. They’d ignored me all night and had sent sharp looks to any House that had tried to engage me. Their snub hadn’t even been subtle.
It’d reminded me of what Jax had told me of them. He’d suffered abuse at his father’s hand, and his mother had always turned a blind eye to it. These fae were to be my future family despite that. Granted, I’d never known a loving family either, but the Stonewild royals certainly weren’t a family I would have ever chosen willingly.
Yet, they were still the king and queen. They were still Jax’s parents, as much as I didn’t like it. So, not wanting to make a scene, I bid goodnight to the girl I’d sat beside—literally the only fairy who had talked to me—and took Jax’s outstretched hand. His warm, smooth palm closed over mine, and his thumb brushed against my knuckles.
