Chapter Ten
Exactly as he’d suspected, none of the other three seemed to quite believe Florian’s explanation about his and Torsten’s conversation, though Rune was visibly fighting down a smile as she rolled her eyes. For all that she’d complained about Torsten’s meddling in her life, she obviously saw him as a father figure, and her relief at having his approval was apparent. When Florian explained how Torsten wanted to throw them a feast, Rune laughed aloud, flailing back in her armchair.
“Is that what he told you?” she howled. “He doesn’t look it, but the old man loves to throw a party. He just wanted an excuse for another feast.”
They had a week to kill, but it was nice to relax after the past several weeks of constant training. For all that Florian had scoured the underwater settlement with Rune, he’d barely ventured beyond the borders of the village above the water. The four of them went on a few of the scenic hikes everyone talked about, went fishing together, or just spent time hangingout together. Those times where it was just him and Kade were already feeling nostalgic to Florian, but he was still happy that Koji and Rune were such fast friends and companions on their journey.
At the end of the week, Torsten came by again to tell them that the feast was scheduled to happen the following evening. Rune was with him, looking smug, but Florian thanked him as sincerely as he could manage, prompting Kade to thank him as well.
“I still don’t like him,” Kade muttered when the kraken shifters left, making Florian chuckle.
“We don’t have to like him,” he said, shrugging. “But he could have just kept on being a jerk about it. At least he’s trying to be nice now, even if it’s only for Rune’s sake.”
The four of them met early the next afternoon to discuss leaving the following day after the feast.
“Even Torsten suggested we go talk to the hag, so I think that’s our best bet,” Florian explained, and the others agreed. So they would teleport to Elodie’s domain, then to the Winter Court to gather their supplies, and from there head to the final Arrow in the Summer Court, however that ended up happening.
He’d half expected Kade to protest, but the wolf shifter agreed to go to the hag just as readily as the others. After their last venture to see her, he wouldn’t have been surprised if Kade had insisted that he never wanted to go there again. But he’d remained silent during their conversation, and after Koji and Rune had affirmed that going to see the witch would probably help them, he’d only shrugged and quietly agreed.
“Are you worried about going back there?” Florian asked him softly when they were alone again. Kade had been silent for a moment before answering.
“I’m not worried, no,” he finally said. “I think it’ll be better this time. I’m not looking forward to it, but I think it’ll be okay if I’m not alone.”
Florian’s heart squeezed. Having Koji and Rune with them was invaluable.
The next evening, the feast took place on the beach near the entrance to the underwater part of the village. Several long tables had been set up and decorated with shells and flowers and candles. They had even sectioned off part of the beach for dancing, with a band playing music nearby. The smoke of cooking fires had been heavy in the air all day, so the tables were piled high with a huge spread of food: all sorts of roasted fish; lobster tails and crab legs drenched in butter; seafood stew clattering with clams and mussels; raw oysters splashed with vinegar; roasted lamb dotted with herbs; full platters of fruits and vegetables; and countless loaves of warm bread.
It was all delicious. It reminded Florian of the feast that they’d had at the Winter Court, what felt like forever ago, only this time he wasn’t so overcome with nerves that he couldn’t even enjoy the food. But the long tables, everyone eating together, Torsten and Rune huddled together at the head table and talking in low voices with small smiles—it all felt like a better, more idyllic version of that feast.
He never would have imagined that this would happen even a week ago, but he was glad they were all here together. Facing the unknown felt a little less frightening now, or maybe it was just the mead poured generously at every table.
When the sun had sunk below the horizon, all the candles were lit, and more people started dancing. Florian watched from theirtable as Rune got up to dance; after a few songs, Koji got up too, and they danced together. Florian glanced over at Kade, who was looking at him with obvious amusement.
“Want to dance?” he asked, grinning at Kade. The other man sighed, but stood up with a barely restrained smile.
“Sure,” he said, reaching his hand out to Florian. They walked together to the makeshift dance floor, and Rune whooped with laughter when she spotted them.
“Can’t believe you convinced him to dance, Florian!” she howled.
“It didn’t take much convincing,” Kade replied flatly, but it only made her laugh more.
The music was jaunty and upbeat, and everyone was dancing at a spritely pace. His belly was warm with mead, and Kade’s eyes were just as warm as they danced, Florian grinning and laughing and jumping. When was the last time they just had fun together like this? Had they ever?
The quicker song ended and transitioned into a slightly slower tune. Where everyone had once been hopping and twirling, they were now swaying with the slower tempo. When all of this was over, Florian decided as they danced closer and Kade’s hands settled around his waist, they would need to go dancing more often.
“This is fun,” he blurted out, and Kade smirked.
“I think you’re just drunk,” he murmured, but he kissed Florian’s forehead anyway.
“Only a little,” Florian protested. “Aren’t you having fun?”
“Yes,” Kade replied, making Florian laugh. “And I’m glad you’re having fun.”
“The next time we’re on Earth, let’s go dancing at a club,” Florian said, squeezing his arms around Kade’s waist. “It would be fun.”
Even as he said it, he couldn’t imagine Kade in a nightclub with him dancing to pop music, but it was an amusing thought, anyway. Kade huffed, the idea obviously just as unfathomable to him, but he didn’t argue.
“Maybe,” he said simply.
