But now it wasn’t just paint. It was people who moved slowly around us, watching our every step as Soren led me through the crowd. Black fabric draped over the top of the tables and billowed down the sides like pooling water. Every glass, every plate was boldly hued.
King Harlan’s eyes settled on Soren as we stepped before him. Soren bowed before his father. I forced my curtsy to match the way he lowered.
Kilan offered a mildly amused smile when I looked to him next. His wife glanced around the room at his side.
“We welcome Princess Ashlyn of Bailoc to our Kingdom.” King Harlan held a crystal ruby goblet high. “To the prospect of a marriage that would unify the human realm.”
When their colorful goblets were all raised, the king sipped his wine.
Soren led me to the chairs set beside his father. “I would love for you to sit beside me.”
Their staff pulled back the chairs before I could even agree to it.
I slipped into my seat as the food was set before me. Fish seasoned with herbs. Potatoes encrusted with something breaded sat beside it. It looked so much like meals I had eaten in Bailoc.
Each flavor melded in my mouth—as savory and seasoned as I liked it. Everything was entirely human.
“Do the fae eat differently than we do?” Soren asked.
I dabbed the white linen square to my mouth as I swallowed a sharp edge of a potato. “A little. The food here is certainly more savory.”
“What do you think he’s thinking?” Soren tilted his wine glass ever so slightly to where Fyn sat at a far-off table.
It wasn’t too far that I couldn’t see how Fyn slowly moved his food around his plate. “That would be impossible to truly know.” I tried not to laugh at the way Fyn’s brows rose as he swallowed a bite. “They enjoy vegetables with meats like we do. I will say, I am most grateful to be eating a human meal again. It’s more flavorful.”
“And wine, do you enjoy it too?” Soren eyed my glass as he lifted his to his lips.
“Certainly.” I wrapped my fingers around the stem as my stomach tensed.
Fyn’s heartbeat was still a cadence I remembered all too well.
He watched me take the first sip of the wine. “We have vineyards at the edge of our palace grounds. It’s very fresh.”
The mild bite of alcohol singed the back of my throat as I lowered the glass. “I should like to see it sometime. I should like to see it all.” Even if this arrangement didn’t proceed, I’d savor every bit of humanity.
“Your enthusiasm is most refreshing.” Soren flashed a smile.
“Other women don’t wish to see vineyards?”
He coughed as he swallowed. “No. I believe they only care for the wine.”
I once only cared for some wine, too. I didn’t want to think about that now. “I have my curiosities.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. Tell me, princess, what are they?” He leaned in closer to me. The musky scent of oil clung to him.
I hadn’t smelled anything like it since I was in the human realm. My back stiffened as I pulled myself away from him.
There were far too many things I wondered about that I knew I couldn’t name. Few were probably appropriate. I would have to play with courtly conversation. “What was the most surprising thing you’ve traded with the fae for?”
He set the glass down beside mine as he exhaled loudly. “Our men handle most of the shipments.”
This was sure to be a long evening if our discussions continued this way. “There isn’t one thing that you crave from Nythrel’s trade?”
“You are most unusually invested in this.” Soren lifted a hefty chunk of fish on his fork before he scooped it into his mouth. “It is the coin I favor the most. I care little for whatever else they trade with us.”
My eyes drifted back to Fyn’s. If I had asked him that—he would have had a most unusual pick.
I glanced back at Soren. “Do you like to dance?”
