48. Songbird

Chapter 48

Songbird

LORI

S ara clicks her knife on the side of her crystal flute, interrupting the guests' chatter and the live band. "Thank you all for coming. After the week we've had, I knew we needed a wedding reception to honor our new queen, a chance to celebrate and lift our spirits as this year comes to a close."

Elio and I are sitting at the sweetheart table, the ballroom all decked out for our wedding reception. The royals from the other kingdoms were all invited to attend so we can smooth things over with champagne as we address the failed attempt by the Tidecallers to steal the souls.

All have come, except for Elio's father. From what I understand, the two men haven't set foot in the same room outside of their royal obligations in Eterna since the bastard clipped his wings.

To my regret, Nell couldn't attend. Damian is still too wary of announcing their wedding, the secrecy of their union preventing any associate of Morrigan from targeting her. The phantom queen might be safely imprisoned within the confines of the Ice City, but she's still breathing. As long as she lives, we'll be in danger.

Sara claps her hands, a bright gleam dancing in her eyes. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, I give you Elizabeth Snow."

The announcement sends a ripple of excitement through the crowd. The High Fae erupt in cheers, their voices rising in a collective roar, while the royals shift in their seats, eager to catch a glimpse of the singer's entrance.

"Thank you, thank you." Beth sits at the piano, her stunning blue gown shimmering under the frozen chandeliers. Snowflakes dust her tulle skirt, and two jeweled straps glint like strands of stardust against her pale alabaster shoulders. "As most of you know, I usually don't play at Elio's wedding s ." She pauses for effect, the emphasis on the "s" coaxing genuine laughter from the crowd. Winter Fae certainly don't cry over spilled milk, and her dark humor coaxes a smile out of me. "But this one is different."

She cranes her neck around and meets my gaze. "Lori… of all the women who won this cruel, cruel pageant, you're the only one who's truly won Elio's heart. And for that, I salute you. And I wish you both a lifetime of happiness."

Contrary to her popular, revenge-filled pop songs, this one begins slowly, barely above a whisper. Her voice is soft and haunting, with an ethereal quality that captivates the audience as soon as she hits the first note.

"I never knew a love

Quite so rare as yours

Never knew a gaze

Quite so entrancing

You held out your hand

By the river bank

And asked me for a dance

Just one night; in lieu of forever

One chance; it was now or never

As luck had it, my star-crossed lover

I was promised to another

But I only wanted you

I never knew a name

Quite so forbidden

Never knew a love

Quite as doomed from the start

We were oil and water

Sweet and sour

It was never to be

Never to be

But I only wanted you

Just one taste; in lieu of forever

One summer; it was now or never

As luck had it, my star-crossed lover

I was promised to another

But I only wanted you

Yours was a crown of gold

Mine only a shard of cold

A piece of coal

Safe from my cruel shadow

I risked it all to hold you

And lost it all in one go

It was never to be

Never to be

But I only wanted you"

The tempo of the music softens, and the mournful piano notes ring out, filling the silent room with their melancholic beauty.

"Such a lovely, heartbreaking song. Do you know who she wrote it for?" I ask, my curiosity piqued.

Elio laughs softly. "Not me, I assure you."

"I wasn't—" I cut off my husband with a sharp look. "I'm not jealous of Beth anymore. Just curious."

"Thank Thanatos, you've stopped using her entire name," he quips.

I give his arm a playful slap. "Shush."

"But you just gave me an idea. Beth might be able to help us barter with Thera for your brother. It's a well-kept secret, but Beth almost married her son."

"Is he the guy from the song?"

"Yes, and I'm sure Thera would give anything for them not to meet again. But let's not involve Beth just yet. The apple I gave the Summer Queen should buy us enough goodwill to tip the scales on this." He kisses the back of my knuckles. "Don't worry, we'll talk to Thera later tonight."

He skims the skin of my naked back with his fingertips, my black halter top and leather pants more my style than a wedding dress. "I love you, Lorisha Pari Singh. And not just because you kicked ass out on that lake, or for the courage and patience you show every day."

"No?"

He flattens a hand over my chest, his thumb dangerously close to brushing my nipple through the thin fabric. "I love your smoking-hot—" I glower at him, but he pecks my neck with a chuckle. "It's your heart. Your warm, passionate, electric heart."

I dig my fingers into his blonde locks and tug before giving his scalp a playful knock. "And I love you in spite of your big, stubborn head."

"Take that back."

"Kiss me." I slip my hands under the lapels of his jacket and hide my face in his chest. "She shrivels when you're near."

Elio's brow furrows, and instead of giving in to my demand, he draws back an inch, clearly spooked. "She's awake?"

"Yes, but barely." I hate how he's nervous—and frankly hesitant—to touch me when he knows Iris is lurking around the fringes of my subconscious. "I better get my tea." My chair creaks as I stand, but Elio follows my lead and wraps an arm around me, his touch gentle but firm, delaying my departure.

"I'm sorry I cringed. I'm just not used to the idea of Iris living inside you, yet," he whispers.

"That makes two of us."

"We'll find a way to cast her out for good. Even if I have to slay my father and beg his successor for help, I promise we'll find a more permanent solution."

"Another empty promise… he should really stop doing that," Iris chants.

While I'd love nothing more than to slay her, our consciousnesses are already starting to barter—to compromise. The most she can do now is talk, and she takes every opportunity to do so. The tea buys me about eight hours of peace, but Mabel warned me against overusing it. She explained that all magic needs balance, and that shutting Iris off completely could create problems later on.

I don't want to live the rest of my life with a whispering devil on my shoulder, and I inhale deeply to keep her at bay. "I know we will. And now that we know exactly what's been killing your wives and why, you don't have to worry about me dropping dead before spring."

A dark glint burns in Elio's eyes. "Don't joke about that."

"I'm just being honest."

"Come here."

Howls and applause resonate across the ballroom as my new husband kisses my dark thoughts away. Most of our guests are unaware of our recent challenges, and I let myself pretend, if only for a moment, that we are just carefree newlyweds—not immortal royals with more problems than we can handle.

The embrace of the Winter King is warm and perfect. Iris retreats, unwilling to witness our happiness, and I know we will beat her, in the end.

For true love.