Chapter 38

Béke Day Nine

Ruslan and I stood outside the grand ballroom doors, waiting to make our grand entrance. Even as we had walked down the hall toward it, the sound of revelry drowned out any conversation I might have tried to have with my mate. Raucous laughter, clinking glasses, and an undercurrent of music all pricked my ears.

I chewed my lip, twisting the rings on my fingers and adjusting the shawl around my shoulders as a mixture of anxiety and anger swirled in my belly. We'd stayed away during the pre-dinner mingling to avoid the stalking tendencies of Kazimir and because Ruslan needed more time to calm down. I spent a chunk of my magic working Ruslan down from a rage before we left because he wanted to murder Kazimir on sight. But our goals were bigger than Kazimir laying an unwanted hand on me, and we could not fail at bringing the other monarchs to our side. Besides, once Queen Viktoria heard of what happened, I had no doubt she would officially break away from Kazimir.

But logic and rage didn't remove the fear lingering in my body, even after a few more sessions with Zuriel and reclaiming my stolen power, and I couldn't convince myself I was safe so long as Kazimir was around to raise the hairs on my arms or send chills down my spine.

Thank the Goddess Béke ended in five days.

My heart pounded as the doors opened for us, and the moment we crossed the threshold, nausea churned in my gut. Kazimir's eyes immediately found me from one of the lavish tables near the center of the room, and I felt them ghosting across my skin and leaving a slick trail in their wake.

I peered up at the male I was to marry on the last day of the feast, my chest warming as that thread tying us together hummed contentedly with our proximity. I slipped my hand into his as he sauntered to a table in the center of the room, where Liliana and Zuriel already waited. Drazen and a few of the Demons were at nearby tables, and I breathed a sigh of relief with the ring of protection surrounding me. I'd proven earlier that I could manage Kazimir with my magic, but knowing I wasn't alone in my fight brought me more comfort than I could adequately express.

Ruslan sipped from a goblet of wine on the table before clearing his throat and tapping the metal with the flat blade of a knife to garner the attention of the room. A hush fell over the crowd, amplifying the sound of scraping chairs as people turned to give the king of the Iron Realm their attention.

"Welcome to the masquerade ball, honoring new beginnings for all of us. Tonight, there are no foes – only friends. It is my honor to have in attendance a number of people from far-flung continents who plan to make északi their home in the future. It is my wish that you find them among the masked crowd and get to know them just as you would any other Fae in attendance. With that being said, please enjoy the meal and dancing once the food is cleared." Ruslan lifted his glass into the air, and the thousands in attendance did the same before sipping.

A smattering of claps sounded through the space, softened by the hanging silks and plush furnishings. Ruslan pulled out my chair, and I batted my lashes at him before settling myself into it. He pushed me closer to the table before taking his seat beside me. I reached out to cup his face, my fingers brushing against the soft stubble lining his jaw. "We're making progress."

He turned his head into my palm, kissing it. "That we are."

After seeing how segregated nobility was from the common Fae in the Night Realm, I knew I wanted to live in a place where all were equal. While the idea of ruling was still far from the front of my mind, I still wanted to change the world so that no one had to suffer for who or what they were. No one would be chained, physically or metaphorically, by their past, titles, or blood status so long as I was around to do something about it.

The dark red wine in front of me tasted like pepper and blackberries, and I drank down an entire glass, Ruslan refilling it without hesitation, before casually sipping from it again. The relaxing effects began to take hold, dulling the edge of my anxiety as the ballroom buzzed with activity. We fell into conversation with those around us as the first course was served, and I was grateful to mingle with new people, getting to know them and their stories. That was what the ball was about anyway – opening ourselves up to new connections.

My wineglass was refilled again during the second course – a bright orange soup that was hearty and warm. Both were drained to the dregs, and my head felt lighter without all the worries weighing me down. Liliana and I laughed too hard at a deadpanned joke from Zuriel, and by the time I finally caught my breath again, I was giddy and blissfully drunk.

"How long until the main course?" I asked Ruslan.

"A few minutes," he replied, sipping from his whisky and circling a finger over the back of my hand, painting goosebumps on my flesh. "Why? Can't wait until tonight to have me?"

A blush crept across my cheeks, heating them more than they already were. "Now that you mention it."

His response was a wink.

I glanced at our dinner companions and placed my napkin on the table. "Please excuse me for a moment, I've had a bit too much wine."

"I'll go with you," Liliana offered, her chair scraping back in time with mine.

We linked arms as we crossed the ballroom, both swaying slightly from the three glasses we'd consumed. "I appreciate you tagging along. I might need help with this dress," I laughed, looking down at the skin-tight attire that encumbered my strides.

"Ruslan sure wants everyone to know what they can't have," she giggled, tossing her chocolate hair over her shoulder as we entered the bathroom down the hall.

After struggling with the layers of skirts, I tossed the shawl onto the hook on the door to free my arms for navigating them up my legs, finally managing to hoist them high enough to relieve myself. While I waited for Liliana to take her turn, I looked myself over in the mirror, smoothing out any wrinkles and ensuring my mask was firmly in place. My thoughts drifted, and I absentmindedly braided and unbraided my long hair, soothing my fraying nerves. "Do you think we'll convince the other realms to unite?" I asked Liliana as she preened in the mirror.

"I think once you tell them what Kazimir did today, the odds are good," she replied with a casual shrug of her shoulder. "He's obviously not going to stop until he gets you, though. I don't know how King Airre and Queen Immonen will feel, since they are mated. Rejecting one mate and accepting another? It's complicated."

I blew out a breath. "Tell me about it. Sometimes I wonder, why me?"

"I still stand by what I said before. Prophecies are vague as fuck and it"s us who adds interpretation to them." She finished glossing her lips, rubbing them together and turning toward me. "Ready to go?"

"Yep," I said, popping the P and dropping my fingers from my braid.

Liliana pushed through the door to the hallway first, and the breeze of air that dusted my face carried a hint of amber. I stiffened immediately, calling my magic to the surface of my skin, feeling the heady rush of power from holding it there protectively around me. The sounds of revelry drifted toward us, and I scanned the vicinity for any sign of Kazimir.

But there was none.

A shiver licked its way down my spine, and I grasped Liliana's arm.

"Are you okay?" she whispered, sensing my unease.

"Let's just get back to the table," I murmured, quickening my pace until we were in the safety of the numbers of the ballroom.

I dropped into my seat moments before servers came around with slices of the massive stag the males had killed on their hunt, and I accepted them numbly, speaking and eating without really being present.

Every moment of unease over the course of Béke, when I felt as if I were being watched, sensing that string that tugged me to Kazimir but never discovering him, played over and over again in my mind, circling along with a single question.

What else did his new power do?