Chapter 20

20

“ R eady to go?” Katrina, the Mage assigned to the Day Realm, asked Zuriel, Gozzak, and myself as we stood in Ruslan’s office. My cousin vibrated with anger, still beyond pissed at Liliana for withholding information about Kazimir attending the new princess’s announcement, and Kazimir for daring to step foot into his empire. Ruslan and Izidora would not be attending, understandably so, so he’d asked Zuriel, Gozzak, and myself to go in his stead.

The Mage had arrived only an hour ago, using the same spell as Ruslan to bend space to her will and speed herself across the continent in record time. She’d headed straight to Rares for a debrief and a restock of potions before arriving in Ruslan’s office, ready to move the four of us back to the Day Realm. The last time I traveled such a far distance using this spell, I’d nearly puked all over Ruslan’s boots when we landed in the forest outside of Vaenor.

I swallowed down the nerves building in my throat. I wasn’t the only one uncomfortable – Gozzak appeared nervous as well, the corners of his eyes tightening. The Demon male raked a hand through his long black hair, then stepped forward and placed his hand on Katrina’s outstretched arm. Zuriel did the same, appearing unfazed at the prospect of traveling a distance that took weeks by horse in a fraction of the time.

“See you later, Ruslan,” I muttered, my hand joining theirs, and then we were whisked away, the world passing by us in a blur as I gripped Katrina’s sleeve like my life depended on it – because it did.

When we finally landed in the Day Realm, it was in an ornate chamber with high, domed ceilings thatched with straw and a stone floor that shone with fresh polish. Immediately, I began sweating and regretting my attire; it was infinitely hotter here than it ever got in the Iron Realm. I’d only ever been to the border of the Day Realm, and Zuriel and Gozzak had never set foot outside the Iron Realm. The three of us were exploring the new land together, and I was grateful to have spent so much time with the Day Fae during Béke so I understood some of the customs.

One of the High Lords that had been in attendance, Soma, waited for us, a wide smile on his face. “Friends, welcome to the Day Realm. So good to see you again.” He clasped arms with each of us, echoing the same formal greeting.

Katrina dipped into a slight bow before excusing herself and disappearing through some hanging reeds.

“Where do we go now?” I asked, glancing around. The architecture of the Day Realm contrasted that of the Iron Realm. Where we had sharp edges and dark corners, Aress Keep curled and curved, light and warmth filling every crevice in the building. Doorways lined the walls, spoking in all directions and leading to Goddess knew where.

A booming laugh echoed around the space as High Lord Soma looked the three of us up and down. With a shake of his head and a teeth-flashing grin, he tsked. “Nowhere dressed like that. Come, I will find you some traditional clothing to wear. You will not sweat quite so much in it.”

Glancing at my companions, I noticed the deep V of Gozzak’s shirt already darkening with sweat, while Zuriel’s white tunic was nearly see-through. My own wasn’t much better. Shrugging, I followed the male through several covered walkways until we appeared in a similarly decorated chamber with seating for a large number of people, though only a few lounged there. A shallow pool hugged the edge of the space, and some Fae dipped their feet into the water, flicking drops toward one another as they celebrated the day.

Finally, we ducked into a room with racks of colorful clothing much like the ones worn by the Day Fae during Béke. The cloth was lightweight and flowy, and Soma gestured for us to peruse the garments at our leisure. Eventually, I settled on a deep blue set to match my eyes, while Zuriel and Gozzak both opted for golden hues.

“Should we change here?” I asked, glancing around. We were only staying one night, though I wasn’t sure where.

“No, no, take what you want and I will show you to your rooms,” High Lord Soma responded, gesturing for us to grab our selections.

“I’ve got what I need,” Gozzak commented, and Zuriel dipped his head in agreement.

“Show us the way,” I said, throwing the blue fabric over my arm.

Another series of covered walkways took us to a long hallway lined with doors, many propped open, revealing revelers preparing for the announcement. The whole keep was alive with activity, and my carefully honed instincts had me scanning every room, assessing for weak spots or who could be a threat.

At the end of the hall, we crossed paths with King Airre and Queen Immonen of the Crystal Realm, the latter calling out to us and waving excitedly in our direction. “General Drazen, where is our emperor?”

“I’m afraid he was detained in the Iron Realm,” I deflected, not offering more information than necessary. Ruslan was strict with keeping Izidora’s status quiet until the right moment – especially since the Night Fae would be in attendance.

“A shame, truly,” Queen Immonen replied. “How is Izidora?”

“Nothing to report, unfortunately,” I said, dancing around the truth.

“Such a shame. She didn’t deserve what Kazimir did to her. We’ll have to catch up later once you’ve had a chance to change,” Queen Immonen sighed. The Crystal Fae also wore the traditional dress of the Day Realm, and I was pleasantly surprised that they were interested in learning and adopting the customs of the other realms too.

Guess Ruslan and Izidora really did make an impact on them.

“Yes, of course, Your Highnesses.” Chin dipping to chest, I used the cover to glance at High Lord Soma, who waited patiently for our exchange to end. I straightened, catching Zuriel and Gozzak doing the same out of the corner of my eye. “If you’ll excuse us, it's rather hot and we were promised these clothes would be better suited for the weather here.”

King Airre chuckled, the braids woven into his long, blond hair swinging as he shook his head. “They are much better suited indeed. We’ll speak shortly.”

High Lord Soma continued to the last three doors in the hall, opening them individually for us. “You all will be here. I’ll wait for you to change, then guide you to the main hall. The keep can be quite confusing to navigate.”

I clapped the male on the shoulder as I walked past him into my room. “I appreciate it, High Lord Soma. We’ll only be a moment.”

Closing the door behind me, I made a quick survey. A large bed covered most of the space, though every inch of it was finely decorated. A small sitting area offered me a place to set my clothes while I hurried to an adjacent bathroom to wash. Stripping out of my Iron Realm clothing, I tossed it through the doorway and onto the free couch. The cool water was a welcome relief to the scorching heat, and I cupped my hands, gathering enough to splash my face, then let more trickle down my back and across my muscular chest.

Immediately, my skin felt like it could take a breath, and the sweat that had gathered at the nape of my neck began to dissipate. With one last look in the mirror, I ensured my long hair was properly secured on top of my head, then returned to the bedroom and pulled on the blue linen clothes. By the time I exited the room, Zuriel and Gozzak were already waiting with High Lord Soma. He quickly ushered us along, following the throng of people moving through the keep. I scanned every face for enemies and every wall for potential blockades or escape routes.

Which was rather difficult, given the mass of Fae shuffling like a herd of sheep into a corral. “Looks like we might not have needed an escort after all,” I joked, indicating the flow of people.

“Perhaps not,” High Lord Soma chuckled. “The Day Fae are very excited to meet the princess. Finally, the line of succession is secure. Though, our king and queen were happy for a healthy babe.”

“Of course,” I replied, glancing around the crowd in search of the Night Fae. “So tell me, Soma… where are they?”

With the way I dropped my voice, it wasn’t hard to guess who I referred to. “High Lord Domon is dealing with them. He drew the short straw.” A grin flashed across his dark skin, then he shook his head. “I would not want to be in his position.”

“Yeah, you lucked out with us,” I laughed. “But they will be in attendance tonight?” I needed clarification because I planned on watching Kazimir like a hawk. Between Zuriel, Gozzak, and myself, he would have a pair of eyes on his every move. We needed to assess his mental state and report back to Ruslan the next day. If we were going to strike the Night Realm, we needed to know what we were working with.

A heavy sigh escaped the big male beside me. “Yes, though not anywhere close to the babe or the other nobles. I’m sure he will not appreciate it.”

“I don’t expect he will take it well,” I agreed grimly, rolling my shoulders. I resisted the urge to crack my knuckles like I was preparing for a fight.

I was, but I didn’t want it to be obvious to everyone around us.

The sea of people rounded a corner and disappeared through doors flung so wide I was certain ten could walk abreast into the space. We squeezed through them, stepping into an enormous room with high ceilings that I swore must have been woven with the branches of the giant tree that surrounded the keep. Bubbles of light filled it, golden hues cast across every surface and contrasting with the falling night outside. Much like the Iron Realm, pelts lined the walls and floors, though instead of fluffy fur, these were short-haired and patterned. Tables with long benches lined the hall, creating a communal feel in the vast room as Fae slipped into spots with no apparent order.

“You’ll be up there, close to the platform,” High Lord Soma commented, pointing toward the opposite end of the hall, where King Airre and Queen Immonen had already settled themselves among their nobles.

Glancing over my shoulder, I nodded to Zuriel and Gozzak, who both scanned the room in search of the Night Fae. There were so many people, it was hard to see through them all, and a muscle ticked in my jaw as they remained hidden. But I plastered on a welcoming smile when we arrived at the table filled with nobility, trying my best to represent Ruslan – the emperor – and his interests.

“There,” Gozzak muttered, nudging me with his elbow, and I followed his gaze to a table about fifty paces away, where a glittering crown reflected the light of a thousand golden bubbles. He froze halfway between sitting and standing when our gazes collided like two magic bombs, and the way emerald leeched from his eyes raised the hairs on the back of my neck. They morphed into that same color as they had when I’d dropped from the sky and found his knife in Izidora’s chest. Zuriel gripped my arm with more force than I thought him capable and yanked me to the bench beside him.

“I’m just as upset as you are, Drazen, but you cannot lose your cool here,” he said flatly. “We will watch him, and we will get our vengeance. But not today.”

Blowing out a breath, I nodded, rubbing the back of my neck.

“Don’t worry, Drazen, I’ll cover him for now,” Gozzak said, wisps of shadow climbing his body until his image blurred when he moved. His golden attire allowed him to blend into the crowd as he pushed through it, calling more shadows to cling to his body and cloak his appearance. If it were darker in the room, he’d have disappeared entirely, but with all the bubble lights cast by the attendees, shadows were hard to come by.

Zuriel had already engaged the Crystal Fae in conversation by the time I lost sight of Gozzak, and I tried to focus on what they saide, but to no avail. My body vibrated with the need to fight the male across the room, but his death was not mine – it was Izidora’s.

The hush that fell across the hall yanked me from my thoughts and pulled my attention to the stage where the nobles of the Day Realm had gathered, smiling widely.

High Lord Soma stepped forward, and with a tendril of his golden magic wrapping around his throat, he amplified his voice. “Friends, welcome to Zheka for the announcement of the new princess of the Day Realm. I know you are all ready to see the babe, so I won’t bore you with long speeches.”

“Oh really? Here I thought you were going to give us a philosophy lesson,” High Lord Domon teased from behind him, earning the crowd’s attention and creating a ripple of laughter.

High Lord Soma took the jest in stride, laughing along with the crowd. “Not this time. Perhaps the next one. You will have to assist me in preparing one, High Lord Domon.”

That earned another chuckle, though the sound did not come from me, not when I was already so on edge.

“Anyway, without further delay,” he shot a pointed look over his shoulder, “let us introduce you to Princess Gizela, daughter of Queen Viktoria!”

Applause erupted as the queen and her husband appeared from behind the line of nobility carrying the child. Queen Viktoria glowed as she glided forward, the babe tucked into the crook of her arm and swaddled in a deep red wrap. It matched the vibrant dress that floated around her, and King Consort Geza beamed at her with pride. They reached the front of the stage, and the queen adjusted her hold on the child, who woke with a large yawn and stretch.

I wasn’t an empath, but even I was overwhelmed with the swell of emotion from those gathered in the hall. Song broke out, the Day Fae falling into tune and creating a lively atmosphere as the monarchs walked the length of the stage, allowing everyone a glimpse of the future queen.

Queen Immonen and King Airre shared an intimate look, no doubt communicating mind to mind like Izidora and Ruslan often did. Taking my opportunity while all were distracted, I searched the crowd for Kazimir, Viktor, and Endre and found them still seated. Kazimir’s jaw was locked tight, a muscle feathering beneath his eye. Endre’s lips were pressed into a thin line, and Viktor looked between them like he was at a loss for his next action.

Trouble among the Night Fae.

We could work with internal strife, and I made a mental note to mention it to Ruslan. War had not raged in északi for centuries, so none alive had seen true battle, save for the Angel who sat beside me and the Demon who kept to the shadows to conceal his activities. I glanced at Zuriel then, wondering what he was thinking. Even after all these years of knowing him, I still felt like I didn’t know much at all. He and Gozzak were the oldest of the Telivér, followed by Xorrek, and they’d all been captured together. While Gozzak and Xorrek were loudmouthed and brash, Zuriel was quite the opposite. The three had valuable insight to provide in the coming war, and I would accept whatever help they would offer. It would be stupid to disregard anything they had to say.

“Looks like the Night Fae aren’t all on the same page,” I whispered, dropping my head over my shoulder to better direct my words toward Zuriel. He casually glanced in their direction, his keen eyes missing nothing, then returned them to the stage.

“Undoubtedly. It seems like Endre would rather be anywhere but here.”

I agreed with his assessment, sizing up the male Liliana was still hung up on.

“You know Liliana cares for both of you,” Zuriel offered willingly, and I blinked rapidly, facing him.

“And how do you know that?” I questioned, brows furrowing.

He shrugged, his face betraying nothing. “You learn to read people after several millennia of life.”

“I don’t expect her to choose me if he suddenly came crawling back, begging her forgiveness.” I propped an elbow on the table, twisting my hands together before glancing over my shoulder at the Night Fae.

“She doesn’t want groveling. She wants–” Zuriel was cut off as High Lord Soma’s voice boomed once again, and my heart dipped just a fraction as I reminded myself that I was only temporary in Liliana’s life.

“Now that Princess Gizela has been announced to the world, let us feast!”

Golden tendrils of magic carried massive platters of food to the long tables, and we all leaned out of the way as the Day Fae worked together to arrange the food, drink, and plates.

“We’ll finish our conversation later,” I muttered as Gozzak reappeared and took a seat on the opposite side of Zuriel.

The three of us kept a close eye on the Night Fae, though the Day Fae kept trying to force drinks into our hands. At first, I accepted them, only pretending to drink. But soon, they realized my ploy, and worry about offending them crept across my shoulders. The Crystal Fae celebrated nearly as hard as the Day Fae, and as we were smashed between the nobles of both realms at our table, I knew refusing them was a lost cause.

This was why I never wanted to be king, or an ambassador, or fucking anything political. Just let me fight and not have to play nice.

With a grimace, I knocked back an entire drink, hoping that would appease them. It did not. Instead, more were forced upon us, and I continued stuffing food into my mouth in hopes of offsetting the effects of the liquor.

Queen Viktoria and King Consort Geza sat at the very end of the table, the little princess strung between them, safely cradled in a way they could both watch over her. Eventually, she began to wail, and a female I assumed was a wet nurse fetched her, carrying her away from the party and allowing the new parents the freedom to roam and connect with their people.

Music filled the room after the food cleared, and shortly after, the tables were pushed to the outer edges, making room for dancing and revelry. Standing on the sidelines was entertaining enough for me, and as more alcohol was shoved into my hands, I lost sight of the Night Fae. No one had left the party yet, and I got the sense no one would until the early hours of the morning. Kazimir wouldn’t risk disappearing and offending the rulers of the Day Realm – not when he’d traveled all this way to make a point. So I let it go, and surrendered to the jovial crowd, deciding to celebrate the day, and the new life to its fullest.