Chapter 7

Chapter

Seven

CALLISTO

As the room fills with people, I find myself checking every person who enters, looking for Silas. It's ridiculous when I barely know the man, but in a sea of unfamiliar faces, I'd love to see someone I recognize.

King Samuel sits on his throne as I awkwardly stand next to him. I feel like I'm on some kind of display as people stare at me. I much preferred it when no one in the town knew my face. I likely won't be able to sneak around town anymore at this point.

The awkwardness stretches on as I feel severely out of place. As people walk in, it's customary for them to bring the royals a gift, and because I'm being crowned as prince, the gifts all seem to be for me.

So as each person enters, they come up and hold out some ridiculous number of gems, jewelry, or something else that costs far too much. I don't really know what to do with any of it. Before reaching me, a fae who is a mage checks the gifts to make sure there are no ill intentions with them before they are permitted to step up to me and offer me the gift.

I take a lavish box packed full of jewels that a man offers me and smile. "Thank you so much! So beautiful!"

The man is standing next to a young woman who shyly smiles at me, but at that very moment, I see Silas walk in and my eyes are instantly drawn to him.

The king seems to notice and gives me a rather uncalled-for elbow in the ribs.

"Prince Eli, this is Lady Jules," he says like he hadn't just tried cracking my ribs to get my eyes off Silas.

"Wonderful to meet you," I tell them, hoping to hurry them along as the line is getting irritatingly long and Silas is at the end of it.

They finally seem to get the hint that I'm uninterested after we awkwardly stare at each other for an uncomfortable length of time. It's so long that my smile starts to turn into a grimace and the lady looks at me in concern, maybe believing I'm in pain. And with that, they move into one of the groups standing along the side where they'll wait for the crowning ceremony.

The next person is a rather old fae who takes a ridiculous amount of time to hobble toward me. It's so long that I start to feel a bit uncomfortable just standing here and watching his struggles. And when he reaches the three steps that lead up to me, he looks at them like he's about to brave the highest of mountains.

"I'll be there in just a moment," he says as he taps his cane at the step like he's testing it out.

"I'll just come to you," I decide.

"No, no. I could never ask the prince to stoop so low," he protests.

"I really don't mind," I say as he takes the first step before stopping for a breather. The second I try to move forward, the king stops me.

"We don't go to others," he instructs.

"Why? We prefer to watch them struggle and suffer?" I ask. "Is that supposed to make us feel mighty and strong? Because all I feel right now is a bit awkward and sweaty. This outfit has far too many layers. Can you see my sweat?"

"You do look a tad moist," the king agrees.

"Wonderful," I say sarcastically. "I really think I should just go down there."

King Samuel raises an eyebrow at me. "We are royalty."

"I mean, he looks like a gentle breeze would roll him down. Wouldn't that be a bad omen if he just croaks in front of me?"

"Hans, help the man," the king says.

Hans rushes down but as soon as he reaches to help, the elderly man obliviously slams his cane down on Hans's foot and hoists himself up to me. "For you."

He holds a wrinkled hand out.

"Oh… a secret present that I have no idea what it might be, how fun," I say as I apprehensively hold my hand out. I don't know why I feel like it's a trick, but I also feel like it'd be rather rude to not take it. So there I am waiting for the worst when he drops a single gold coin into my hand.

"You are very welcome," he says before I even get to say anything.

I'm unsure if it's a type of foreign currency since I've never seen it before, but there's a lot I don't know much about. It has a dragon on one side and when I flip it over, I notice there's a raven on the other. Before I can inquire about it, the older man has disappeared. Why the hell was he so damn fast leaving?

"Uh…"

Hans quickly takes the coin, much as he's taken everything else, and we're back to being laden down with gifts and flashed pretty women until it's finally Silas's turn.

I can't hide my beaming smile as he makes eye contact with me. He confidently walks up to me with a swagger to his steps… or maybe I'm seeing things and he's walking like a normal man. But I'm positive there's something to read into that sexy walk.

"Good evening," I say. "Did you bring me a bowl of stew or a mule?"

"Neither."

"How sad. I was hoping your poison stew would just knock me out during this dreadful…" I catch King Samuel's scrutinizing eyes. "I mean, during this wonderful ceremony."

"I apologize that I didn't bring something to knock you unconscious. While I don't have much to give," Silas says as he eyes the pile of riches threatening to tumble over and crush me, "I hope you will enjoy this gift."

"Nah, I'm just thrilled you've arrived."

"Banks and I went out and found you something," he says as he holds out a cupped hand. I'm all for this hand. It could be a chunk of mule manure, and I fear I would still be absolutely thrilled. But instead, what lands in my hand feels as soft as a dandelion that's gone to seed. It almost looks like one as well, if it wasn't so round with two teeny black eyes.

"They're drawn to flowers, so I assumed it'd be at home with you," he continues as the white puff ball hovers above my hand. While it doesn't have wings, it seems to be able to fly as it bobs around me.

I'm absolutely delighted by this weird little creature. I've never seen such a thing and I'm immediately in love. "I love it," I gush as it lands in my hand, teeny eyes looking up at me. It's no bigger than the coin the man had given me but significantly cuter. "This is the best gift I've ever gotten."

"I just bought you one of the rarest horses alive," the king says in disbelief. "That's just a… a… ball of dust you'd find behind your bed!"

I gasp. "How dare you? It's adorable." It blinks at me and my heart explodes. "Fucking hell, it's cute."

The king makes a noise that sounds a little like a killing blow… probably because of my language, but ah well. Times like these call for a bit of cussing.

"I'm glad you like it," Silas says before bowing to the king and making his descent.

"I'm in love," I whisper.

"Better not be with that damn man," the king says. "He's not even royalty! And he's disgustingly human. Did you see how human he is? I didn't even feel an ounce of magic from him."

"But look!" I enthuse as I hold the poof out to him.

No one else looks impressed, and for the rest of the gift giving, I'm deeply unimpressed that no one else showers me in pets.

Then comes the crowning ceremony which is as dreadful as the gift giving.