Page 8 of Flame and Starlight

I slipped into the bright white fur cloak she had retrieved from the wall next to the door. “It’s very brave of you to trust me in white. I’m not known for being the most careful person.”

“We can clean anything,” she said with that warm smile returning, crinkling at her eyes. “One of the guards, Emric, will take you to the dining room.” She crossed the room to the door, and I hesitantly followed her. Grabbing the tin off the vanity before I left, I dabbed a bit of the cream on my cut. The pain instantly receded this time.

“Emric,” she said around the corner of the open door. “She’s ready. Best get going before she’s late.” Still shaking the sleep off, I walked out the door.

“Miss Alys,” he said with a short nod. “I’ll be taking you to dinner.” He was tall, almost as tall as Asher. But Emric had dark brown hair, and his deep, tan skin was void of any dust. His long locks were pulled back into a haphazard bun, showing off his pointed ears. He had tattoos that were similar to Asher’s on his neck, but I couldn’t tell how many he had since every inch of his skin was covered in uniform. I met his violet eyes and smiled.

“Lead the way.” I gestured out with my arm. The cloak slipped, and my bruises made an appearance. I quickly sheltered my arm back inside. I had no idea why I was trying to cover them up.

Because they make you look weak, I thought to myself.

Emric held out his arm, and I took it. His uniform was thick and woolen and scratched at my arm. A few minutes passed in silence as we made our way down this hall and that hall. I felt like I would never begin to remember how to get to and from anywhere in this place.

“So, how old are you?” I blurted. I could feel the color rise in my cheeks at my boldness. But my mother had told me they lived for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. So I was curious.

He let out a short laugh. “That is an incredibly random and slightly rude question, Miss Alys.” I looked up at him, and even though he was staring straight ahead, he was grinning like I amused him.

“My mother told me that you’re immortal, or close to it. And I’m curious. I think I’m owed a couple of questions here and there after I was thrown into a mirror, tossed into a river, and literally stolen from my home.” I shrugged but eyed him out of the corner of my eye, seeing if my guilt trip had worked. He sighed.

“I’m three hundred and twenty-eight,” he said.

“Practically a child, then,” I said, trying to disguise the shock on my face. He tipped his head back and laughed.

“Yes. Practically a child.” He looked down at me. “Any other questions you’d like to get out before going in there with the man himself?”

“I think it would be more fun to save them for him.” We came to a grand set of doors at the end of a brightly lit hallway, more guards on either side.

“I wish I could stay to watch that,” Emric said as the guards in front of us opened the double doors. Soft heat flooded out and warmed my face. “I’ll be back to get you.” He nudged me forward, and I walked into the great room.

Great was an understatement. It was enormous. The floors were a glimmering black, and on each end of the room were fireplaces that had to be taller than me, both cracking and snapping with heat. The wall across from me was all glass and framed a mountainside covered in thick snow under the pink-and-blue sky. The stars shone brighter now in the evening sun. All around the walls of the room were soft cushioned chairs coupled together with small tables in between. But in the middle of the room was a large, imposing table, with too many chairs to count as I stood there, my eyes flitting from one thing to another. And at the head of that table, dressed in all black with a smirk resting on his face, was Asher.

“Hello, little duck.”

CHAPTER FOUR

“Should I bow?” My voice was dripping with sarcasm. I eyed the shadows that twisted around him like smoke, curling into his hair and around his shoulders.

“So the secret’s out? You can if you so please, but I’m not that formal.” The corner of his mouth twitched up. One day I would slap that stupid smirk off his face. “You can hang your cloak up behind you there. It will be plenty warm in here without it.”

I unbuttoned it and hung it next to the one I assumed was his on the wall. When I turned back around, his eyes caught the marks he had left on my arm. “I apologize for that,” he said as he stood and pulled out the chair to his right. “I forgot my own strength along with how weak you would be.” He gestured at the chair in front of him. I narrowed my eyes but crossed the distance between us and sat down.

“So,” he said, filling the silence after he was back in his own seat. “Have you eaten anything today?”

“I have questions,” I said flatly.

“I’m sure you do. But I, for one, would prefer to be assaulted by your line of questioning after I have eaten. And I know you have to be hungry.” He snapped his fingers, and dish after dish of food appeared on the table in front of us. I jumped back in my chair. I looked at him and found that smug grin again. He was pleased that he had startled me. I would most definitely slap that face one day.

I leaned forward and sniffed at the food. Everything looked amazing and normal. There was roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and fat, buttered dinner rolls. My mouth watered, and I clenched my stomach as I felt it rumble in a not-so-silent demand to eat. When I didn’t move, he reached forward and grabbed my plate from in front of me and began to fill it up with food.

“Are you going to feed me, too?” I asked when the plate was sat back in front of me. He leaned forward, resting his chin on his fist, and smiled a bit bigger now. I noticed his eye teeth were much sharper than my own.

“Eat the food, Alyssandra.”

I took a bite of chicken and fought the urge to just start shoveling it all in my mouth. It was the best food I had ever tasted.

“About that,” I said, pointing the fork casually in his direction as I swallowed. “How do you know my full name? I don’t make that public knowledge.”

“I made it my job to know everything about you,” he said, tearing a roll into pieces and bringing each one to his mouth.

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