Page 142 of Blood of Ancients

Chapter 39

Ravinica

THE DRESS I WORE WASimmaculate. Though flashy garb had never been my style, I couldn’t deny how good it felt tolookthe way my mates saw me, for once. Out of my travel-worn leathers, my fur coat, and into something that hugged my curves—a bit too tightly, admittedly, because of my difference in stature to elven women.

It came with leg slits that bared the sides of my thighs when I walked. Rather than the blue hue of a handmaid’s garb, it was emerald and luminescent in the night. Glittering. Complete with padded flats that flexed my calves and made them look amazing. My build was on full display for my men, who stared at me in awe, like a trophy they’d won.

They called me a vision, a beacon, a goddess—all the things I had come to expect yet never took for granted. I blushed at their compliments, and then flushed harder as I recalled the intense orgy we’d just partaken in.

There was something about this place, Alfheim, that awoke lusty need inside me. Perhaps it was learning about their culture, their incessant breeding and birthing norms, their practical beliefs on mating and procreation.

Or maybe I just missed my men dearly, and felt we’d been through enough turmoil to warrant such a visceral display of lovemaking.

None of us were ashamed for losing ourselves to the starberry desire. If anything, my men couldn’t stop grinning when we walked out of the spring-hold.

Of course, they would not let me leave alone. Despite the graciousness of our hosts so far, Grim, Arne, and Sven didn’t know the elves enough to trust them with me. Corym knew them, and even he said it made sense for all of us to go, while Magnus spoke with Kelvar and got things off his chest.

I hoped it went well for my tormented bloodrender mate.

Zentha led us through the first-level emerald tier of the city, and instead of the scowls and wary eyes of passing townsfolk I’d gotten when we first arrived, now they treated me with bows and nods of respect.

Almost as if they knew more about me than I knew about myself. I figured it was the dress I wore, more than anything, that changed their tune.

We came to a crank-powered elevator that lifted us past the second Sapphire tier of the city and onto the third, final level, the Ruby District.

Here, gardens spread wide across the flat expanse. We were higher on the mountain, colder at night. I knew this space would be lovely during the day. A small waterfall fed into a babbling creek that ran across the grounds like a vein, before draping off down to the Sapphire District.

The buildings were bigger, with red roofs and a more polished sheen. Spires and twisting towers made up most of the homes here. Elves walking the grounds were dressed even nicer than below, with more flourishes to their appearance—piercings in and around their face, gold jewelry, silver garments for their tabards.

Walking past a row of colonnades on either side of us, Zentha shuffled toward a striking palace in the distance. It was ornate, vast, and guarded by gold-plated elves that saluted Corym as he walked abreast with me.

Glancing over my shoulder at the way we had come, I could only imagine how beautiful the view from up high would be, overlooking the valley, the Twins, the Kiir’luri Forest.

“Quite a home your people have made for yourselves, Zentha,” I said casually, trying not to show my nerves.

“It may not look it,maelen, but this is an ancient city, thousands of years old. Many of the structures you see are original, with only the smallest renovations made over the years.”

“Wow.”

She quieted as we drew closer to the palace. About thirty yards away, in a courtyard of wildflowers and blooming, bushy trees, our procession stopped.

Walking from the frontmost tower of the palace was Lady Elayina, and she looked resplendent. Gone were the wreaths of vines and fungi making her look sickly; replaced with an ornate red gown and cloak, clasped with a golden broach I assumed denoted her status.

She had mostly lost her hunched gait, making her seem taller than her slight stature. She used a cane to walk, slowly, purposefully, toward us. The cane itself, built from twisted blackwood and topped with a ruby pommel, looked more expensive than anything I’d ever owned.

Still, as the ancient half-elf came closer, I noted something odd about her withered face. Though she now had a proud glint in her eye, she somehow looked evenolderthan before—as if returning to Alfheim had both healed her misery and brought on new layers to her years.

“Well met, child,” Elayina said, bowing her head slightly. “I am glad you received my invitation. I hear you were almost . . . interrupted. I am sorry for that.”

I shot Zentha a scowl, and she smirked at me.What pervy things did you tell the old crone, woman?To Elayina, I said, “Seems you couldn’t escape the fanfare after all, Lady.”

She chuckled, hoarse and self-deprecating. Reaching her arms out wide, looking at the fur-trimmed cloak settled on her bony arms, she said, “Ridiculous, isn’t it? You, too, could not escape the lavishness of my people.”

I stared down at myself, at the way the emerald dress left nothing to the imagination when it came to my bust, my muscles, or my size. “I could not.”

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