Page 119 of Bane of the Wild Hunt

I looked up and saw the grassy field that was usually packed with sweaty warriors had been utterly transformed into what could only be described as an outdoor ballroom. The ground had become a marble floor that gleamed and was surrounded by freestanding pillars covered in vines and pink roses. There were lights in the trees beyond and orbs of light hovered above the dance floor in varying sizes. They glowed softly enough to give off a breathtaking ambience but did not eclipse the splendor of the sky or the brightness of the stars. I could hear music, the strumming and plucking of many lyres, but I could not see a band.

Riordan had said he wanted to make me his under the stars, but I hadn’t realized how literally he meant it.

I heard Helena draw in her breath sharply, and even Ares seemed to hesitate in awe.

“Oh! He did even better than I hoped,” gasped Sofia, who I knew had been working with Riordan on how this eveningwould look. I had been asked a few questions about flowers and colours, but that was the extent of my involvement, and I was glad now that I saw the results. This was simply beyond anything I could have even tried to dream up on my own.

There had been some pressure from the council not to lean too much into the romantic aspect of the night. It was meant to be Riordan’s coronation after all. But it seemed like my mate might be punishing them for making him wait to claim me. He had clearly gone out of his way to make this about us and his intention to make me his.

It seemed like most of the guests had already arrived and were mingling. As I got closer to them, I could see them glancing around in as much wonder as I felt, although many tried to hide it.

I reached the edge of the marble floor between two of the pillars with rose vines that formed a floral archway between them. One face and then another turned to me. Whispers and elbows drew more attention until it seemed like they werealllooking at me. And this time they were not sneering or shaking their heads in disdain the way they had when I first arrived with Riordan. This time they looked stunned as their eyes swept over me as if seeing me for the first time.

I’d known Sofia could work miracles, but holy gods, this was impressive.

However, there was only one expression I cared for. There was only one reaction that Ineededto see.

Riordan turned toward me just as I spotted him so our eyes met at the same time. And there was simply nothing,nothing, more intoxicating than seeing the way he reacted. Everything and everyone else abruptly faded away in my mind while I watched him absorb me. I could clearly see his awe and the honour he seemed to feel in his eyes as he looked at me: his chosen mate.

And I found myself suddenly wondering if any of this was even real. Surely that man, thatking, was not looking atmewith so much admiration and humility?

But hewaslooking at me. So I took a breath for a little confidence and moved onto the dance floor toward him.

Only for Orion to step into my path.

I had been so focused on Riordan that I’d missed Orion coming toward me through the crowd. My first impulsive thought was that he would attempt to interfere and stop me from going to Riordan, but he merely stood there while allowing his eyes to rove over me. It almost seemed to me that he was assessing whether I would be sufficient for his belovedskiá.

It was the first time I’d seen him wearing the polished gold armour that Riordan favoured rather than the leather suit that Orion seemed to prefer. And he looked… good.

When he was finished looking at me, he sidestepped and reluctantly held out his arm.

I was hesitant, but I stepped away from Helena and Ares and tentatively slipped my arm under Orion’s so my fingers rested loosely and timidly on his muscled forearm. As he moved closer, his enormous body captivated my awareness, his scent enveloping me until it felt like he had consumed me somehow.

He began to walk forward, but his head turned behind us before he leaned down toward me. I tried to brace for his proximity, but nothing could prepare me for the flutter of his breath on my neck. I stopped breathing and some visceral part of me wanted to melt in anticipation.

“You are going to be stepped on all night,” he told me, and it felt like my heart plunged into cold water.

What exactly had I been expecting? A compliment or some shy confession? He had never given me reason to expect kindness from him, so why the hell did my heart bruise so easily from his every rebuke?

I could not see Riordan anymore once we had moved into the crowd, but I refuelled my confidence with the memory of his reaction and raised my head.

“I am going to make people move out of my way.”

The quick retort made me sound much more confident than I felt, but Orion merely snorted. It was unclear if he was being dismissive or if he was impressed.

We reached Riordan, the last of the crowd parting to reveal where he stood with his mother and sister. I could not get off Orion’s arm and onto Riordan’s fast enough, relief and security sweeping through my body in a wave when my mate drew me to his side. His tenderness was enough to drown the lingering sting of Orion as he kissed my forehead and then my ear. I shivered in anticipation, and this time received the sweet words I’d craved.

“You are a goddess.”

I could not have kept the smile from my face if I tried, and I didn’t want to. Not even if his mother was staring at us with a mixture of curiosity and uncertainty.

I was so wrapped up in Riordan that I’d almost missed the others with them. Nyssa and Dio were a couple of the Imítheos I had come to like on the council, both of whom had been appointed as commanders by Riordan when he was the general. There was also Isaura, about whom I was still unsure, and Castor. I disliked him the day I met him, and he had not grown on me since then.

I knew all of their faces which meant that Riordan’s father still had not returned home. He exchanged plenty of letters with his son, and my mate did not seem distressed by his absence. There was something happening in Erétria which Riordan was tightlipped about. Even with me.

“Well,” said Isaura significantly, seemingly impressed in spite of herself, “you certainlylookthe part.”

It was meant to be a nice compliment, I was sure.

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