Page 29 of Queen of Ever

But I was stopped almost as soon as I’d started moving, my body jolting ever so slightly as Solas held me firmly in place.I shook myself inwardly and looked up at him in surprise.His expression was set in a hard frown, but he didn’t look at me.

Right, I couldn’t make a scene.

This was clearly some kind of ceremony and I doubted anyone would thank me if I messed it up.It took all my strength to keep my eyes from wandering back to Tarian as we took our place and the rest of the Seelie delegates stepped through the portal.

Besides, I probably shouldn’t be so eager to go to the man who’d betrayed me.That thought brought reality crashing back to me, reminded me why I was standing here with the Seelie Court and not with Tarian right now.I swallowed down the lump that was forming in my throat and turned my attention to the room instead, which seemed like a safer option.

The walls were built of white stone that had probably once shone brilliantly but now seemed dull with age.Vines descended from above, curling their way down the walls, dotted with orange buds that added a splash of colour.At intervals around the room, there appeared to be murals depicting who knew what, the paint chipped and faded now, as was the gold that framed them.I wondered what story they told behind the faded colours and the foliage.

The priest didn’t seem to notice the state of the castle, or perhaps he didn’t care.With a quick head count, he stepped towards the portal and waved his arms.The light faded from the surface of the water, leaving behind a still pool, much like the one we’d just stepping into in the Summer Palace.But the mosaic at the bottom of the pool was different, sun and moon both present, the light of day and the dark of night weaving together to represent both courts.

The priest shuffled towards an altar at the front of the room that was coated in flaking gold, huffing as he climbed the three steps behind it.He pulled out a chalice, a beautiful ornate thing, half silver, half gold, with intricate carvings adorning it to clearly represent the Seelie and Unseelie Courts.It looked like everything about this ceremony was to represent some sort of balance between the two factions.It all seemed a little over the top to me.

‘We have gathered here at this sacred place for the purpose of peace between Seelie and Unseelie.Under Oberon’s eternal gaze, we sacrifice a part of ourselves to ensure that war may never touch these hallowed halls,’ he said, his voice echoing in the silence of the room.

I thought I saw Solas roll his eyes but then he was moving towards the altar, leaving me behind.I felt like I could breathe again, and my eyes immediately found Tarian once more to find him already looking my way.His gaze held mine, his expression still inscrutable.What was he thinking?Did he feel nothing at seeing me again?

He pulled his gaze away and headed for the altar.I realised then that Solas was making his way back to me, his expression cold.But as he turned to face the priest, it suddenly shifted, softening, and a shiver ran up my spine.He leaned in so his lips were close to my ear, never taking his eyes off the ceremony.‘Your turn,’ he whispered softly, as if he was being helpful, but I didn’t miss the hint of glee in his tone.

I stepped forward, keeping my eyes on Tarian to see what it was I was actually supposed to be doing.He held his hand over the chalice as blood dripped from his finger.The priest nodded and he pulled his hand back.When he turned, his eyes widened in surprise, the first hint of emotion I’d seen from him, before his features hardened into a much coarser expression, a darker one, as his gaze moved to rest on Solas, and I wondered whether it was better when he was hiding his feelings and I couldn’t see the anger.

I guess that answered my question on how he felt about me?I’d thought there would be a part of him that would be happy to see me.Perhaps it was naïve to think he’d miss me like I’d missed him.My chest ached as I moved towards the altar, trying to ignore Tarian and my own hurt feelings.

The priest smiled warmly at me as I offered him my hand.‘This is your first conclave?’

I nodded in response.I wasn’t sure how he knew that.Either he was a lot sharper than I’d judged, or my expression told him I had no idea what was going on.

‘Don’t be nervous, you’ll hardly feel a thing.’

If only the same could be said for my heart.

The blade was so sharp that I didn’t feel it cut across my skin, though the exposed nerves stung as the air kissed them.The priest held my hand still over the chalice as three drops of blood fell into it.Why is it always blood or orgies with these people?I wondered bitterly as I pulled my hand back.

I noticed that Tarian had found his way back to the Unseelie and another fae was waiting for me to get out of the way.One I recognised.Vesryn dropped a wink as he approached me, whispering, ‘You never disappoint,’ as he passed.I didn’t know what that was meant to mean, but that was hardly unusual.Tarian’s cousin always seemed more interested in stirring the pot than he was in communicating clearly.

As I made my way back to the Seelie delegation, a woman leaned over to whisper in Tarian’s ear, her silvery hair falling around her face like silk.I’d seen her before.Tarian’s fiancé.They looked so intimate, standing there whispering together as if no one else existed.Jealousy bristled in me, coiling around my stomach.I bit my cheek as a point of pain to focus on to distract from my rising emotions as I lifted my head, doing my best to pretend I didn’t care.

I chose to stand next to Marietta, who had positioned herself somewhere near the back of the delegation.It seemed a far better option than seeking out Solas again.He’d probably think I’d snubbed him, and it might piss him off, but I didn’t care.Whatever game he and Tarian were playing, I wanted no part in it.I needed a moment to lick my wounds in peace.

I stared at the wall behind the priest as one by one the fae from both sides added their blood to the chalice.I only hoped no one was going to have to drink it.How long was this going to take, anyway?I needed to get out of that room, away from Tarian and his fiancé, away from Solas and his agenda, away from the prying eyes of the court.

I just needed to breathe.

Finally, the last fae stepped away from the altar and the priest lifted the chalice high above his head, chanting words in a language I didn’t understand.The fae all stared on, appearing mostly bored, as if it was just another Tuesday, but I couldn’t help wondering what sort of spell the old man was putting on my blood and what the consequences would be.

A light began to pour out of the cup, tinted red, and a tingling sensation filled my body, like ants crawling under my skin.When the priest stopped chanting, the light died away, and all that remained of the spell was the itchy feeling of lingering magic.

‘The oath has been made and accepted,’ the priest said, smiling warmly at his audience.‘Now you may all retire to your rooms to prepare for the feast.’

That seemed to lift the mood in the room as fae began to head for the exit with a murmur of excited chatter.But the last fae festival I’d attended had ended in me running for my life.A shiver ran through me at the memory of Tarian’s wild eyes, the way he’d pinned me against that tree.

I gave myself a mental shake.That was most definitelynotwhere my mind should be wandering to now.

Marietta took my arm just as Solas approached us, as if she sensed I needed her support.

‘I’ll see you at the feast,’ he said, his voice leaving no room for argument.It was not a request.I bit my tongue against the defiance that threatened to burst from my lips, more enticing than usual because of the tumult of my emotions.It would be a small relief, to lash out at Solas, but making a scene was not going to help anything.He didn’t wait for me to respond before heading for the exit himself.

‘This feast…’ I began, lowering my voice in the hopes that only Marietta would be able to hear me.‘I don’t suppose it’sjusta feast?’

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