Page 67 of The Divide that Binds Us

“Absolutely,” Roon says.He snatches her plate and the bulging vein on his forehead makes a return as he inhales and very sweetly (and intensely) tells a server to accommodate Evangeline.She smiles and sits down and catches Mildred’s brown eyes on her, but she doesn’t look away.Billie makes another joke, causing Remington to bellow and punch the table with a big happy smile.

“My dear, you’re a riot!We need you at dinner more often!”he cheers.

“Be careful with that one.She’ll shed everywhere if you continue inviting her,” Evangeline jokes.Billie cheeses super hard while Remington laughs more and slaps his knee.Evangeline meets Mildred’s penetrating stare again but looks down.

“Ah, this has been so fun,” Remington sighs.“You know, this whole world possibly coming to an end really upsets me.I don’t know what to—”

“Sir,” Mildred interjects with a pleasant smile.“I highly advise that you don’t speak of world matters.It’s not good for the heart.”

Remington is perspiring with a shiny gloss over his face when he nods and slings back a cotton-candy margarita he poured.

“You’re right.But the Guards are useless, Milly.What good are they?”Remington asks with a subtle slur.“It should be all hands on deck, including the Spirit Users.They have cool marks on their arms and weird powers.”

“My King, please cease this,” Mildred says.“Guests are in our undivided presence.”

Roon comes around with a new plate for Evangeline, chickpea salad with artichoke stuffed shells.She keeps her eyes on Billie who excuses herself.Once she leaves, Evangeline gets a full view of the creepy Guard from outside hanging around in the shadows of the dining room.Mildred and Remington unleash a full-fledged argument in front of everyone, to which Mildred can’t successfully calm Remington’s drunken rage.

“The world is dying!The Superiors won’t save us from this!”

“And our souls with mourn and be reborn!”Mildred still confidently holds her wine glass.

Roon comes around to refill everyone’s water glasses and mutters something about surviving the last three courses of the evening.

Evangeline eats sparingly and peeks at a text from Billie questioning the lurking Guards’ behaviors.It’s hard for her to snoop when they’re posted everywhere.She returns shortly with a sour face.Zero luck.

Remington is dazed, staring at the torn remnants of his plate.His apprentices quietly leave, having not finished the rest of the meal.Roon storms by, cursing under his breath and hastily asking for help from the kitchen staff with cleaning the table.

“My rose bush,” Remington slurs, mouth ajar.“It’s dying.It never dies in the summer.Something is wrong.”

Evangeline reaches to touch his arm to which he flinches and looks at her with wide eyes.Billie covers her mouth and quietly snickers while looking away.Remington’s shoulders quickly drop but he brings up a soft smile.

“King Remington, why not deploy Ultima or Elite?”Evangeline asks.

Remington sighs.“It wasn’t me, dear.I wanted you all to—”

“Roon, the King desires his chambers.He’s had enough dinner for tonight,” Mildred announces.Roon summons a few Guards to help Remington out of his chair and leave the room.

Now with just three of them, Evangeline’s anxiety picks up.

Surprisingly, Billie isn’t trying to fill the silent void but instead remains quiet, too.

“I think it is time for departure,” Mildred declares.“Forgive the King.When he has company over, he tends to go overboard with his consumption and rambles nonsense.”

“Well, the rose bush may be of concern, though,” Billie says.“With the dying dragons, it’s only a matter of time it’d start affecting the world since the life force is directly tied to them.”

Mildred cocks her head.Her muscular jaw flexes such a weird smirk that Billie clears her throat and shifts in her seat.

“Such fragility, right?Dragons die and then the world wilts.Tragic,” Mildred murmurs.

“That’s why reckless people don’t go around killing them,” Evangeline mutters.“It’s against the law.”

The advisor pauses.“That is correct.”

Roon returns and offers the third course, but everyone declines.He sighs dramatically and offers more refreshments, but everyone declines that, too, so he rips off his tie and storms out of the room, cursing again.

“Don’t mind him.Entertainment is a delicate art for him,” Mildred says.“Shall I escort you two out?I’ll call for a cab.”

Evangeline takes a sip of her remaining water.“Yes, please.I’m just gonna go to the restroom one more time if you don’t mind.”

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