Page 28 of Fear the Flames
I walk over to the full-length mirror, my gown gliding along the floor in my wake. I convey the same kind of appearance Eagor and Valia did on the steps: regal, untouchable, rich. My chest is small, but the dress amplifies what little I have. Sheer trumpet sleeves cling to my upper arms and widen below my elbow. My hair resembles the sketches of mermaids I used to read about when I was a young girl. I look like the queen I’ve always wanted to be but never had the chance.
I lift the lid of my trunk, plucking a new thigh garter, dragon dagger, and gold elm tree crown from the contents inside. I take a seat on the bench in front of my bed and slide my feet into a gold pair of heels with ties that cross around my calves. I’m adjusting my crown in front of the mirror when a sharp knock rattles against the entrance to my room.
Hyacinth rushes over to answer. “Good evening, Commander Veles,” she curtsies before stepping to the side and letting Cayden enter. Annoyance and anticipation prickle under my skin.
“Muse of my nightmares, you have returned,” I sigh while running my fingers through my hair and straightening my dagger. “Are you here to escort me?”
Nothing but silence greets me.
“Cayden?” I ask, spinning on my heels to face him. The tops of his ears and apples of his cheeks flush as his dark gaze roams over me. If he clenches his jaw any tighter, I’m afraid his teeth will break. His cheekbones are so sharp that I could hone a sword on them. I take a moment to let my gaze to roam over him. His hair is styled and pushed back except for a few strands that still brush against his forehead. I want to slap my hand when it itches to push those strands back. He wears a tailored black tunic that hugs his shoulders and arms perfectly, with tailored black pants to match. A sword hangs low on his hips. He looks…no.Not going there. “Cayden?” I ask again, but this time my voice sounds like a breathless whisper.
He blinks and shakes his head as if he’s coming out of a trance, “Did you say something?” He clears his raspy throat. Why does his voice have to be raspy and deep? It makes me wonder what he would sound like in the morning, or what he would sound like during—no! Not going thereagain. Both of us have too much to lose if we get involved with each other personally and it ends badly.
“I asked if you’re here to escort me to the banquet.”
He covers up his previous expression that I would personally classify as a wanting look with an unreadable, blank face. “This banquet and any other banquet, ball, or dinner that comes.” He must notice the confusion on my face because he tacks on, “You’re stuck with me, angel.”
“Don’t you have a job to do? You’re not a guard.”
“I added you into my job description.” He smirks while walking toward my door. “It now reads, ‘Cayden Veles—Commander of Vareveth and Defender of the Bane of his Existence’.”
I loop my hand through his extended arm and try to ignore the fresh scent of pine and spice that surrounds him. “So, you have officially given me the title?”
“It was only ever yours to take.”
“It’s truly an honor,” I grin.
We walk the rest of the way in silence, but my skin prickles with anxiety, considering every click of my heels on the tile brings me closer to the banquet. Ailliard and I had a conversation about Eagor and Valia before we crossed into Vareveth. I’ll have to win them over if I want the alliance papers to be signed in a timely manner. Royals have a habit of pushing things off if they don’t want to make a deal with someone. I’ll do my best, but I won’t compromise who I am. Nobody is worth losing my dignity for. It would be so much easier if Cayden was the only one I had to deal with, but my people need food just as much as I need my dragons.
Cayden pauses when we get to a set of closed double doors. They’re covered in green and gold detailing, just like the walls of the hall. They’re the colors of Vareveth. “You ready?” he asks.
I raise my chin while staring down the doors before meeting his eyes that are already on me. “I’m not bowing,” I state. He smirks but quickly shuts down the crack in his unreadable expression before I can decipher it. I like when he can’t control his initial reactions. I doubt he’s used to being caught off guard.
“Good. I never do,” he says while facing forward and raising his fist to knock three times on the door before straightening himself out by my side.
“Have you ever bowed to anyone?”
“No.”
A staff thumps against the floor, silencing whatever crowd has gathered on the opposite side of the door. My hand involuntarily tightens on Cayden’s arm, but if he notices, he doesn’t make it known.
“Commander Cayden Veles of Vareveth and Her Majesty Elowen Atarah, Queen of Aestilian and Princess of Imirath.” The doors fly open as the cheers of the crowd rise to meet us. Cayden guides us forward, and into the den of vipers we descend.
PartTwo
The Alliance
ChapterFourteen
The cheers increase with every step we take, descending into the banquet hall. Several tables with intricate floral centerpieces are spread throughout the room. There’s an aisle in the center of the sea of tables that leads to a singular risen one. My eyes glance around the table we’re walking toward. Finnian is seated between Ryder and an empty chair. Ailliard is on the opposite side between two Vareveth advisors. Cayden gracefully helps me up the steps and escorts me toward King Eagor and Queen Valia, who stand at the front of the raised platform. Now that I’m closer, I can see that the pair looks to be in their upper thirties. They have coordinated their outfits to match Vareveth’s signature green and gold. Eagor wears an emerald tunic with gold buttons, and Valia wears a modest gold gown with puffy sleeves and an equally puffy skirt. Her gray eyes flash toward my dagger, and her smile twitches disapprovingly before she recovers.
“Eagor, Valia, may I present Queen Elowen Atarah,” Cayden says once we’re in front of them.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Eagor smiles. I stretch my hand out, expecting him to shake it, but he brings it to his mouth, placing a kiss on my knuckles while keeping his green eyes on mine and giving me the urge to wash my hands as soon as I’m able. I feel Cayden stiffen under my hold, and I bite back a joke to poke at if he’s jealous. We can’t be juvenile in public.
“You as well.” I flash my practiced smile. “Your castle is lovely.”
“It must be nice to be in a castle again. I assume Aestilian doesn’t have one?” Valia asks with a broad smile on her face. My hand tightens on Cayden’s arm at the subtle jab. Even if her tone is sweet, I can decipher an insult in disguise. Cayden cocks his head, but I open my mouth before he can say something to make this awkward.
