Page 5 of The Night Runs Red

“It’s wonderful to meet you all. I understand our situation is delicate, but rest assured I will do whatever I can to ease tensions between our people,” I said, attempting to keep my voice even.

Rion and his mother remained silent, and I fought against the embarrassment rising in my chest as his mother rolled her eyes. Have I severely misread the situation? As I looked away, the suave fair-haired stranger on the end gave me a confident smile that eased my nerves a fraction.

Keep calm, Calia. Don’t let them get under your skin.

“Yes,” Rion’s mother said slowly. “Wonderful indeed. As you know, my name is Leonora D’Arcy.” Condescension dripped from her words, telling me she didn’t find this wonderful at all. Her deep crimson gown was littered with dark gemstones, while elbow-length black gloves seemed painted to her skin and matched the obsidian-colored necklace draped against her chest.

Before the silence could linger, Brielle gave a small wave. “Hi, I’m Brielle. Calia’s cousin.” Her eyes lingered on the mystery man. “I’m not quite sure we’re familiar with you.”

“That means I’m doing my job right,” he said with a grin before standing up and approaching us. He stuck his hand out in greeting. “Jasper Sinclaire. Mr. D’Arcy’s bodyguard.” His burnished eyes met mine, causing a warm sensation to fill my stomach. He was beautiful and charming—a wild comfort in this utter shitstorm of a day. “We’ll see a lot of each other in the months to come until we sort out your security.”

“My security?” I asked, the words breaking the trance I’d been in. I’d never had my own security in my life. The only exception was the week after my mother’s death, when Aunt Vivian insisted on it. Once my father emerged from his bedroom with bloodshot eyes, though, he’d dismissed them without a second thought and slapped me across the face after they stepped out the door. I was no match for my father’s unparalleled fae strength, especially not at such a young age. I’d nursed a black eye for three days until it faded enough to return to school without raising suspicion.

“Yes,” Jasper said, looking uncomfortable suddenly. He drew his hand back, and I glanced around his frame, seeing Rion’s clenched fist. “With yours and Mr. D’Arcy’s union, there are likely to be people who will not be as welcoming as others. But you do not need to worry about that. It is my job to mitigate any issues that may arise.”

I leaned back in my chair, crossing my legs at my ankles. “I see. Well, I appreciate you taking the time to introduce yourself.” It wasn’t lost on me that Rion hadn’t made any effort. Which was fine. I didn’t mind. At least, that’s what I tried to tell myself.

Without warning, Rion quickly rose to his feet and fastened the button on his jacket before holding out a hand for his mother to take. “I shall see you soon,” he said softly, averting his gaze. I hadn’t had a chance to respond before they left our room as quickly as they came in. Jasper, to his credit, nodded and smiled politely before stepping out of the door.

Brielle and I stared at one another in shock. “Did that just happen?” I asked, turning back toward the door. “He didn’t even say hello.”

Her brows furrowed as she leaned back and fiddled with the charm bracelet around her wrist. Her mom had gotten us matching ones when I turned eighteen, and they were something we always wore. Something was on her mind—she only quieted like that when she was holding something back, but after a few moments of terse silence, I decided not to push.

I rolled my shoulders, releasing the pent-up tension clinging to my body. I quickly settled back into my chair and picked up another mimosa before thinking about the silver-eyed devil who’d already turned my world upside down.

* * *

“Oh, my girl…” I turned around at my aunt’s strangled whisper as she entered the bridal suite door. My uncle followed up behind her, resting his hand on her shoulder.

Brielle helped me into my dress, latching the last clasp between my shoulder blades. Their watery gaze met mine through the mirror, and I fought to keep the tears at bay. Her smile was weak, but her eyes softened as she approached and scanned me from head to toe.

As she drew near, Brielle stepped away, and my aunt wrapped her arms around my middle. I rested my hand on hers. “Thank you for coming, Aunt Viv. I couldn’t do this without you.” The only response she gave was a tighter hug.

My aunt and uncle had always been my haven, treating me no differently than they had Brielle or her brother Xavier. I’d known more love than I ever hoped to have between them. Vivian never backed down from my father, regardless of the venom he spewed her way. When he banned her from seeing me, she simply found a way to sneak me out by placing guards on her payroll, rather than my father’s.

The thought of going extended periods without seeing them had my mimosas threatening to reappear. But surely, if this was for peace, they wouldn’t ostracize me from my family. It seemed counterproductive, but what did I know about arranged marriages and peace treaties?

As Vivian loosened her grip, Castor closed the door and pulled her into his side. Their relationship was one I’d always hoped to have. He’d forsaken everything to be with her, and their love had stood the test of time. There were so many instances I’d caught him staring at her when she wasn’t paying attention, and each time, I watched him fall more in love with her than he had been a second before.

“Are you okay with this, little star?” my uncle asked, glancing down at his wife.

There was a knock on the door. Jasper poked his head through the door, mouth gaping as he saw me. He covered it up with a quick, unconvincing cough. “My apologies. I didn’t mean to interrupt, but it’s time.”

I’d never been more thankful for an interruption because it stopped me from having to answer my uncle’s question. Brielle was the only one who knew I’d thought about saying no. Judging by the narrow-eyed glare she was giving me, I’d bet she wasn’t happy about the lie either.

All we needed to do was get through the day.

CHAPTER FOUR

We filed out of the bridal room quietly after Jasper had interrupted us. I was a mess of nerves and nausea, my stomach turning over at the thought of leaving everything I knew behind. My hands shook as I reached down and gripped the skirts of my wedding dress to keep myself from tripping. How I was supposed to make it down the aisle without falling face-first was still a mystery.

I loved how my aunt and uncle cared for me, but that same love weighed harder on my conscience than I anticipated. Their burning stares bore into my back, only adding to the suffocating silence surrounding us. Each footstep was a death knell, perfectly in time with my thundering heart.

The uncomfortable tension only grew as we stepped into the grand foyer. My father stood beneath the tall ceilings near the middle of the room with his hands clasped behind him. His dark brown hair was combed back, allowing the sharp-tipped ears of our kind to be on full display. A deep scowl already marred his features, his nose screwing up in disgust as he studied the man at my side.

“Finally,” he said gruffly, his pale eyes looking me over. His scrutiny was palpable, and I felt every bit of it claw its way beneath my skin. “I suppose you look tolerable.”

I was used to his insults. I had heard them for much of my life—but each barbed insult still felt like a whip across my skin that left me raw and bleeding. Castor let out a low growl behind me, but my father didn’t acknowledge him. They had a strained relationship at best, and it was better for everyone involved to keep their interactions limited, seeing as they typically ended with traded blows and bloodied fists.

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