Page 63 of A Story of Sinners

When Gabriella turned, I was fully dressed and standing before the mirror, smoothing the silk of the gown. I gave the outfit an appraising look and met Gabriella’s eyes through the mirror. She smiled. “You look great.”

I moved past the complement, though it felt nice, and focused on who would be at dinner. “One of those two witches is my friend…or used to be. She hasn’t spoken to me in a very long time, and I’m not sure where we stand.” Eulalia had been in proximity and still had not uttered a word to me. It was due time I found out why.

“And I don’t claim Ryken asmy male, at least not right now. Redmond—don’t get me started on him. Two of the fae you mentioned, I have yet to meet, though I believe I met the red eyed male—” I paused. “Wait. Why did you sigh when referring to him?”

Her eyes widened, and her fingers clutched the silk of her gown. “No reason.”

I shot her a side glance, questioning why she refused to admit the dreamy sigh that had sounded from the mere mention of the terrifying male who escorted me from the dungeon. Thinking better of delving too deep, I changed the subject.

“I’m so relieved you are here.”

Gabriella paced to the window, facing the sunlight. The brightness of Faerie was difficult to reconcile, considering the state of Cambriel. If Ryken continued to upset the world, it would only be a matter of time before the darkness made its way here as well.

“I’m relieved to be here too.” A soft smile crested her face. “All my life, something has beckoned for me to follow, and I think that something was calling me here,” Gabriella breathed, and the sun beamed into her irises. “No, Iknowit was calling me here.”

Gabriella had an adventurous soul, one that had been smothered for far too long. I admired her for a moment. What would it be like to have that knowing deep inside your soul, to be so sure of yourself? What would it feel like to be so determined yet so positive and filled with faith? It was unimaginable, but I’d like to be that way, to be unfaltering in my every step, every choice.

I glanced in the mirror one last time, smoothing the elegant planes of my gown and knowing what I had to do next.

I would ensure the treaty went through without a hitch, but I needed to return to Cambriel to accomplish that. If I hurt Ryken in the process, so be it.

He had it coming anyways.

Chapter27

Dahlia

Everyone Gabriella had mentioned occupied a long wooden table, impatiently awaiting our arrival. The table was fully decorated, with silver and gold accents, and I didn’t miss the subtle hint towards the meaning of the decorations. Our shared bond had always been one of silver and gold.

My lip curled as I met Ryken’s gaze.

“Have you calmed down?” he asked, and I seethed at the question. After all he’d done, it was not my responsibility to ‘calm down’.

Ryken occupied the head of the table, with Fin seated to his left, as well as the other three high fae, including that red eyed male who oozed dread.

I shivered at the sight of him, but Gabriella carefully took the space across from him and smiled. The overwhelming sensation of horror radiating from his pores suddenly vanished once he met her eyes.

I narrowed my glare at the empty chair between Ryken and Redmond, a spot clearly reserved for me, but it was the last place I wanted to be. I circled around them, not stopping at the empty chair, and passed Eulalia, placing my hands on the back of Isadora’s seat.

“Move.”

She looked to Eulalia, who only nodded, before she rose and took my seat. I slid into the chair, looking to my left at Gabriella and then right back to Eulalia. “I think it’s time we talk.”

Eulalia tensed at my tone of voice, a firm tone she was not used to hearing. She shifted her head at Ryken and produced a wicked glare. “In private, once this lunatic is not around. I’ll visit tonight; Fin and I leave for the Dragon Lands tomorrow.” She shifted her glare onto her mate, and I raised my brow.

It seemed Eulalia was against the plan that had transpired. I didn’t know whether to feel hurt or proud.

She studied me, noticing the mix of emotions on my face. “I am happy to see you, Dahlia, but your mate and nearly everyone at the table damned the world for this one moment. Fate was supposed to head in a different direction, but instead, here we are,” she sighed. “I’m sorry, you know, for being so distant in Cambriel. It’s not that I wanted space between us, but it was necessary to keep my distance and prevent fate from falling into the wrong hands.”

It was a relief to hear my friend did not begrudge me for all that happened, but instead kept her distance in fear of fulfilling some unwanted outcome. I could only presume she was using the seer to glimpse into distant possibilities, a difficult feat, considering the limitations placed on visions of the future. The pain in my heart lightened just a bit, and I breathed in relief.

Despite her claim, I still held a bit of resentment towards the coldness she’d expressed in Cambriel. So many unanswered questions burned at the tip of my tongue, and she owed me the answers. I wasn’t a pawn to be used and manipulated.

“Eulalia, this fate, this future you speak of. Where did I lie in it?”

She clutched her napkin and placed it in her lap as servers darted between us, filling our plates and glasses. Everyone at the table suddenly became enraptured with the food in front of them, making small talk so quiet, there was no doubt they were listening in. They probably knew just as little as me. It wouldn’t have been like Eulalia to tell them any more information than necessary.

She leaned in close. “You would have been fine eventually, happy even. I promise. I would never have allowed a future that didn’t have you in it.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “But now the seer is gone, and there is no way of knowing what steps come next. I suppose the best option would be to lie low and wait for what comes next.”

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