Chapter Twenty-Two
Elek
The patio was a massive mosaic beside the doors to the ballroom, which had been converted to a buffet that would close soon enough to make room for tonight’s event. Circular white covered tables littered the tiled ground as everyone began to take their seats. The announcement was to come before the mingling.
Although I made sure to sit beside her, Sera’s fear seeped into my mind, making me anxious. She had told me before that she didn’t like crowds, and when I brought up the time in the market she shrugged it off as being comfortable with her brother and guards there. Now, I could feel her body tense each time she caught a new face gazing at her and her hand rested against the part of her dress concealing a dagger. I had told her it wasn’t necessary, I was with her after all, but she assured me that it was more for peace of mind than anything else.
Our table was the only one not round and instead was a long rectangle with Zander sitting on Sera’s other side and my sister beside him, followed by her father, stepmother and grandmother. My father sat on my other side, spearing his smoked ham in impatience as others still gathered to find their name cards. Huri didn’t want the attention and hid themselves away for the time being. Lucky bastard.
A clinging of glass echoed off the castle walls and towards the maze behind us as Jovan rose to his feet. Sera’s body went rigid beside me when the crowd fell silent.
“Thank you all for joining us on this wondrous day.” Regnum’s king began.
“We hope that you will enjoy yourselves at this garden party and then later at the masquerade, hosted by my wife, Queen Regina, and my daughter, Princess Serafina.”
A small hand found mine under the table and gripped tightly when her name was spoken. Her fear was beginning to make me nauseous. I could only imagine how horrible it would be if we didn’t wear the bands.
“Tonight we are celebrating the joining of the Gavriil family and the Drakonis family with the announcement of two betrothals.”
Whispers rose from the tables as eyes darted towards the four of us involved. Jovan put up a hand to silence them.
“My son, Crown Prince Zander Gavriil, is set to wed Princess Celina Drakonis in just a few short weeks.”
A round of clapping erupted to then soften quickly in a pregnant pause.
“And my daughter, Princess Serafina Gavriil, will be wed to Crown Prince Elek Drakonis at a later time this year.”
Clapping began again, although more awkward in rhythm this time.
“We hope that you will join us in wishing our children all fulfilling and happy marriages with many years ahead of them.” Jovan finished, raising his wine glass to toast.
Everyone followed suit, though some held their glasses barely higher than their lips. Anton, in particular, appeared especially bitter. And in the back sat King Oberron, face completely placid, beside his two sons.
My grandfather lived to the age of two-hundred and twenty before he died in battle. That’s what tended to kill the men of the Drakonis family, along with diseases and human mutation. Oberron had already been an adult when my grandfather was born. Yet he hardly appeared older than his children.
All three had the genetic hazel eyes, being more brown than green, that was common among the fairies and elves. Their transparent wings were nowhere to be seen, hidden much like my own.
Oberron was a tall man but with no visible muscle mass, his younger son, Hamish, was similar in build. However, his older son, Kellen, was large with broad shoulders and muscular build.
The Fairy King glanced over at me and raised his glass again in my direction. What it meant, I wasn’t sure, but I returned the gesture with a nod of greeting all the same. I just hoped my borders were secure.
Beside me, Sera heaved a heavy sigh, her shoulders lowering.
“That wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.” She said softly, leaning in towards me.
“I don’t think it was meant to be. But the real pain is going to be when people come up to talk to you about the engagement.” I whispered back to be rewarded with a groan from her.
“Bit of an introvert, aren’t you?” I chuckled.
“Not by choice, but now by habit.”
A tall dark haired woman with tight curling hair traveling down her back came up to us with a younger woman with similar features as Jelena. I knew the older woman as Queen Latvia of Kai and the younger was one of her five daughters. A brush of a shoulder against mine and my intended was swift on her feet and racing around the table to greet the two women. With tight embraces given to each, and pulled away with her face lit up in happiness.
“It’s so wonderful to see you again!”
Behind them, Jelena forced her way to the table and stood beside her mother and sister.
“Look at you my sweet little Serafina! An adult now and getting married! The time just flies right by.” Latvia said, kissing Sera on the cheek and clasping her hands with her own.
It was then that I noticed a line beginning to form behind the island queen of people wanting to greet and congratulate everyone at the table directly. Latvia seemed to notice too and gave Sera another kiss before returning to her seat.
“You’re close to her it seems.” I said as she sat back down beside me.
The rays of the sun gave her gold flecks a luminous glow as she smiled up at me. It wasn’t just her voice that I could never grow tired of, but gazing into her eyes as well. My quick attachment towards her, while feeling natural in my soul, often made me question if it was all truly me thinking these thoughts. Or if it was just my past self longing for what he once had.
“She’s always been kind to me. A few years ago Jelena saved my life during an attack in my wing. I only had Leena back then and we were outnumbered. After that she begged for Latvia to let her stay and teach me her style of fighting.”
I nodded in understanding as I peered down the line of supposed well-wishers. It was no surprise that Oberron and his sons had joined the gathering, standing out like a jester at a funeral. His silver hair contrasted greatly with his deeply tanned complexion, with his youngest son being a mirror image. Kellen, however, stood out between them with dark brunette hair that met his shoulders. I caught Sera even looking at them in intrigue. It was likely she didn’t know who they were.
“That’s the Fairy King and his sons.” I heard Zander whisper to her, beating me to the conversation.
“It was thought that he wanted you to marry the dark haired one.” He continued in a harsh tone, displaying his continued disapproval of our union. As if she would have been better off with the fairies.
I tried not to snort at the idea by lifting my glass up to my lips. If you can’t say something nice then drown your words with wine.
Oberron’s face shriveled up in distaste when he caught a glimpse of Sera’s bracelet and then at mine on the same wrist. He knew.
“Princess Serafina, allow me to introduce you to my sons. Crown Prince Kellen Orwell and Prince Hamish Orwell. I do hope that your recently announced betrothal will not discourage you from saving them a dance this evening.” As he spoke to her his features flared with charm and his voice dripped in almost spellbinding charisma.
Heat rose on the back of my neck as she blushed at his words and continued to blush when Kellen leaned forward to kiss the back of her hand. The behavior was just another added reason to despise them.
We made it back to the room with only a couple of hours to spare before the ball. I wasn’t even given the chance to warn her to keep her guard up around the fairies as I was ushered out of the room with my clothes heaped into my hands and the door slammed in my face. It wouldn’t be until that night I would be allowed to see her again.
