Grave Destiny (Alex Craft, #6) - Kalayna Price Page 0,54
think of my court?” the king asked, watching me eat.
I had to swallow a rather large bite of food before I could answer. “It is very . . . sunny.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“Not at all,” I said, glancing at the fae gathered around the table. Was Lunabella here? I cut my gaze toward Falin. He was eating as well, though a little more gracefully than I had been. Dugan was not eating. I turned back toward the Summer King. “I thought you said you couldn’t pull together festivities on such short notice.”
He smiled, his green eyes glittering. “Who said this is in any way out of the ordinary for my court?”
I looked around and shrugged. “They’re having too much fun. If this was your daily dinner routine, it would be more subdued.”
“We could be that fun-loving.”
I shook my head. “Even the best party eventually gets tiresome.”
The king lifted a chestnut-colored eyebrow but finally conceded with a shrug. “We are celebrating the last hours of sunlight before the beginning of the longest night and the official start of winter.”
“But fall is the dominant season right now. Will it make that big a difference when winter arrives?”
Beside me, I could all but feel the two men go still, but the king only laughed.
“We are opposite the wheel of winter. When she is strongest, we are weakest. It is a long season for us. So we make merry in these last few hours of light.” He leaned forward. “But you did not seek my court for a lesson on Faerie.”
That was true. I glanced at the drinks in front of me, hoping for something to wash down the meal I’d been eating. Of course, nearly half a dozen cups and not one looked like it contained water and all looked alcoholic. Usually that wouldn’t bother me, especially since my fae nature asserted itself and the amount of alcohol it took for me to so much as feel a buzz had significantly increased. But I was in the middle of a case and I was visiting a Faerie court, so I needed all my wits about me. Also, I had to be careful. While mortal alcohol had little effect on me these days, Faerie liquors tended to be much more potent. I grabbed a wooden mug that looked like it contained a pale ale, judging that it would be the least impairing. I took a small sip, found it to be malty but good, and took a slightly larger sip before I looked up at the Summer King again.
“Where would we find Lunabella?”
The king flashed me a dazzling smile. “First, you must dance with me.”
It was not a request. It was a command. I didn’t like it.
“I don’t dance.”
“I’m fairly certain I noticed you dancing with the Winter Knight at the Fall Equinox,” the king said. He stood, the movement sending the fae fawning over him scurrying away. “I won’t accept no for an answer. One dance, and then you may speak to anyone you like.”
“You’ve already promised me that.” Wasn’t that the point of all the bargaining we’d done before we left my office?
“Of course. My subjects are yours to discourse with.” He leapt over the table. He didn’t vault it. No part of him touched the tabletop and not even a single flute of wine stirred as he cleared the table. He simply jumped as easily as a human might hop a puddle and he soared over the table, the feast, and those of us seated. He landed nimbly behind me, all unnatural grace and strength. Then he held out a hand. “But I am a king, and I would be most displeased if you denied me the simple request of a single dance.”
He didn’t look like a king. In his deerskin vest, disheveled hair strewn with flowers, and easy smile, he looked like some mischievous youth who was planning pranks. He also looked spoiled and used to getting whatever—and whomever—he wanted. But his people were certainly more comfortable around him than the Winter Queen’s subjects. He was among them, interacting with them. Not set apart and untouchable on an icy throne. That did say something for him and his court. That didn’t mean I wanted to dance with him, though.
Falin touched my elbow and gave me the barest nod, a warning in his eyes. Apparently, there would be no talking my way out of a dance. I twisted around and rose to my feet, not taking the king’s proffered hand.