lover; I'd have his back. We could talk about his slip of the tongue later, perhaps when he was slipping it somewhere else.
Prince Storme sent a messenger ahead to warn the Royal Family that their private dinner would be invaded by their warlord and valorian. Apparently, we'd arrived just in time for the meal. I didn't know if it was a coincidence or if Storme had planned it that way, but the latter wouldn't have surprised me. The Prince was cunning, and cunning men often have backup plans.
The Prince took us through busy corridors and past a dining hall full of laughing faeries, then into a quieter part of the palace. Guards stood at the entrance to this wing and were posted at intervals throughout the silent hallways. We passed luxurious rooms, all cloaked in darkness, and several servants who bowed as they stood aside for us. As I watched yet another man hug the wall so Storme could walk by, I realized that this was why the Prince expected the scholars at the Academy to move out of his way. What I wouldn't give to see him walk down the rougher streets of Rugarin at night.
At last, we came to a closed door where a footman stood. He opened the door and bowed us past. All I could think was; this is his job. The guy had to stand there because royals couldn't open their own doors. And yet, there wasn't another man stationed on the other side of the door. Which begged the question; was it only permitted for royalty to open their doors if they were leaving a room? Or was the doorman supposed to magically know when someone was leaving? It all baffled me.
“Welcome! We're delighted to have you join us,” the King declared as we stepped into a space far too large to be a dining room for a family of four.
The King sat beside the Queen at the head of a table that could seat fifteen comfortably. Prince Raen sat to the left of his mother, on the length of table to my right, but the rest of the seats were empty. No cloth covered the glossy tabletop. Instead, it was left bare to reflect the thousands of tiny fae lights glistening in the chandelier above. The light fixture was made of alternating spirals of spun glass, looking both dangerous and beautiful. A plethora of potted plants gathered in clumps around the room, and the walls were bare wood, with exception of the far wall which held a giant, gilded mirror that reflected the backs of the King and Queen. Servants waited along the walls with their hands held behind their backs and their expressions blank.
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Kardri bowed and jerked on my hand to remind me to do the same.
I hurried to bow. “Yes, thank you, Your Majesty. I apologize for my attire. This was a last minute invitation.”
“Was it?” Prince Raen looked at his brother with a lifted brow and a disapproving air.
“They declined my invitation to dine in my wing of the palace,” Storme said with a wave of his hand as he went to sit to his father's right, directly across from his twin. “It seems that Kar has asked Tristan to be his consort,” he said the words as if they were in doubt. “He doesn't feel that it would be appropriate for his consort to attend one of my dinner parties.”
“It isn't,” Raen said simply.
“Congratulations to you both,” Queen Murena exclaimed, brushing over both her sons' comments. “We wish you the greatest happiness.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Kardri and I said together.
“That is wonderful news!” King Valen added. “Sit down, boys. You've just turned our meal into a celebration.”
“Kardri, come here,” Storme said crisply as he pulled out the chair beside him. “Tristan, you sit by my brother.”
I squeezed Kardri's hand before heading for Raen.
“Don't be such an ass! They're our warlord and valorian, not your dogs,” Raen shot at his brother. “Maybe they want to sit together. You know, since Tristan is Kardri's consort now.”
“Children,” the Queen chided. “It's just a meal. I'm sure the warlord is fine eating across from his consort to keep the table balanced.”
“Of course, I am, Your Majesty,” Kardri said as he took the seat beside Prince Storme. “I'm not a clingy lover. And this way, I can see him easier.”
I lifted a brow at that but said nothing. Instead, I bowed to Prince Raen before taking my seat.
“Oh, don't worry