Cameron’s orange gossamer gown sways over the top of her toes as she steps to my side. She watches the door with the same interest that I do. She has watched everything with that intent, curious gaze since arriving at the Dark Palace.
We’d been bathed in the same room and dressed in the same room, thanks to my claim on her soul. I’ve seen more of her in the first twenty-four hours of knowing each other than I’ve ever seen of the Wild Hunt in three years.
“Do we justknock?” She brushes her fingertip over the delicately carved wood.
Jeriko sputters a laugh from behind us. I can’t be bothered to give her even an ounce of my attention. Not when I’m busy trying to prepare myself.
“You don’t just knock,” Jeriko says, leaning against the doorframe, her eyes flickered with distaste. “You need to wait to be announced.”
How many times had she been in royal court? What had she been before the Wild Hunt?
“So we’re just supposed to wait here?” Nollix pulls at the collar of his button-down shirt. His maroon jacket wrinkles as he fidgets. They’d cut his straggly brown hair back so that it framed his eyes, and I hadn’t realized how golden his skin was under all that dirt.
Carver’s hands are shoved deep into the pockets of his navy suit. He taps his shiny dress shoe against the tile impatiently. Jeriko turns her gaze to him, the inky, black scars on her face and arms twisting as she moves.
“Were you lot raised in a barn?” She scowls.
“Oink, oink, baby.” Carver uses one finger to push up the end of his nose, earning the huff of a laugh from Nollix.
Jeriko’s hands are already fisted, glistening gray gown and all, she is ready to fight. On an exhale, I open my mouth to call her off like she’s some sort of trained beast, but the words get lodged in my throat as the doors crack open.
Every room of the Dark Palace is similar: black tile, white walls, and expensive furnishings, well, all except the dining hall. No one else has seen this room. That much is clear as all of them inhale sharply.
The floors, the walls, the ceiling, all obsidian. The long table and chairs are painted onyx to match. Stepping into the room is like walking into a black hole. You can get lost in there. Only the strings of lights overhead that twinkle like the evening stars offer a reprieve from the overwhelming depth of the room.
“Princess Violence Starling, her...” the stern looking Fae who holds the door open pauses to clear his throat, “soul, Cameron Crow, and the Wild Hunt: Nollix Forester, Carver Skyforth, and Jeriko Niles.”
Fae crowd the room. There is no such thing as a small dinner when it comes to my father. The royal family is too large to allow it.
Queen Lairis stands at the king’s side, her long, jewel-coated nails curling a strand of his hair before tucking it behind his ear. Her curling blonde hair is loose around her shoulders, her baby blue eyes pinned on every move I make as she whispers to him. She is probably criticizing me in some way. She never did like me.
A boy with bright blonde curls and big blue eyes tugs at Queen Valentina’s hand though she holds him too firmly for him to slip away. He sticks his tongue out at Ronan and Cedric who loiter only a few feet behind him, occasionally tugging on his hair.I watch him a little longer than the rest, wondering if he even knows who I am. I doubt it.
Queen Valentina had been only months into her pregnancy when I was sent to the Hunt. I struggle to remember the names she had favored.
The rest of my brothers are scattered around the room chatting in their small groups. My closest blood brothers: Merrick, Bramwell, Ashton, Koa. Then the sons of Queen Lairis: Basilus, the twins Arius and Aeton, Theoden, Zale, Cedric, and Ronan, and lastly, the unmothered brother: Casimir. Queen Valentina had only had one child yet, though the way her gown is fitted to hide her usually slim waist, I have to wonder if she’s currently carrying.
“Violence.” My mother ushers herself forward, peeling away from Valentina’s side. The fluffy tulle of her skirt, the same pink hue as mine, is clasped in her hand as she walks. “Come sit! I want to make sure you are at my side tonight.”
Tension pulls my shoulders up to my ears as she wraps her arms around me, careful not to spill the wine in her hand. She squeezes, and I’m torn between wanting to melt into her and sob or sprint from the room to hide. Her soft lips press a kiss to my cheek.
“I love you so much.”
My eyes feel glassy as they meet her gentle features. Her thumb rubs against my cheek to wipe away the markings of her lipstick. She stills when she notices how close I am to breaking down. Gently, her warm palm cups my face.
“I’ve missed you. Are your companions treating you well?” she asks with a reassuring smile.
Don’t let them see,her tight expression says.
“I’m fine, Mother, really.” I say it, but we both know it isn’t true.
“Good, good.” She looks our group over, taking my hand. Her judgment lands on Cameron, sweeping from head to toe in one well-practiced glance. “You look nice for a thief. I hope you’ve thanked my daughter for saving your life.”
“I should thank you, too, I would think.” Cameron deadpans.
For a moment, I am caught between their two impassive stares.
“Thank you, Queen Merdina,” Cameron finally says.
