“Apologies that we haven’t made it to Sivrinaj sooner, Highness,” he said. “An old man gets stuck in his old ways.”
Neculai still would’ve killed him without thinking twice for spurning his invitations, and I really, really hated that I didn’t have that option.
My voice came out in a low, cold growl as I said, “You’re very fortunate I’m in a forgiving mood.”
A damn near perfect mimicry of Neculai.
Simon betrayed nothing, but I didn’t miss a faint flicker on Leona’s face. Just a hint of disgust.
Cairis touched my shoulder, pulling me away. “Look,” he murmured.
I glanced at the entrance, where the servants now gave polite bows.
The House of Shadow.
It was easy to recognize them immediately—by the dark, heavy, tight-fitting clothing, the wisps of shadow that followed their movements.
This was the real test. I straightened and left Simon and Leona without another word, crossing the room to receive the Shadowborn prince.
We bowed to each other—his a little deeper than mine.
The prince was older than I was, but he was very boyish in appearance. His hair was chestnut-brown and slightly curly, puffed up in a way that suggested it had evaded many attempts at styling, or maybe that he’d spent a very long time getting it to look that way.
I cleared my thoughts, eternally conscious of the Shadowborn’s mind abilities.
“You throw an incredible party,” he said, as he straightened. “My father will be disappointed he couldn’t make the trip.”
“No expense too great for my general’s wedding.”
“I have to admit, I expected to see… well, not to be morbid.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “I expected to see something much drearier. We hear stories.”
The Shadowborn were known for being cold and unfriendly, but I wasn’t sure what to make of this man’s overly familiar attitude—though the entourage with him certainly seemed to fit the stereotype much more than he did.
I kept my smile pleasant and cocky and just the right amount of cruel.
“We had our pests,” I said. “Nothing we couldn’t put down. I’m sure you’ve had your own in the past.”
“Of course,” he said cheerfully. “Never needed the Bloodborn to help us with ours, though.”
I almost let my surprise show at that, catching myself just in time.
“Like I said.” I lowered my voice. “We have our pests. The Bloodborn had their uses, but—”
I glimpsed movement over the prince’s shoulder, at the entrance. I allowed myself to get distracted.
How could I fucking not?
I could’ve sworn that I wasn’t the only one—that the room went damn near silent.
Or maybe I imagined it.
Maybe I just imagined that the entire world stopped when my wife walked into the ballroom.
37
ORAYA
It surprised me, just how unafraid I was.
I’d gotten through the church’s ball wearing nearly as little clothing as this, yes, but I thought that there would be something different about walking into this particular party, in this palace, so similar to all the parties I’d never been allowed to attend. Always reminded that they were nothing more than traps for me.
But I walked into that ballroom with my throat exposed, and I didn’t feel afraid. The vampires stared at me, and I didn’t feel afraid. I showed off the Mark I was supposed to hide, and I didn’t feel afraid.
Maybe it was because there was something different in the way they looked at me now—not like another blood vendor or a curious forbidden delicacy.
They looked at me like I was an actual threat, and I liked that.
My eyes found Raihn immediately, even through this massive crowd, like somehow I’d already known exactly where he’d be.
He was staring right at me—staring with an intensity that made my step falter a little. He was dressed much like he had been the day he’d had to receive the nobles, which was to say, uncomfortably polished. Our outfits, of course, complemented each other’s, his silver-trimmed, dark-blue jacket an obvious mate to my gown. His image was perfectly befitting that of the powerful Nightborn King.
It looked fake.
But not his stare. That was… too revealing. He shouldn’t be looking at me like that here. Not with all these people watching.
I recognized those with him right away—House of Shadow royalty. I wasn’t about to interrupt that.
I turned away, breaking our stare. Strange how all these eyes on me meant nothing to me. But Raihn’s… my fingers fell to my chest, over my quickening heartbeat.