I was a little anxious about that myself. Although I knew Ari wouldn’t tolerate anyone doing anything to me in front of him, it seemed like they were trying to take me away from the big Drake. And who knew what might happen to me in the depths of this huge castle?
“Kaitlyn saved the chimeling from a hisser when we stopped for the night.” I thought there was a hint of laughter in Ari’s voice—he seemed to be over his anger and was enjoying seeing the awe on the faces of the servants and the other assembled Drakes. “I think he’s adopted her. Best be careful—he’s a fierce as my Drake.”
This provoked a general round of laughter from everyone but Sanchez and the mood in the Audience Chamber lightened maybe just a tiny bit. The Drakes still weren’t happy about me being there—especially as Ari’s bride-to-be—which sounded kind of extreme, when I actually thought about it. But they were looking at me differently, now that Mr. Seahorse had made an appearance.
Speaking of my new pet, he was still flying back and forth in front of me, his golden wings a humming blur, as he chimed in anger and warning at the waiting servants.
“It’s okay,” I told him, holding out a finger for him to perch on. “It’s all right, Mr. Seahorse. They aren’t going to hurt me.”
My assurances seemed to calm him down because, with a final tiny finger of flame towards the nearest servant, he came to rest on my extended hand. I put him on my shoulder and he sat there, still staring alertly at the servants, as though daring them to put their hands on me again.
There were more murmurs of amazement at this little performance and the servants didn’t try to touch me again. Instead, they bowed and the one who had tried to grab my arm before asked respectfully,
“Will you come with us, Miss? We will bring you to a place where you can refresh yourself and choose clothing more fitting to your station.”
He nodded at my rumpled and creased Nocturne Academy uniform with a hint of distaste on his face, as though I had arrived wearing dirty rags. Well, given the magnificently embroidered silk and satin robes Ari and his father were wearing, maybe I had—at least in their estimation.
“Thank you,” I said, nodding. “I’d be pleased to.”
“And I would be pleased to go with you,” Ari said firmly, when the servants started to lead me away.
I shot him a grateful look—I really didn’t want to go off on my own in this enormous palace. If I got separated from him, who knew when or how we would ever find each other again?
“Fine. Go and see your mother.” Ari’s father’s voice was little more than a growl—there was definitely a hint of his own Drake in it. “We will speak of this later.” He nodded at the servants. “Take them away.”
“Yes, my Alpha!” the servants said in unison. They both bowed and then they led the way to the back of the Audience Chamber, where I saw a small, human sized door in the corner.
Well, the first part of meeting the parents was over, at least. And it had gone pretty much as badly as I had thought it would. I wondered if Ari’s mother would be as upset as his father.
I was betting the answer was yes.
75
Kaitlyn
“That went well,” Ari said, as we followed the servants and crossed through the human doorway and into another long , marble hallway. But at least it wasn’t as huge and vast as one that also served as a portrait gallery. This part of the palace seemed to be built to human dimensions, I noticed with some relief. It was much less intimidating than the enormous, vaulted marble ceiling of the Audience Chamber.
“You think it went well?” I asked, unable to keep the incredulity out of my voice. “Ari, your father and all those other Drakes in there hate me! Especially Pedro Sanchez’s father.”
“They just don’t know you, yet,” he said firmly. “But they will, Kaitlyn—I’ll see to that. And don’t worry about Sanchez—he’s as much a vrota as his son. Someday my father will realize it and kick him off the Board of Chamberlains.”
“But—” I began, but at that moment, a door opened somewhere down the long hallway and a girl a few years younger than me came out. She had a very pretty face with delicate features, long dark hair, and big brown eyes. When she saw Ari, she squealed in delight and held out her arms.
“Ari!” she exclaimed as he ran to greet her. He grabbed her up and swung her around and around while she giggled madly.
I tried to smile as I watched, but a felt a little stab of jealousy, like a tiny, sharp knife in my heart. I couldn’t help remembering my earlier thoughts, of how Ari’s parents had probably already picked him the perfect Drake girl to be his bride. Was this her? Was she my competition?