“The heat?” she asked, her brow puckering.
Embers danced over my fingertips as I lifted my hand. “Yes. I’ll leave you some hints in the air, and you’ll find me.” I was sure of it, even if she looked completely baffled by the idea. “You’ll see, sweetheart.”
I left her gaping after me in the hallway, a smile on my face the whole way down the stairs.
River waited for me at the bottom, his eyebrow raised knowingly.
“Just the lingering effects from Ignis,” I said, blaming my peculiar behavior on the seduction magic even if it had worn off long ago. Maybe I was more susceptible to it, or Ignis had given me a double dose. Wouldn’t have put it past the bitch. “Where’s Exos?” I had a few things I wanted to say to him about his treatment of Claire.
“Changing,” River replied. “We’re supposed to meet him in the dining room.”
“So you know about our dinner plans?”
“You mean the dining edict? Yes.” River’s voice was soft so as to not be overheard. “I’m not dressed for this.” He gestured to his casual attire. “Not for dining with the Chancellor.”
“I think her focus is more on Claire more than our jeans,” I said, following the aroma of food while leaving a subtle trail of my essence behind for Claire to follow. Sensing that, coupled with the finer scents in the air, she should find us without any problem.
“Um, aren’t you worried the human might run again?” River whispered.
“No.” I didn’t even need to consider it. My instincts seemed to be tied to hers after that little flirtation in the field. I’d sense it if she wanted to run, and that wasn’t the vibe I received from her at all. “She’s too intrigued to—”
I froze on the threshold of the dining area.
The room was buzzing with pixies.
Even though pixies and fairies were myths, elder Spirit Fae like Elana had enough magic to conjure their very own army of servants in whatever form they chose. But to choose a swarm of mythical creatures as house servants sent a message, one I was keen to listen to. Elana was powerful, and she wanted everyone to know it.
A pixie hurried past me, its tiny wings brushing my cheek and leaving behind a kiss of humidity, betraying the water magic that mingled with Elana’s powers. The tiny creatures chittered at each other like squirrels while they set the table with gleaming silverware, and several of them teamed up to supply bowls of soup, trays of delicacies, and finely cut slabs of meat that made my mouth water.
“Uh…” A horde of pixies tugged on one of the massive chairs until it was far enough away from the table for me. “Thank you.” I glanced back at River as I took my seat, all the while hoping I didn’t squash any of the poor things.
River sat beside me, his mystified gaze likely rivaling my own. “I’ve, erm, never eaten with an elder before,” he mumbled, anxiety creeping into his voice. Being in Elana’s esteemed presence had me on edge as well, so I could only imagine what River was feeling right now.
I cleared my throat and accepted a glass of golden, sparkling liquid from a trio of pixies. “You’re the one who insisted on tagging along,” I reminded him. I took a long sip, my eyelids fluttering as sweetness and heat slipped down my throat. Fire water—literally liquid infused with the elements of air and fire—made me feel at home.
Until I remembered my surroundings.
We were about to dine with an elder and a royal. Who knew what sort of edicts would follow? Not to mention this strange connection I felt to Claire. I shivered, the memory of her touch embedded in my skin. It had felt right—too right.
A shift in the air had me glancing at the doorway just as Exos made his entrance, his white-blond hair draped across his forehead in an absurdly regal manner. The pompous style matched his all-black suit.
Definitely a prince.
“Glad you’re comfortable,” Exos said smoothly as he sat directly across from me. He didn’t seem the type to often smile, but the way he looked at me now said he was about to drop some serious bullshit in my lap. “I have some things to discuss with you before Claire joins us.”
Great.
“Of course,” I replied, keeping my voice controlled and respectful. Part of me still wanted to shake some sense into him for his behavior back in the field with Claire, but I knew better. He didn’t seem to understand that she needed a tender hand, not a harsh one.
Exos eyed the delicacies as a pixie settled a glass of fire water in front of him, but he only stared at it. “The Halfling needs more boundaries than I’m able to impose,” he said, folding his hands and getting straight to the point. “She’s stronger than any of us realized.”
He held my gaze, his ocean-blue eyes so deep that I could almost sense the power that rested underneath the surface. If the Halfling bested this guy, then I knew I didn’t stand a chance if I ever lost her trust.
I rested my elbows on the table, leaning forward, and opted for a different approach. “If you don’t mind me saying, Your Highness, I think you’re treating her too harshly. She’s not one of your warriors that you can just bark orders and expect to be obeyed. She grew up in the Human Realm without knowledge of our practices and policies. Obedience won’t come as naturally to her as it would to others.” There. That was politically correct enough, right?
River nodded beside me in agreement, seeming to find his confidence. “Humans are notorious when it comes to equality and free will, especially in certain regions.”
Exos sighed, relaxing in his chair. “Yes, she adopts not only the strong personality of a Spirit Fae but human traits as well. However, she is still fae. She will learn to obey her betters.”