Mountains Vast and a Kingdom So Red

Chapter 97

At seven thirty, the party gathers around the communal table, King and Queen included, and drink rosewater tea and eat the desserts. The wolf pack eats the lion share which leads me to take some and hide them so the soldiers may have a bite. Leviys sits beside me, guzzling wine until his eyes twinkle and his laugh becomes brutish. Urisis dusts her chin with a cloth napkin, sneaking a glance at Cyril who sits across from her, and I watch her cheeks blush. Cyril compliments her on her tunic, her loafers even, and she thanks him, offering no compliment in return. My wand begins to vibrate so I excuse myself from the table and walk to the garden. The voices of the musicians I hired inform me they are almost at the Estate so I thank them and conceal my expression once I am seated by my love again.

My father raises his eyebrows, impressed as the fashionable drummer, harpist and vocalist come into the entertaining space. I make an announcement that it is time we drift over there and soak in the sounds. My mother places her hand over her mouth, an interesting display of shock considering musicians have performed at her whim before. But maybe she has forgotten this pleasure and I am glad to bestow it.

As the trio set up, I ask my shifter what songs he wants to hear. His ears perk up and he requests them to play a song that was played during our first date at the tavern. I pet the fur where his shirt is unbuttoned and ask him what other songs. Leviys considers this and walks to the band once more. What he says is a mystery to me.

In about ten minutes, knocks descend on the front door and my mother goes to answer it. She welcomes people inside and as footsteps tread closer to the entertaining room I realize it is the five soldiers who have grown closer to Leviys.

Julissa bows to me and the others do the same. Alake lifts up his sleeve to me to reveal a wicked tattoo bisecting the inside of his arm. It details fangs inside a star. Then Viev shows me his tattoo which matches the first along with Ditiyahi and Eloy. Julissa is the last to show me hers and I ask her about the meaning.

"We will always be fairie chasers and we want to include Leviys. Can you lead him over here so we can take him to the tattoo parlor?" She says.

"Of course," I say but before I can turn around, Leviys joins me.

"Tattoos," he says. "I'm in." Alake slaps his back while Viev smiles approvingly. Leviys kisses my cheek and tells his friends they should go. I shake my head and bring them the plate of petit fours.

"Try not to smash it," I tease.

Without the central character of the night, the energy changes and most of my family attends to their own devices. Cyril is absent from his bedroom and my mind swirls with possibilities. I hum along with the music the trio plays and they do not mind the smaller audience of Winter, Damien, Lileue and me. In fact, I take a nap on the coach and regain my wits when I feel a tugging on my arm.

"Wake up," Winter demands, her curls almost hitting my face. "Ryder is here, waiting for you."

My skin buzzes. I shoo her away and run to the nearest mirror to ensure there is not drool on my chin nor wrinkles in my clothes. When I turn to the entryway and see my former trainer, I call out that I need a moment. Once I have earrings and my vesTone on, I grab my hoverboard and Ryder and I coast through the bows.

He explains to me that he has been having difficulty adjusting to our country again. The atmosphere challenges his instincts after living in the under sea for a while. I ask him which place he wants and he chooses the library. I laugh, believing he is joking, but his face is serious.

"How are we to smuggle alcohol in there?" I say.

"You cast a spell, Princess."

"Goodness. If lose my access card I will shave off all your hair and feed it to pigeons."

He shakes his head. "Though I am no longer your combat trainer, you and the throne are my priority, I will not let anything happen, Mikah."

I allow this comment to float away and a flicker of emotion clouds his expression but it is quick to die.

Ryder removes his rain splattered coat on the rack in the warm library. I take his right hand and lead him to new cheetah patterned cheers facing a chesnut toned table. To the north of us are children putting together a puzzle and to the south a group of older citizens appear to be hosting a book club.

"It is Leviys's birthday," I share.

"So he is still your boyfriend?"

"Yes. Are you seeing someone?"

"My girlfriend and I broke up before I left for the boot camp," he says. "Will you bring..."

"Sure," I say. My wand shakes and libations and glasses materialize. The vodka and beer are concealed in orange juice containers. In good humor, I pour my glass surreptitiously yet I feel awkward and he is the embodiment of it, twisting a ring on his finger.

"Why did you break up?" I ask.

He sips some beer. "We do not mesh. I care for her but–" His eyes strike something within me. "She is not you."

"I do not understand," I say.

"I missed you. I want you. " Ryder says.

"He loves me," I argue but the words dismiss any effect I try to put in them.

"I can love you. If you let me."

I shield myself, rising from my chair and trying to find an exit. This admission cannot happen. It will not happen. It will ruin us.

"Mikah," he almost whispers. He grabs my hand.

"Do you have love for me that is not platonic?"

Fire spreads to my neck. "I do not want to betray Leviys."

"You do not belong to him like some mouse. You can talk to me, about anything." His fingers soothe mine.

"I do love you," I admit wishing his lips were not on his face. I wish he was not him.

"In what way?" he says.

"As a partner. As a man."

His eyebrows furrow. "What does that mean?"

"It means you are the pleasure and he is the pain. It is so foolish, Ryder. So foolish how you make me want to be better and he makes me want to let go. I cannot reconcile the two."

Ryder sighs and cups my cheek. "I have my answer. You know how I feel so think about it. Okay?"

I relax into him. "I am sorry."

"Are you mated to him?"

"No."

He kisses my forehead. "Think about it," he urges and I know what he means by this.