“Get your mind out of the gutter,” Thal teases, pulling away finally.
I blush deeper and purse my lips. “Says the biggest playboy in all of Alnembra.”
Thal shrugs. “Altair must have had to fulfill some of his kingly duties. It wouldn’t take this long to calm from the fog of Summer’s Eve.”
“Why doesn’t it affect you?” I ask, curiosity welling in me.
“I don’t need Summer’s Eve to give into my basest desires.” He grins. “I do it all the time anyway.”
“Charming,” I say with a smirk. I turn towards the ballroom door to see if Altair may have returned. “Is he coming back?”
Thal looses a breath. “I’m sure he will try. In all truth, Verity, Altair can hardly stand to be apart from you.”
My heart skips a beat. I don’t know what I want anymore, but I can’t deny the flush of happiness that blooms through me. “Still, he left me here,” I say.
“He is the King,” Thal says quietly. “It will be like this more often than you think. Altair will miss important moments with you to attend to his duties. He can’t be everywhere at once.”
I feel a twinge of irritation at Thal’s condescending tone – as if I’m a child he needs to educate. “I’m not asking him to. But I won’t deny I would like it if he could follow through with his commitment to take me to the ball.”
“If you want a man like that, a king simply won’t do.” Thal clucks his tongue. “I, on the other hand, would be the perfect choice.”
“Oh, really?” I laugh.
“Laugh all you want,” Thal says smoothly. “But I can’t be trusted with responsibility, which makes the perfect man for you. Think of all the time I’ll have to shower you with affection.”
“I’ve never heard such a pathetic attempt to woo a woman before in my life,” Altair says from the shadows.
I jolt back, eyes wide with surprise as he melts out of the darkness. His hazel eyes are narrowed towards Thal, his hands balled into fists. Thal smiles broadly. “Cousin, you’re back. Verity was just starting to miss you.”
“Was she?” Altair eyes me.
“Clearly I can’t be trusted to entertain a lady of her caliber for more than ten minutes,” Thal jokes.
“Then, go,” Altair murmurs.
A thrill courses through me at Altair’s dangerous tone and the shadows in his eyes. I press my lips together, ducking my eyes as Altair and Thal face off. Thal’s eyes flash but he dips his chin towards me. “Enjoy the evening, Verity.”
I lift a hand to wave as he weaves through the crowd towards the naked, writhing Fae under the arch. I turn on Altair, frowning. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“You would rather spend the night with Thal?” Altair asks, finally stepping into the light.
“He was joking,” I say, rolling my eyes. “He was only teasing me because I wanted you to return. He said you were likely working.”
“I was,” Altair quips.
My lips pull back into a frown as disappointment rushes through me. I had hoped that his long absence had nothing to do with business – that maybe he truly needed time to regain his senses. “What was so important that you couldn’t stay at the ball with me?”
“The Bloodbane are attacking my borders,” he says softly so no one will hear. “I was planning my next steps and sending messages to my generals.”
“The Bloodbane,” I say flatly. I’m tired of hearing about the Bloodbane. I’m tired of their childish bickering and the never-ending conflict. I exhale sharply through my nose.
“What?” He snaps.
“The Bloodbane couldn’t have waited for one night? Not even one night – a few hours?” I scowl.
Altair presses his lips together impatiently. “I am a king, Verity. My country must come first.”
“Of course,” I sigh, defeated. “I’m tired.”
“Tired?” Altair’s voice is laced with disbelief. “Don’t tell me you’re ready to return to your rooms?”
My cold gaze slips towards him. “I am.”
Altair rubs his temples, forcing his coifed hair out of place. “I shall escort you to your rooms.”
“No,” I quip, gathering my skirts. “Enjoy the Summer’s Eve. Announce our engagement if you want.”
“Verity,” he growls, reaching for me.
I dance out of his reach. “Go be a king.”
Without another word, I force my way through the crowds towards the ballroom doors. The Fae are drunk now, even the ones that have lingered on the sidelines throughout the night are feeling the call of their past. I wonder if Altair will join them tonight. I feel a flash of jealousy at the thought; imagining Altair with strange Fae women. I swallow, forcing every emotion but anger and disappointment away.
I slip through the ballroom doors, hoping that maybe Altair will be on my heels to convince me to stay. But he isn’t. Pursing my lips, I kick the heels off my feet and walk barefoot through the castle halls towards my room. The castle seems empty now, all of the servants are either asleep or celebrating Summer’s Eve elsewhere. My thoughts wander to Dain, the sly gardener. I wonder how he celebrates; if he’s with a woman.
Summer’s Eve was a disaster for me. But that seems to be the pattern here. I use my shoulder to push open my door and kick it shut with my foot. The fire is burning merrily, as it always is during the night. I slump into an armchair in front of it and let the flames warm my bare feet. My tulle skirts are bunched around my waist and wrinkling, but I don’t care.
Already, I feel traces of regret pricking at me. I shouldn’t have reacted so emotionally. I shouldn’t have let it bother me that Altair chose to work over returning to me. What we have between us is unconventional and unpredictable. He is a king and I am his silly mortal fiancée. I sigh and lift my left hand to study the
