Page 69

Three orgasms later, my knees are still a bit wobbly when Aruan and I leave his quarters in what must be Lona’s finest attire.He wraps a hand around mine, offering me an encouraging smile, and I lap up the silent support he offers.

Instead of heading toward the banquet hall, he turns in the opposite direction.

I glance at him.“Where are we going?”

“To meet your family before the banquet.”

“Why?”

He squeezes my fingers.“I think it will be less stressful for you to meet them without the masses looking on.”

“This was your idea?”His attentiveness makes more warmth spread through my chest.“How considerate of you.”I do my best to smile with confidence, but I can’t hide my nervousness from him.“Thank you.”

“It’s my job to take care of you, and that means keeping you healthy and alive in every way that matters.”

I aim for humor.The situation is already serious enough as it is.“What’smyjob?”

“To rule as my queen.”

The statement knocks my world off kilter.I expected him to say something with a sexual nuance, such as that my place is in his bed, but no.He’s perfectly serious.

Before I can think of a suitable reply, we’re in front of his mother’s quarters.

“Ready?”he asks, rubbing a thumb over my knuckles.

Unable to speak, I nod.

He dissolves the wall, revealing a small group gathered in the reception room.The king and queen are present, but it’s the man and woman standing with their backs to me who draw my gaze.

The wall seals behind us, enclosing us in the privacy of the queen’s quarters.At the silent announcement of our arrival, the strangers turn around.We face each other quietly, the moment too charged for words.

A curtain of straight hair cascades over the woman’s shoulders to her waist.We share the same color hair and eyes.Her face is oval, like mine, and her skin is just as pale, but she’s much taller, literally a giant towering over me.Her sky-blue dress hugs her curves, accentuating her perfect body and tall, slender legs.The fabric of her dress glitters, tiny sparks firing off in the light that pulses in the walls.Her shoes are the same color as her dress, the toes pointy and the heels wedged.

We hold one another’s eyes for a few heavy heartbeats before I shift my gaze to the man.A broad forehead, high cheekbones, and square jaw give his face a hard, angular look.His blond hair is cropped close to his skull, matching a short-trimmed beard.He’s wearing a tunic of a slightly darker hue than the woman’s dress with a midnight-blue sash over white pants and tan boots.

What’s most striking about him are the vivid blue of his eyes, not another speck of color visible in the solid circles of his irises, and the blue and green lines painted horizontally over his cheeks.

The woman steps forward, exclaiming in a voice as light and crisp as a windchime, “Laliss.”Her eyes turn brighter with unshed tears.“I can’t believe it.”She stops a couple of paces away from me, spreading out her arms.“May I?”

Aruan’s fingers tighten around mine.I’m not sure how to react.To be honest, I’m not even sure how I feel.Numb would nail it.The moment seems unreal.

When she remains in place with her outstretched arms and tears running over her pale cheeks, I nod awkwardly, at which she immediately wraps me up in a hug, forcing Aruan to let me go.

She presses me tightly against her chest while I just stand there, not sure what to do.Her hair smells like exotic flowers, a soft but intoxicating perfume that reaches my nostrils.

After a second, she releases me from her firm grip to hold me at arm’s length.“Let me look at you.”Her gaze dances over my face before moving in a slow path from my head to my toes.“You look just like your mother.”She turns to the man.“Doesn’t she, Kal?”

The man jerks up his chin, which I suppose counts as a nod.

After smoothing her hands over my shoulders in a final caress, she sets me free.“I’m your aunt, Evolet, your mother’s sister, and this is my mate, Kaleam.”She waves at the man.“But everyone calls him Kal.”

My voice scrapes in my throat.“Elsie.”

Evolet smiles.“They told me that’s what you call yourself now.”

“Drink, anyone?”the queen asks.

She walks to the table where a carafe of golden liquid—my guess is honey wine—and goblets are set out, the wide skirt of her shimmery red dress swishing around her slipper-clad feet.