Page 101 of Where Darkness Falls

I straighten my shoulders, holding my head high.

“Enter,” I call out.

As the door swings wide, my mouth falls agape at the sight before me. I’d expected to see the Cadre in their typical armor, as this is a royal event. However, the sight of Laisren, Riordan, and Virgil with combed hair, rich-colored tunics, and luxurious tailcoats is quite shocking. Their amber eyes, glistening brightly, compliment their pearly-white smiles.

In truth, I’ve always thought they were rather easy on the eyes in their armor, but this…Holy Celestae, they’re striking.It’s almost unfair how handsome they are—no wonder all the women giggle and blush in the hallways whenever they walk past.

“You’re going to catch faeries if you don’t close your mouth and stop gawking, Maeva,” Riordan jests.

My face heats as a blush crawls up my neck.

“It’s hard not to when you three look so dashing,” I laugh.

“Us?” Virgil asks, incredulously. “Look at you.” He smiles brightly as he places my hand around his bicep. “You look like a queen, Maeva.”

“You’re truly exquisite, Miss Cale,” Laisren says shyly as color stains his cheeks.

The dress that Tilly chose is quite lovely. The off-the-shoulder silhouette elongates my neck, causing me to appear more regal than I’m used to. The dazzling emerald green is luminous, glinting in the floating candlelight as the elaborate gold embellishments twinkle as if holding hundreds of tiny pixies. The bell-shaped skirt fans out, cinching in my waist. Tilly lightly curled my wavy hair, twisting a small portion of hair away from my face and securing it in the back. She also added small gems to match the embellishments on the gown, while painting my lips a mauve-rose color.

“You’re all too kind. Tilly is quite the miracle worker,” I say, looking at the kind maid.

Tilly shrugs her broad shoulders. “Ooiinnly brooiiiuught ooouuuiit thee beaauuiiity wiieethiieen,” she says.

“And what a marvelous job you’ve done,” Laisren replies.

Virgil clears his throat. “Are you ready to go?” he asks.

I sigh, only now noticing that Emyr isn’t here. I don’t know why, but his absence causes my nerves to spike.

“Maeva?” Virgil asks.

“I suppose I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” I say. “But I’m just wondering, why isn’t Emyr here? Is he not attending also?”

The Galrosans exchange glances in a way that reminds me of the conversations Cara and I could have with only our eyes.

Oh, how she would have loved an event that involved dancing.

Indeed she would,Saoirsereplies.

Laisren clears his throat, turning toward the door. “Emyr will meet us there,” he says quickly. “He had some business to attend to.”

I arch one of my eyebrows at the other two Galrosans that won’t glance at me. It appears the floors and walls are more entertaining.

Are they avoiding eye contact with me on purpose?I ask Saoirse.

It would seem so,she replies.

“What sort of business?” I ask. “He gave me his word that he would be here tonight.”

“He will be,” Riordan says, moving for the door. “It will just be in a little while.”

I sigh as Virgil nudges me forward.

It’s apparent that I won’t receive a straight answer from the Cadre about their High General. It’s strange to see them so skittish to speak of him. I know Emyr is more of a private person, but surely if it were so important that he missed escorting me to the Masquerade of Shadows, he would’ve told them to inform me—especially after our heart-to-heart conversation yesterday. He was vulnerable with me, and I’d been so with him. It was nice to have someone else to speak to about what occurred in the throne room.

While he’d remained quiet as I recounted everything, he’d seemed bothered by what I’d said. Of course, I could only tell that by the spark in his eyes, since he still refuses to remove his armor around me. The memory of my hands going to the sides of his helmet is still fresh. His eyes solely focused on my face with an intensity that I’m sure made me blush. For a single moment, I thought he might let me remove it, but he quickly pulled away.

“I want to see you,”I said. “May I remove your helmet?”