Page 45 of Journey to the Elderoak (Daughter of the Earth #2)

“Don’t be embarrassed,” she said. “Soren and I sneak away at these things all the time. Something about getting caught is exciting. I didn’t want to interrupt, but I knew someone else would end up finding you and it wouldn’t go as pleasantly.”

“How did you know where I was?” she asked.

“He hasn’t taken his eyes off you since the moment I arrived. When I overheard Thorne ask where you were and noticed you were both gone, I figured it out quickly.”

“I’m glad you found us instead of my brother,” she replied. “That would have been awkward.”

“Indeed.”

They walked through the crowd and found Thorne speaking with Soren, Thalia and Aelerion—the latter’s boisterous laugh booming across the ballroom.

“Sorry, Thorne,” Astrid said. “I had asked Ava to accompany me to get some fresh air.”

Ava smiled as they approached the group and caught Thorne’s eye. He looked at her with suspicion but kept quiet.

“So, Ava,” said Aelerion. “What do you think of Eorhan? Of Monterre?”

She instantly liked him. “It’s beautiful. People are kind here.”

“Monterre does have some of the most welcoming fae. Much more pleasant to be around than those astral bastards,” he said, laughing at his own joke. “If they give you any trouble, let me know. I’ve been wanting to go toe to toe with Orion for centuries.”

His queen gave him an exasperated look and grasped Ava’s hand. “We’re so happy you’re here.”

The dinging of a glass chimed through the ballroom noise, the volume lowering as the music paused.

“If the guests would make their way to their tables. Dinner will begin shortly,” Vivienne announced.

The crowd moved as the attendees trickled to their assigned tables. Some meandered outside, searching for their seats under the starry night, while Thorne led their group to a large table at the front of the ballroom.

He took his seat at the head and gestured for Ava to sit at the first seat to his right.

Casimir appeared and pulled out her chair, taking his seat next to her after assuring she was comfortable.

Raine sat to the right of Casimir, Soren and Astrid on the other side of him.

Quinn, Jorrar and Kai took their places across from them.

As Raine lowered in his chair, he leaned over and whispered, “What have you two been up to?”

Astrid huffed a laugh under her breath as Ava rolled her eyes.

Jareth strutted to the table and took a seat right next to Kai, followed by his parents. Next to them sat Aelerion and Thalia, irritation on Aelerion’s face at the astral royalty stealing their assigned seats.

Thorne leaned forward to address them, “Orion, I had the seating chart arranged with care.”

He scoffed. “No one tells me where to sit. Besides, we are too curious about the new princess, we just had to be close.”

“This is going to be bad,” Soren whispered .

Orion looked at her across the table and sneered. “Good to see you too,” he said sarcastically.

Ava felt Jareth’s eyes on her and tried to ignore him as she scanned the table.

Raine was watching Casimir out of the corner of his eye with concern.

Likely pleading internally for him not to flip the table when his brother inevitably said something horrific.

Casimir’s hand moved to her leg, as if he was trying to protect her from any discomfort.

“Ignore them,” she whispered. “They’re going to try to rile you.”

He looked at her and leaned in. “I’d rather be back in that alcove right now,” he whispered back as his hand moved higher.

His thumb traced circles over the fabric on her inner thigh. She shifted in her seat, squeezing her legs together. “I’d rather be back in our rooms…doing other things…” she replied.

“And what might those other things entail, princess?” he crooned in her ear.

Thorne cleared his throat and gave the two of them a pointed glare as he sipped his goblet of wine. Casimir removed his hand and winced at her brother before looking away.

The first course—a blended root vegetable soup topped with basil—was placed in front of them, the scent of herbs and spices tickling Ava’s nose.

Though her stomach was still in knots, she was starving and scooped a bite into her spoon, humming to herself as her taste buds were overwhelmed with flavor.

“So, Ava,” Orion said across the table, evoking cautious looks from the others as they waited for the insults to leave his mouth. “How is it we never knew about you? Thorne has been king since Vardan and Aurelia died and no one knew there was a long-lost sister .”

Ava set down her spoon. “My mother escaped into the human world while pregnant with me and I was born there. I didn’t know about any of this. Apparently, no one else knew she was pregnant besides her father.”

“Ah yes. Lord Pellas. Your grandfather was an insufferable bastard. He was supposed to send Deidamia back to her realm…and yet he abandoned us…to protect you.” He gave her a withering look.

What Orion didn’t know was Pellas hadn’t abandoned them; he knew Ava was the only one who would have enough power to banish the daemon queen, so they fled to raise her in safety until she could return to Eorhan.

Aelerion interjected from down the table, “It doesn’t matter, Orion. That’s in the past. She’s here now, so we must move forward.”

Orion waved his hand. “Yes yes, I know. You can’t fault me for being curious,” he replied as he sipped his wine.

Ava took another spoonful of soup as Orion turned and conversed with other guests, now ignoring her.

Soren leaned over Raine and Casimir. “Well, I’m glad you’re here. It will be nice to have another woman among these tiresome fae brutes.”

“They’re aggravating, aren’t they? Especially this one.” Ava jerked her head to Casimir who looked at her, feigning offense.

Soren leaned over and whispered, “You two are very sweet together, by the way.” She grinned knowingly, likely having been informed by her wife what she had caught them doing earlier.

Ava smiled. “So are the two of you.”

Staff removed their dishes as the first course came to an end and Jareth spoke for the first time since the dinner began. “Ava, sweetheart,” he said condescendingly. “When you get your fill of male brutes, come visit our kingdom. I could show you a thing or two about how true royalty behaves.”

She eyed him, trying to think of a response, but he continued .

“You know we’ve had a strenuous relationship with Monterre, thanks to my beastly brother.” Casimir tensed beside her, and she glared at Jareth. “My father has talked about an alliance between us, you know.”

The people seated around their end of the table had gone quiet, Thorne eyeing Jareth with ire.

Her brow knitted, anger rising at the insult toward Casimir. “And?”

“Well, I shall have to explain it to you in simpler terms, I imagine. You having been raised in such an oblivious household.” He sipped his wine.

“I’m talking about marriage. I’m single and not getting any younger.

The other women my father presented have bored me.

You, on the other hand, will do nicely, I think.

You won’t even have to do anything. I’ll do all the work and you can sit back… and take it.” He leered at her.

Casimir lunged across the table and grabbed his brother by the collar of his shirt, slamming his head on the wooden surface and holding him down. A vine wrapped around Jareth’s wrists behind him, ensuring he couldn’t use his magic.

Raine cursed under his breath as the rest of them tensed, watching the interaction.

“You will do well to remember who you are speaking to and whose court you are in,” Casimir seethed. “Don’t ever talk to her like that again or I will shove this goblet so far down your throat, you will be unable to speak at all.”

Thorne whispered, “Let him go, general.”

Casimir released his brother and sat back in his seat. Ava touched his arm and whispered, “I’m fine. He’s trying to get to you on purpose.”

Jareth rubbed his head and straightened his jacket, eyeballing Casimir with hatred.

“Is this how you allow your general to behave, Thorne? Like an animal?” Orion barked.

Thorne looked at Orion. “I see no problem with the general of my army defending his princess. It is you who must control your son.”

Jareth looked between Ava and Casimir, putting two and two together, and laughed. “Oh, I know what’s going on,” he said. “The two of you. Really? Of course, you filthy semi-human would choose to be with a doltish hybrid. All the mingling in this kingdom has made you all soft.”

Rage coursed through Ava and before she had a chance to stop herself, she said, “Don’t insult him or I will make you wish you never stepped foot inside this ballroom, you narcissistic worm.

It’s pathetic you resort to demeaning women to convince yourself you aren’t a small-dicked asshole with no prospects at all. ”

“Oh fuck,” Raine whispered.

Everyone turned to her, aghast at the normally quiet woman ready to brawl with the astral prince.

“Control your woman,” Orion barked at Casimir who looked at him with boredom.

“I am no one’s woman,” she said as she narrowed her eyes at Casimir’s father.

Aelerion’s boisterous voice interrupted the tension. “Well, I think we’ve had enough of you and your son’s insults, Orion. Let us be done with his subject before I lose my appetite at your cruelty.”

Orion scoffed but remained quiet, as did Jareth and his mother. Everyone went back to their dinner and nothing more was said about the tiff.

Ava caught Quinn grinning at her and even Thorne, though trying to hide it, looked proud.

Casimir leaned in and whispered, “That was hot.”

“You know, Ava,” boomed Aelerion from across the table. “I think I like you.”

She smiled broadly. “The feeling’s mutual.”