Page 23 of Night’s Fall (The Four Realms #1)

“Considering no one knew he’d be here, if they were Lex’s personal crazies, they’re slavering over social tape, hoping for a lock on his position.

But his team is second to none. The king made the decision to shift the brightest in Royal Service to Aleksei when his general popularity outdistanced the king’s.

Part of that team has been here, scouring every inch of this block for the last few hours. He’s covered. And I know you are too.”

“But no one knows who I am.”

“It won’t matter to him. We have someone following us.

And you’ll have someone with eyes on you outside as we go in, and someone waiting on you to arrive inside.

He or she will then shadow you, doing it without anyone knowing they are.

These will be different beings than those assigned to Aleksei .

” His tone changed to guarded. “ Hasn’t he shared this with you? ”

“He did, I just… I’ve never seen the frenzy in action, and I have to admit, it spooked me.”

He touched my forearm so briefly, I wondered if Aleksei already marked me, or if that was just a show of respect to a male of his clan.

“Just know, the vast majority…and you know this, Laura , that vast is vast …utterly adore him. They wouldn’t harm him in any way, and some would lay down their lives at just the threat that someone else might.

And when they find out you two are fated, they’re gonna lose their minds at the romance and destiny of it all, and they’ll love you too.

That’s all good. And if I know Lex , he’ll break his back to keep your focus on the good. He’ll deal with the bad.”

I didn’t find that as reassuring as he thought I would, considering that was not fair at all.

But I didn’t have a chance to enter into a discussion with him.

My door was swinging open, and a valet was helping me out.

Sirk met me on the carpet, put a hand to my back and guided me in. He got his share of flashes, definitely. But nothing like the blitz Aleksei received.

We were barely two steps in before Gayliliel was on us.

She grabbed my arms, kissed both my cheeks, leaned back and gave me a top to toe, announcing, “ Oh my gods, you look fucking phenomenal.”

“So do you,” I replied, thinking her bronze, one-shoulder gown was perfect.

She glanced over and up, blinked and whispered in Sirk’s direction, “ Oh my gods, you’re just plain phenomenal.”

“I already know I like your friends a whole fuckin’ lot,” Sirk declared.

I laughed and introduced, “ Gayle , Sirk Parrin . Sirk , Gayle Vinestrong .”

He swept up her hand and held it to his chest. “ It is my utmost pleasure.”

She just blinked at him, mouth open, and I mentally inventoried my evening bag in an effort to remember if I had a handkerchief should she drool.

I had one, of course.

I didn’t need it, because Cat descended, I got cheek brushes, and then she pointed in Gayle’s face.

“Don’t even think about it. I saw him first. I have dibs,” she warned.

“He just got here, so I saw him first,” Gayle returned. “ And you’re on a date.”

“I saw him on vid on Laura’s Palm ,” Cat informed her. “ And I’m on a working date, where I’m working and I have a date. But I always keep my options open.”

I glanced around to make sure Bash wasn’t close and didn’t hear that.

He wasn’t, so at least that was all good.

It was also indicative of why Cat hadn’t made a true connection. I didn’t know if she was always on the lookout for something better, or she was scared who she found might disappoint her father, or if she was terrified of giving her heart to someone like Dagon .

But whoever she was with, it was Cat who held herself distant.

“Palm vids don’t count,” Gayle shot back.

“They so do,” Cat retorted, and turned to Sirk and me.

“ Get champagne.” She gave Sirk a narrow look and suggested, “ Avoid the hors d’oeuvres.

My caterers are excellent, but I’ve been to Stained Glass , and they’re about fifty pegs down from what you’re used to.

Now I need to sell paintings, sculptures and what Terrinton calls ‘experiences.’ Must dash. Amusez -vous bien! ”

And she was off.

Gayle got close, huddling with Sirk and me.

“Okay, this place is a mad crush, but we need to pretend to care about what this obviously somewhat unhinged, no offense to the somewhat unhinged, artist calls art so we can”—she paused to give me two exaggerated winks—“ run into a certain someone.”

“You’d suck at subterfuge,” I said out of the side of my mouth. “ And I know this because you’re using subterfuge, and you suck at it.”

Sirk snickered as he pulled Gayle to his left side, curling her fingers around his arm, his opposite hand returned to my back, and with the three off us attached, he led us into the crush.

“Then it’s good I’m a marketing director and not a spy,” she rejoined while we moved.

We navigated the space, during which Sirk expertly nabbed three glasses of champagne off a tray, handing two to Gayle and me.

As we walked, I saw all around me what I expected to see, since I was a fan (if you will) of Terrinton’s .

He didn’t create beauty.

He created chaos.

But there was something beautiful about it.

At least I thought so.

Though, nothing was more beautiful than the tall, black-haired man in his royal-blue suit, who was in a back corner talking to the artist himself, his attention on me, but his chin jutted toward Sirk .

Sirk guided us directly there.

He gave a casual bow, and Gayle and I dropped into curtsies (mine was much more fluid, since Madam Garwah started every class with ten minutes of thigh-burning curtsy practice, which I doubted I needed, she just got a kick out of me collapsing into my desk chair after it was over).

Aleksei and Sirk then did the whole alpha male handshake that started with hands, then moved to grip forearms, before Sirk turned to Gayle and me.

“Your highness…”

Dang, he even made that sound friendly and not fussed.

“…may I present Laura Makepeace and Gayle Vinestrong .”

“I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Laura ,” Aleksei replied, his deep voice sharing volumes by dipping straight to velvet as he took my hand and brushed his lips across my knuckles. He let me go to take Gayle’s . “ And I’m honored.”

“Me too, totally ,” she whispered, her eyes—oh boy—were bright with unshed tears and a wonky, happy, tremulous smile was on her face.

I bumped her with my hip to tell her to get it together.

She cleared her throat and added a sniff.

Aleksei let her go, skated an affectionate glance across mine, and turned to Terrinton .

“And allow me to present the man of the hour. Terrinton , this is a good friend of mine, Sirk Parrin , and as you heard, Laura Makepeace and Gayle Vinestrong .”

“Both like sisters to Catla Truelock ,” Sirk added.

Terrinton, who was human, short of stature, had a shock of gray-white hair that had been haphazardly slicked back at the top and sides, but was dry, unruly and fluffing out around his neck and the frayed collar of a much-worn shirt.

His eyes were faded blue. His skin was lined.

The top of his head barely came to Aleksei’s shoulder.

And he appeared to be a man who enjoyed the peaceful countryside with a hobby of whittling, not one who created controversial masterpieces of color, shape and form, who’d been the darling and devil of the art world for the last five decades.

In fact, he appeared to be a man who wanted more than anything to be absolutely anywhere but here.

He dipped his chin to both of us, then his gaze skittered away, caught on something, and he shrunk into himself.

I glanced to where his eyes skittered, saw someone on the approach, no…on a determined approach, and I immediately forged toward him.

He recoiled from me as well, but I ignored that, linked arms, and announced, “ If you’ll excuse us, I’m dying for an explanation of a certain piece.”

I caught Aleksei’s thoughtful expression aimed at me before I drew the elderly man away.

I tipped my head toward his as I semi-dragged, semi-walked him toward a piece installed on a wall opposite Aleksei .

“ I think you may know how to do this, but just in case it’s been a while.

Conference in with me, like we’re engrossed in something immensely important, and hopefully no one will be rude enough to interrupt. ”

We stopped in front of what appeared to be a gazillion old-fashioned smoked cigarette butts, all of them scrunched dead at their filters. These were nestled in a bed of gray ash and pressed between matte and glass.

It was ugly, horrid.

And amazing.

But my mind was mostly on how Cat didn’t realize this guy needed a minder.

“Do you have someone who?—?”

“She needed to use the toilet,” he said in a quiet, timid voice. “ Catla summoned the prince, thinking he’d keep the wolves at bay.”

“Something he did, until we showed up, opening the seal,” I deduced.

He shrugged uncomfortably.

“Sorry about that,” I muttered.

“You’re mates. If you didn’t come to him, he would have left me where I stood and prowled the room until he could get to you.”

I jolted before I turned to stare down at him.

“You know?” I whispered.

His faded eyes came to mine. “ I’m an artist, Ms . Makepeace . I feel everything.”

“Of course,” I murmured.

“He tensed, I suspect the minute you entered the gallery. He only relaxed after you rounded the first installation and came into view.”

Although this both moved and staggered me, I went to release Terrinton’s arm. “ Oh gods, am I burning you?”

He laughed shortly, finally seeming to relax.

“My dear, I am no threat to that beast.” I realized his eyes might be faded, but the intelligence behind them wasn’t.

“ I expect you’re a much better minder. His mark is so strong, no one will get near you, male or female, unless they were someone like me, or your friends. I take it your acquaintance is new?”

I nodded to confirm this.