Page 81 of Night’s Fall (The Four Realms #1)

There was too much to get into there, particularly about my dad (obviously, I wasn’t going to tell them about Errol ), so I said, “ We had a huge dustup and then had sex twice, and now it’s all good,” I shared.

I got three big smiles.

“Are you okay?” I asked, narrowing my eyes on Gayle .

“Later,” she replied right before Aleece joined our group.

We chatted, and about ten minutes later, Aleksei and Timothee came back into the room.

Catching the look my mate aimed at me, I excused myself from my company and made my way to him.

He slid his arm around me, tipped his head down and held me where I was at his front, our bodies not close, but not far, though I knew our position put me as a kind of shield, even if the others could see him because he was so tall.

“All good?” I asked.

“Tim might have been zoned out on drugs the last four hours, but I believe even before that, he’s had a chance to think on things. He just admitted that he’ll be attending the ball with Anna on his arm.”

I wanted to roll my eyes at another indication of how petty his brothers were (and petty was kind when it came to the rot Errol had gotten up to).

But I didn’t

I just nodded.

“He’s into her, of course. But mostly, it was to be a jackass. He reports she’s still pissed at me, but he doesn’t care that she’s using him, because she’s going that extra mile, and they’ve been fucking.”

“For goodness sakes,” I snapped.

“He’s going to end things with her after the Masque . But considering the current climate, he didn’t want to do it before.”

“Good call,” I bit off.

“I sense some guilt, because Tim thinks what he did to Errol set him on this course.”

And another mark in the good column, an indication that Timothee could consider his actions and their ramifications.

Even so.

“I refuse to condone his behavior, but sadly, the truth is, until they learn better, boys will be boys. The thing is, he did the same to you, and you didn’t turn into Errol . So that’s on Errol , not on Timothee .”

“Precisely what I said to him.”

“Did he listen?”

“Maybe,” he murmured, and his eyes wandered, to his brother no doubt, but I didn’t check because he kept talking. “ I thought they were close. I think Tim thought they were too. He’s taking this hard.”

“Of course he is, honey. I’m stunned all of you are doing so well. I’d be a mess.”

Aleksei returned his attention to me, and there was surprise in it. “ You would?”

“Undoubtedly.”

“Well, love, I hate to point this out since you seem so sure, but it did happen to you. You bore the brunt of it. And there you stand, entirely too fuckable in that dress and those shoes, chatting with your females and being nothing but the wonders that are you.”

I felt my eyes get round.

Then I smacked his arm and sniped, “ Have you not learned not to say marvelous things and get me all emotional when I can’t do something carnal to pay you back for the compliment?”

He adjusted me to his side, his gaze again moving to the room, as he murmured, “ You can pay me back for the compliment later.” He gave my waist a squeeze. “ Thoroughly .”

He’d barely finished his last word when a throat clearing could be heard.

It was the king.

“If you would all accompany me outside,” he said.

We were in the room with the balcony Aleksei , the king and I had gone out on the night we lost Antheme . The room was bigger, slightly more formal, and now I realized we were there because of whatever this was.

We set our drinks aside and followed the king out.

The air was super chill so Aleksei held me close.

I watched the king move to the balustrade, look down and nod.

And then I watched thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of tiny drone lights lift into the air and head out to sea.

Once there, they danced, they whirled, reflecting off the cloud cover, glistening on the sea. And they did this a long time.

It was gorgeous.

At first, I thought this demonstration was a show for our distinguished guests, and a bonus for the population of Nocturn . A surprise treat from the Palace the night before the Masque .

Then I realized this preliminary light show was to get attention before the real purpose came clear.

And I was in the position of fighting emotion again, this time, I did it curling into Aleksei’s warm, solid side and pressing close even as his arm tightened at my waist.

Because the drones eventually formed words, melting apart to form more.

And this was what they said:

Agent Antheme Fallgrow

YoD 2084, 11, 2 – YoD 2118, 9, 18

Royal Service

Died in Service to the Realm

Mr. Richard Tayor

YoD 2073, 5, 4 – YoD 2118, 9, 18

Leaves Behind a Wife and Two Daughters

Now in the hands of the Night God .

Eternally at peace among the Stars .

They will be missed.

I was peeking at the sky lit up for what seemed like miles over the Dolphin Sea , my cheek pressed to the lapel of Aleksei’s suit, when the lights blinked out and the sky went dark.

It took a minute, but like they were all one, the sounds of shouts and cheers, vocal tributes to the fallen, drifted to us from the mainland and the offshore islands.

Antheme would hate this.

But I loved it.

King Fillion turned from the balustrade and announced, “ Now , we live. We love. We celebrate those lost. We count our blessings we’re still here. And at this very moment, we enjoy good company and eat.”