Page 5 of Owned by Four Alphas (Silverthorn Alphas #2)

“ Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to …no, no. That’s not right. Welcome everyone to the celebration of… argh!” Selena’s foot tapped against the floor and she growled at the stiffness of her dress, her head swimming with the noise of the festivities.

“Of everything you have to remember, I didn’t think the introduction would be the part you’d have issues memorizing,” said Elian, leaning in to whisper in her ear.

They sat at the high table at the end of the hall, watching their guests mingle and drink and laugh. There had to be at least two hundred people. Mostly Fae, but there were a fair number of dragons and wolves about the place, too. Any minute now, the gong would sound, and everyone would be looking at her. She tugged on the high neckline of her gown.

“You’ll be fine, Selena, if in doubt just make a joke and tell them to raise their glasses to the coming of spring!”

“You make it sound so easy,” she muttered.

“You were the one who wanted to make a speech!”

“It’s expected of me,” she countered, “I’ll look incompetent otherwise.”

Elian hummed, his attention once again taken by watching the crowd with an easy smirk, no doubt eavesdropping with his heightened hearing on private conversations. Selena sighed.

“Sweetness,” Ronan growled from behind her, dropping a kiss to the top of her head.

“Ronan! You’re here! I’m so glad, I’m just about to make my speech and—”

“Have you seen Kaelen?” Ronan interrupted, turning to Elian and placing a hand on Selena’s shoulder with absent-minded affection. “I need to talk to him about a thing or two.” His voice had that scary tone it did whenever something bad had happened. Selena fought a shiver.

“I think he’s with Iveir and some of the other dragons,” mused Elian, tossing his head in the direction of the crowd. “If you look over—hey! For fuck’s sake! Whilst you’re at it, get that cocky little shit’s claws off my sister!”

Selena glanced over to see Caeda blushing, her back against a marble pillar, as the young dragon Phane leaned over her with a distinctively roguish grin.

“They’re only flirting, Elian,” she said, elbowing him. “In fact, you use that move on me all the time.”

“Which is exactly why I don’t like it. I know what he’s thinking,” grumbled Elian.

Selena didn’t respond. Her eyes followed Ronan’s bulky form as he stalked towards Kaelen, his expression set.

“I wonder what happened?”

“There was an…altercation. Between the young wolves and dragons,” replied Elian, dangling a grape into his mouth and throwing an arm around her shoulders.

“An altercation? Honestly, Elian, why did nobody tell me?”

He shrugged, “It was only a few hours ago, and Ronan stopped it from getting too bad. Besides,” he pulled her in closer, “we were busy working on the speech you’re so nervous about.”

“Oh, Gods,” she whispered, her stomach swooping. No matter how many parties Elian held, she had never gotten used to the crowds. She couldn’t imagine standing up in front of them all, speaking to them. She was supposed to be their queen, and she didn’t even have the bravery to address her people.

“Ooh, look over there!” Elian’s eyes were sparkling with mischief. “Do you see that group of dragons? Rumor has it they’re part of the Order of Theldir.”

“Theldir?” Selena repeated, following his line of sight to three of four dragons stood slightly apart from the others, their expressions terse. “As in the god from the story? The fire god defeated by my father?”

“The very same,” said Elian. “I bet Kaelen’s thrilled they made an appearance! What fun!”

She turned to him, her mouth falling open, “Why on earth would Theldir have a whole Order dedicated to him? Didn’t he try to destroy the realm?”

Elian chuckled, “Some believe that he only wanted to return the realm to the natural order of things. He’s always had sympathizers amongst the dragons—fire god and all that—and a fair few Fae courts too. It’s always been mostly harmless, just a few nobles bored with their dull existences, but with anti-human sentiments on the rise, I wouldn’t be surprised if it gains some traction.”

“Shouldn’t we be worried?” Selena asked, swallowing her fear. She was, after all, physically a human, even if she did carry the magic of a god.

Elian’s chuckle turned into a full-blown laugh. “At a couple of sniffy dragons? Hardly. Kaelen thinks any god-worship is foolish, and I believe the only Order worth involving myself in is an Order of your beauty.”

“Elian,” she hissed, digging an elbow into his side. He huffed out a laugh and pressed a swift kiss to her lips.

A small commotion drew her attention, and she looked over to see a group of older Fae males laughing raucously at one of them having spilled his wine. Beside him, a very young Fae female desperately tried to help the male mop it up.

Elian smirked. “Good to see that old Lord Hagas of the Sharpstone Court is as clumsy as ever.”

“The lord of another court?”

“Yes, from the Third Realm, I believe. Not much land or power. I’m not surprised he’s come sniffing here.”

Selena winced as the old male, his hair gray and wiry, pushed the young girl’s hands away in anger. “His poor daughter! She’s only trying to help!”

There was a pause from Elian, and she turned to him expectantly. He had an easy grin on his face, with a familiar twinkle of mischief in his bright green eyes, “Yes, poor girl indeed. I believe she only came of age ten years ago. That’s barely a few days to a human. Still recent enough that you might want to congratulate her in your speech! It would be good to show another court such courtesy, I believe. Her name is Sarya.”

“Sarya of Court Sharpstone, daughter of Lord Hagas,” Selena repeated, committing the names to memory.

Elian squeezed her shoulder.

Just then, the gong sounded, loud and clear and ringing through the hall.

Nausea gripped her stomach.

“Showtime,” Elian grinned as everyone made their way to their seats at the enormous wooden tables lining the hall. Kaelen and Ronan walked over to join her and Elian at the high table, a noticeable tension thick between them. Kaelen placed himself next to Selena, whereas Ronan pointedly moved to sit beside Elian.

“Where’s Malek?” was Kaelen’s only greeting, and Selena’s jaw clenched. She hadn’t expected much more from him following their argument, but she was still undeniably angry.

“I’m here.” Malek materialized out of the shadows in the seat beside Kaelen, and Selena sent him a grateful smile. He returned it, even if the tense set of his shoulders spoke to his discomfort.

“Good luck, little dove,” Elian murmured as Selena slowly rose to her feet. The hall fell silent.

For a split second, her ears roared and her throat constricted as hundreds of eyes turned towards her. Her hands were clammy, her legs shaking, her breathing fast—”

Elian coughed, and instantly tranquility poured over her skin like water, a cool balm against the sharp panic.

She took a deep breath in. Then out. She promised herself she would yell at Elian later for failing to mention his magic could do that.

She opened her mouth to speak.

“Welcome, everyone. On behalf of our pack, I would like to say how delightful it is to see so many of you here celebrating with us today. I confess, I am still learning about this particular festival of the Fae, but if the drinks are poured as strongly as they were at Midwinter, I am certain that in a few hours’ time you will all be just as clueless as I am!”

There was a wave of appreciative laughs. She exhaled. Perhaps she wouldn’t yell too harshly at Elian. He had, after all, spent the whole day helping her.

“It has been many festivals since I pledged myself to the First Realm. With each passing milestone, I grow more and more awed at the strength, power, and tradition of its people. I know that these times are uncertain, that the past few hundred years have brought conflict and chaos. I never met my father. I often wonder what he would say if he was standing here addressing you, instead of me.”

A murmur rippled over the crowd, and her father’s face flashed before her eyes as she had seen him in her dream. Somber and strong. Sad, yet hopeful. She swallowed a lump in her throat.

“Perhaps he would talk about the importance of unity and peace. Perhaps he would seek to reassure you all that we will defend ourselves against any enemy. Perhaps he would merely say how much he misses you all. I’m afraid I cannot say for certain. I am, after all, not my father. But I think that it is fitting that I can stand before you all on this, the celebration of winter’s end, and tell you all that spring is coming. The snows will melt, the flowers will bloom, and new life will flourish. And I can promise you all that I will do everything in my power to see you all flourish with it.”

She lifted a glass of clear water, raising it above her head.

“And so I make a toast to you, and to the coming of spring. May it bring joy and happiness to all.”

“Here, here!” shouted some of the Fae, already swaying and drunk, and the hall erupted into cheers and the clinking of silver goblets overflowing with wine.

“Before the feast begins,” she shouted, heart emboldened and skin tingling with warmth, “I want to say a particular thank you to those who have traveled so far to celebrate with us today. To the wolves who will no doubt regale you all with war stories. To the dragons who will share their winter mead.”

There was chatter and laughter, interjections and whooping. Selena couldn’t stop a giggle from erupting. Beside her, Elian leaned forward in his seat.

“To the Fae from the Sharpstone Court! I have been told to give congratulations to Sarya, daughter of Lord Hagas, on reaching her coming of age!”

A sudden silence descended, and people looked at her with mouths open in shock.

Then, there was uproarious laughter from the Fae of the Benellane Court. Including Elian.

Lord Hagas stood abruptly, his wrinkled face turning a violent shade of purple, before he stormed out of the hall, his chair clattering to the hall. Sarya raced after him, her young face contorted in embarrassment.

The Fae laughed harder.

“Sit. Down,” Kaelen growled.

“What? Elian told me— oof! ”

Kaelen pulled her down into her seat and stood, goblet in hand, handsome features schooled into a convincing show of good humor. His scent told a different story.

“It seems my mate has fallen victim to the great Fae tradition of tricks and mischief! I’m sure you’ll all raise another toast with me in honor of her continuing education. To Selena!”

“To Selena!” the crowd cheered, delighted at Kaelen’s words.

“What—I don’t—what’s going on?” Selena asked, her cheeks heating as Kaelen sat and took a huge gulp of wine. Food appeared on all the tables, and the crowd was soon distracted by the feast.

“Why don’t we ask Elian?”