Page 78 of Wrath of the Dragons (Fear the Flames #2)

Chapter Fifty-seven

Elowen

Another set of guests descends the steps leading to the patio made of red and white mosaic tile.

Matching lanterns are hung across the party, casting a warm glow over everyone in attendance, glittering the dresses and crystal glasses filled with wine and rum.

Zarius looks just as bored as the rest of us, sitting at the base of the tree I lean against while nursing his fourth serving of rum. Saskia scrunches her nose in disgust.

“Should we dance?” Ryder asks.

“Thanks for the offer, but I’ll pass,” Cayden answers, earning a laugh from Finnian.

Ryder glares at him. “I didn’t mean with you.”

Cayden takes another sip of rum. “However will I survive.”

The rulers of Galakin should be joining us soon; they’ve been in prayer for almost ten hours to honor each of the ten gods and the winter solstice.

Statues dedicated to each god are scattered through the perfectly manicured garden.

A faceless woman with a babe suckling at her breast is dedicated to the Goddess of Marriage, Love, and Fertility.

To her right is another faceless woman but on her knees with her head bowed and covered in a veil: the Goddess of Grief and Sorrow.

To her left is a third woman with threads woven around her fingers: the Goddess of Souls, Mercy, and Destiny.

“Walk with me?” I ask Cayden, who nods in response. The ball hasn’t even started, and I already need a break from the amount of eyes that find me.

I fist my skirts and stride toward the torch-lined path to get a closer look at the artistry.

Cayden silently follows at my side, his hand pressing into my back as he scans the thick greenery for any sign of a threat.

Orange and red flowers wrap around the trunk of a large tree at the back of two statues that are clearly dedicated to the God of War and Strategy, given the drawn swords and helm obscuring his face, and the God of Illusion, the Mind, and Memory, which seems to shift colors depending on the lighting.

We step over a bridge that arches over a small river and leads to a semicircle-shaped patio with the remaining five gods, all still faceless.

First is the Goddess of Air and Storms with her hands raised and lightning shooting from her palms, next is the God of Earth and Harvest with roots growing along his legs and arms, and after that is the God of the Sun and Light, with the most offerings at his feet.

A golden crown rests upon his head and a flame burns in each hand, an homage to his ability to wield both earthly fire and sunfire.

“You’re looking at the statue as if you wish to murder it,” Cayden says, diverting my gaze to him. “I’d really rather not be jealous of a stone slab, sirantia.”

I laugh softly and brush off his touch as we walk to the part of the alcove that has the clearest view of the sea.

After Asena revealed that the God of the Sun tried to chain dragons as my father did, I’ll always hate him, real or not.

The wind carries the scent of night-blooming jasmine, irises, and starsnaps growing at the base of the two gods who presided over the night.

The river snakes along the mossy ground and mingles beautifully with the music that continues to play.

I stride closer to the pair, feeling drawn to them knowing that they’ve supposedly blessed Cayden and me.

The Goddess of Flames, Life, and Stars has three fires burning above her head, her hair spills to her mid-thighs, and in her palms sit two stars.

Twin dragons curl around her arms and perch on her shoulders.

Beside her is the God of Water, Death, and the Moon.

The five phases of the moon are chiseled above his head and two skulls rest in his palms. I suppose this plot was chosen for him because of the proximity to both the river and ocean.

The markings on my arms shimmer as I crane my neck and reach forward to trace my fingers along the stone.

It’s smooth and cold despite the warmth of the kingdom.

The holiday would’ve looked so different if we were back home.

I’ve always associated it with ribbon-adorned trees, fresh baked goods washed down with hot cocoa, and sitting in front of the fire while watching snow fall, but it’s too warm to even think about such things here.

The people of Galakin can host their festivities from the beach if they wish.

Footsteps pound against the ground, and I reach for the dagger beneath my skirts as Cayden steps closer to me, his sword already unsheathed.

“Hold the charge.” Saskia huffs when she struts over the bridge and sees our weapons.

“I can’t spend another minute with the others if neither of you are present.

I have nobody to look at when they say something idiotic.

” I laugh while sliding my arm through hers and leading her back to the party.

“Let’s find something to eat before the royals arrive and politics must be dealt with. ”

My anxiety has nearly robbed me of my appetite, but I don’t want her to venture off alone.

We may be allying with Galakin, but we must remain vigilant.

Our ensembles ripple in our wake as we rejoin the party and cut through the throngs of people.

Saskia is clad in an elegant blue gown that cascades over one shoulder, and panels of sheer fabric dotted with diamonds flow behind her.

I’m in a similar color, but my bodice and wrist cuffs are made entirely of pearls with thin strands that clasp around my neck and over my shoulders.

Fabric drapes from my bodice to my wrists, flowing as effortlessly as my skirt, and matches my sapphire-and-moonstone dragon crown.

Finnian catches up to us, looping his arm through my free one and tagging along to the table filled with various vibrant fruits, flatbreads, and spreads.

A servant piles a crystal dish high with an assortment of tropical delights, and I nearly groan while trying a strange-looking green one that I’m told is a kiwi.

“I might rethink the marriage offer from Cordelia if it means I can always have this fruit,” I say after swallowing.

“Please don’t say that any louder. I’d really rather not have to deal with fighting our way out of another coup,” Saskia mutters, glancing in Cayden’s direction to make sure he didn’t hear.

“Calm down, Sas. A bit of violence keeps the evening interesting.” I laugh when she groans.

“Who are we fighting?” Finnian asks as he rejoins us, shoving a mango slice into his mouth.

“Nobody at the moment but the night is still young,” I respond, leading our way back to the group. “Lots of opportunities for one of us to piss someone off.”

Lyres and string instruments alert guests to the impending arrival of the royal family, and the entirety of them flock to the base of the grand staircase in anticipation.

We do the opposite, keeping away from the masses and rejoining our group.

Cayden steals my grapes, and I glare up at him as he tosses them into his mouth, pulling me closer to kiss the side of my head.

“What did you get?” Zarius asks Saskia, smirking into his glass when she bristles.

“Nothing that would interest you, considering it doesn’t come in liquid form and isn’t served at a tavern.”

“That’s not true,” he answers. “You can juice fruits.”

She scoffs and moves to the opposite side of our gathering as I raise my brows. Cayden shakes his head. “Not our problem. Not our business.”

“Saskia is my business,” I say, biting another kiwi before Cayden decides he wants to steal that as well. “And it’s so intriguing.”

“Don’t be so dramatic.”

I narrow my eyes. “You think I’m dramatic?”

“Does the sun rise at dawn?”

A trumpet blares and I offer him my middle finger while turning away.

“House Ilaria would like to take this opportunity to thank you for joining the royal ball in celebration of the winter solstice,” a squire announces before four more trumpets blare.

“King Erix, Queen Cordelia, and Crown Prince Zale are accompanied by the entirety of their house and King Lycidas and Queen Nasha of Feynadra, our beloved queen’s sister. ”

Erix, Cordelia, and Zale appear first, all in elaborate, jewel-encrusted finery reflecting the colors of a sunset.

Sea serpents made of flames slither through the sky like shooting stars as they walk.

The various princes and princesses follow, and then Nasha on the arm of her king.

She catches my eye in the crowd and subtly dips her chin in acknowledgment.

Cayden places my dish on a low-hanging branch, and I take his arm so we can greet the royals together.

Zale’s smile widens when he spots us, but his gaze skims over our heads briefly.

I turn to see what he’s found and realize he’s looking at an unknowing Finnian while he converses with Ryder.

When I turn back to Zale, his gaze is elsewhere.

“King Cayden and Queen Elowen,” Erix says as his people part and he steps closer to us. “I’ve drafted a treaty for you both to sign as well as a separate one for Prince Zarius. I will then publicly announce our allyship to those gathered to celebrate the longest night of the year.”

“I believe it will please the gods,” Cordelia says, her tone far more cordial than the last time we spoke.

Her mouth is set into a firm line, but venom no longer laces her eyes.

“I will never deny that I had hoped you would marry into my family, but the gods had a different plan for you. As you know, I have harbored guilt about what transpired in Imirath after my seer announced your prophecy, and helping you dethrone him is how I’d like to offer my apology, should you find our terms acceptable. ”

“The apology for my father’s actions is not necessary,” I reply.

She nods while waving a servant forward and presents us with two folded pieces of parchment. “You can take them inside if you’d prefer a quiet place to read.”

“You’ll have your answer shortly,” Cayden responds before escorting me back to our group and dropping Zarius’s treaty in his lap. “Are you sober enough to read that?”

“Oh, I’m grand,” Zarius responds, ripping it open and stumbling to his feet so he’s able to read it alongside Ser Rhys, who has remained silent throughout the gathering.

I can’t imagine how I’d feel if I were in his position and making peace with Imirath, so I’m not surprised he’s turned to what I suppose is his favorite medication: rum.

The two begin muttering quietly as I step into Cayden’s arms, pressing my back to his chest so we’re able to read the treaty together.

“It’s a basic list of goods and a tentative schedule. Some of the tariffs are slightly higher than I’d like but considering we’re getting one thousand ships I’d say it’s fine,” he surmises.

“One thousand?” I ask. “I thought Zale agreed to eight hundred.”

“He did, but the king didn’t know that,” he responds. “Zarius, sign yours.”

“I haven’t finished reading it,” Zarius tightly answers.

“I don’t care. You’re getting a throne through this, and pulling your ships away from the Galakin border strengthens their commitment to us.”

Zarius opens his mouth to speak, but Saskia cuts him off. “You have nothing to offer us but your name, so sign it.”

His slow blinks are clearly weighed down by too much alcohol, but he grits his teeth. “Let’s get this over with.”

He scribbles his name at the bottom and follows Cayden and me along the edge of the dancefloor where revelers dance to a melody created by sitars, tanpuras, and bansuris. The dancers clap their hands and clang the jewelry on their arms as they weave in between one another.

“ATTACK!” A palace messenger rushes to the top of the steps that the royals just descended, and the dancers awkwardly pause as the music cuts off. “Thirwen used magic to sneak past our wards and is attacking Zario!”

“Fuck,” Zarius growls under his breath, scrubbing his hands over his face and slapping his hands into his cheeks.

“Stay in the castle, princeling,” I command. “You’re no use to us dead, and you can’t fight a battle after you’ve drunk as much as you have.”

“You’d be surprised how much I’ve survived while inebriated.”

“I’m sure it’s an invigorating tale you’ll have to save for another day,” Cayden says. “El is right.”

The dragons roar overhead, sensing the enemy in the distance as my muscles tense, preparing for the battle miles away in a city we traipsed through mere days ago. It was so full of life and will now be plagued by death. Cayden catches Erix’s eye through the crowd and holds up both signed treaties.

Erix raises his voice above the crowd. “The Dragon Kingdom fights with us! We take our enemy as one!” Cheers and calls for blood ring out, though I doubt many people here will be rushing to the battle.

Everyone is nobility and will likely be sending soldiers to fight in their stead.

“The gods have shone their favor on Vareveth, and they are on our side in this battle and those to come. For glory and Galakin!”

Cayden hands the treaties off to a servant and takes my hand, leading me back to the others so we can change out of our finery and don extra weapons.

I grit my teeth, remembering how badly the last battle ended, and force myself to keep moving forward.

If Nykeem is here, I’ll flay his flesh from his bones, and no poison will stop me.