The guard glanced between them, but Tharion smiled down at the River Queen’s daughter, whose brows were raised. “Go dance,” he told her. “I’ll be right back.” He didn’t let her object before handing her off to the guard, who was actually blushing as he extended his arm.
And Tharion didn’t look back as he strode off into the crowd, wondering how much shit he’d be in for this. But … even if he was flayed for it, he wasn’t going to string her along any further.
He paused on the outskirts of the crowd, finally turning to see the guard and the River Queen’s daughter dancing, both of them smiling. Happy.
Good. She deserved that. Mother or not, temper or not, she deserved someone to make her happy.
Tharion made his way over to the nearest open bar, and was about to order a whiskey when he noticed a curvy female—a leopard shifter from the scent of her—lounging against the counter beside him.
He’d always noticed a good ass, and this female … Hel yes.
“Come here often?” he asked her with a wink. The leopard turned her head toward him, light brown skin radiant in the soft lights. Her eyes were thick-lashed, utterly gorgeous above high cheekbones and full lips, all of it framed by golden-brown hair that fell around her heart-shaped face in soft waves. She had the ease and grace of a movie star. Probably was one, if she was important enough to be here. That full mouth curled in a smile. “Is that your attempt at a pickup line?”
He knew that sultry tone. So Tharion ordered his whiskey and said to the stranger, “You want it to be?”
61
“Are you all right?” Ithan asked Hypaxia as the clock neared three thirty in the morning. She’d complained of some stomach cramps and had left the party for about twenty minutes, returning pale-faced.
The witch-queen now tucked a dark curl behind her ear, then adjusted the fall of her jet-black robes, having pulled them over her gown moments before. Even standing in the small clearing of an olive grove nestled in the hills beyond the city, the sounds of revelry reached them: booming bass, cheering, strobing lights. A far cry from the whispering leaves and dry ground around him, the stars glinting beyond the silvery canopy.
Another world away from that glittering party where so many powers had come together tonight. Where Bryce had somehow outmaneuvered the Autumn King and had declared Hunt her prince. He hadn’t known what to think in that moment.
He’d done his best to stay the fuck away from Sabine and Amelie tonight. Thankfully, they had been present only long enough to see the Asteri speak, then left. He hated himself for being so relieved about it. The Prime hadn’t attended—he usually avoided such functions.
“So this is it?” Ithan asked Hypaxia, gesturing with a hand to the seven candles she’d arranged on the ground. “Light the candles and wait?”
Hypaxia drew out a long dagger. “Not quite,” she said, and Ithan kept a step back as she used the knife to draw lines between the candles.
Ithan angled his head. “A six-pointed star,” he said. Like the one Bryce had made between the Gates this spring, with the seventh candle at its center.
“It’s a symbol of balance,” she explained, moving away a foot, but keeping the dagger at her side. Her crown of cloudberries seemed to glow with an inner light. “Two intersecting triangles. Male and female, dark and light, above and below … and the power that lies in the place where they meet.” Her face became grave. “It is in that place of balance where I’ll focus my power.” She motioned to the circle. “No matter what you see or hear, stay on this side of the candles.”
A chill went up Ithan’s spine, even as his heart lightened. If he could just talk to Connor … He’d thought over and over about what he’d say, but he couldn’t remember any of it.
Hypaxia read whatever lay in his gaze, her face again solemn.
But a bargain was a bargain. Hypaxia lifted both arms, holding the dagger aloft, and began chanting.
Day appeared far down the bridge and stayed there, like she didn’t want to come near him.
Ruhn sat on his couch, forearms on his knees. He’d been reeling from what had gone down in the garden for hours now. Was surprised he’d even fallen asleep in his physical body.
He rushed to her. “I’m sorry I endangered you.”
Day said nothing. Just stood there, burning.
He tried again. “I … It was a really dumb idea. I’m sorry if you showed and I wasn’t there. I got to the garden and the Harpy and the Hind had trailed me, and I think they might have suspected me, or I don’t know, but I’m … I’m so sorry, Day.”
“I was there,” she said quietly.
“What?”
“I saw you,” she said, and stalked forward. “Saw the threat, too. And stayed away.”
“Where? In the garden?”
She came closer. “I saw you,” she said again. Like she was still processing it.
“You came.” He shook his head. “I thought you might not have, and we didn’t talk since we made that plan, and I was worried—”
“Ruhn.” His name on her lips rocked through him.
He shuddered. “You know who I am.”
“Yes.”
“Say my name again.”
She came closer. “Ruhn.” Her flames parted enough for him to get a glimpse of a smile.
“Are you still in the city? Can I meet you somewhere?” It was the middle of the night—but it was the equinox. People would be partying until dawn. But they’d be masked—he and Day could fit right in.
“No.” Her voice flattened. “I’m gone.”
“Liar. Tell me where you are.”
“Did you learn nothing tonight? Did you not see how close we came to disaster? The Asteri’s servants are everywhere. One mistake, even for a moment, and we are dead.”
His throat worked. “When the Harpy came out of the shadows, I thought she was you. I … I panicked for a moment.”
A quiet laugh. “That would have been awful for you? To have me be someone you hate so much?”
“It would take some adjustment.”
“So you do have a notion of what you expect me to be like.”
“I don’t. I just … don’t want you to be her.”
Another laugh. “And you’re a Fae Prince.”
“Does it gross you out?”
“Should it?”
“It grosses me out.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ve done nothing to deserve that title.”
She studied him. “The Autumn King is your father. The one who hurt you.”
“The one and only.”
“He’s a disgrace of a king.”
“You should talk to my sister. I think she’d like you.”
“Bryce Quinlan.”
He tensed at her knowing Bryce’s name so readily, but if she’d been at the party tonight, she’d know without a doubt. “Yeah. She hates my father even more than I do.”
But Day’s flame dimmed. “You’re engaged to Queen Hypaxia.”
He almost laughed it off, but her voice was so grave. “It’s complicated.”