“Ellowyn!” Peytor threw himself on me and enveloped me in a crushing hug. He reeked of whiskey, and I awkwardly patted his back. From where I was pinned by Peytor, I could see Torin rise and shake my father’s hand. “I am miserable. Dria keeps pulling her top down and I don’t want to see her boobs, Ellowyn. I don’t want to see them!” Peytor slurred into my ear.
I laughed and pushed him off me before also rising from my chair.
“I’m sure she has magnificent boobs. Look at them in that dress. They’re just . . .there.” I looked over Peytor’s shoulder and, sure enough, there stood Dria like a silent shadow. Her dress had gotten even lower since the last time I had seen her, and I was certain she was on the verge of a whole tit popping out at this point.
Peytor grasped my chin and pulled my gaze back to him. “Stop looking! It’ll only encourage her!”
Sure enough, Dria took my eye contact as an invitation to approach us.
“Ellowyn!” she said with ridiculously fake enthusiasm as she gave me quite possibly the most awkward hug of my entire life. I heard both Torin and my father chuckle behind me as Peytor tried his best to disappear. “What a lovely party and . . . dress.”
“It is so lovely, don’t you think? I love that it leaves something to the imagination, lets me really dream about what she’s hiding underneath it all,” Torin interjected. I sucked in a breath, worried about my father’s reaction but he only laughed again and patted Torin’s back.
Dria puckered her lips like she ate something sour. “Yes, well, I’ve heard this isallthe rage in the South, is it not, Lord d’Eshu?” I decidedly didnotlike how she eyed Torin.
“Sure, from our bedmates.”
Dria’s face paled completely, and she stuttered an excuse before hurrying away from our group.
“Is that true?” I asked Torin.
“Nope.” His hair flopped as he shook his head. “But I didn’t like the way she was speaking to you, and Peytor looked ready to crawl into a hole. It was the least I could do to put her in her place a bit.”
Peytor practically tackled Torin in a forceful hug and the look of shock on Torin’s face was comical.
“Okay, son, I think that’s enough. Let’s not scare off the poor lord before he even proposes to Ellowyn,” my father said as he separated Peytor from Torin.
“Oh, Lord d’Aelius, that reminds me. I do want to make a formal request to court your daughter,” Torin added once Peytor was separated from him.
My father smiled, the joy reaching his eyes. “Daughter? What do you think?”
“I’d be interested in getting to know him further, yes,” I said instantly.
“Brilliant!” My father roughly patted Torin’s back. “We’ll be welcoming you to the family soon, I’m sure.”
I blushed as I made eye contact with Torin, but he only offered me one of his dazzling smiles and a wink.
“Now, Ell,” my father said as he approached me holding out his arm for me to take. “Are you ready to see your magic?”
I sucked in a breath as I placed my hand in the crook of his elbow.
“It’s time?” I whispered as we walked to the elevated platform set up on the side of the ballroom against the windows.
“It’s time,” he said as we ascended the stairs.
Chapter 19
Ellowyn
The platform was small and wooden, only big enough to support one or two people. There was a white stone pillar and bowl on one end, engraved with the runes for Sight, Air, Water, and Creation. This was the offering to Solace. For every Solace-blessed power, there was an equal and opposite Kaos-blessed counterpart. On the opposite end of the platform stood a black stone pillar engraved with the runes for Truth, Earth, Fire, and Destruction. This was the offering to Kaos.
As I looked at the platform set up for my Awakening, I was struck with sudden gratitude that my ceremony was at my home rather than in the temple where everyone, excluding my family, was required to Awaken. The acolytes were present to help control any outbursts of magic, and not many other families could afford to pay for an acolyte to perform a private ceremony.
My father joined me on the platform, squeezing behind me, his back against the window. He cleared his throat and used a bit of Air Magic to project his voice. I was shocked that he still had magic available—he and Mother weren’t the most powerful.
“Esteemed guests!” he announced. “If I could have your attention, please.” The ballroom grew silent, idle chatter ceasing as the guests slowly gathered around the stage, drinks in hand. While I had been the subject ofattention all night, this type of perusal felt different. Every eye in the room, even that of the servants and Mages standing guard, was trained on me and the two pedestals on the stage. Any person’s Awakening was important, but with the attendance of Lord d’Refan, it seemed somehow even more important than usual.
I glanced around the room, not pausing long on any one person or making significant eye contact. I saw Lord d’Refan brooding at the back of the ballroom, encased by the shadows projected from the candles floating in the air. While I couldn’t make out his expression from this far away, it was clear from his tense posture that he was anticipating somethingbigto happen. Even with the shadows covering his face, I could feel his eyes on me, and I involuntarily shivered before tearing my eyes away again.
