“What are we going to do about the ice?” I ask, and Yasmeena squints at me.
“How the Hel should I know? You’re the one who froze half the audience,” she whispers through gritted teeth.
“Can you get Khalid? And use your water and his fire to melt it?” I suggest, and she nods, going backstage to grab her brother.
I head down to help assist at the exit. Raph and Luc stand beside one another, and I feel like a child being called down to the principal’s office.
“Did we do okay?” I ask, not sure how I expect them to answer.
“You did excellent,” Raph answers first, grinning ear-to-ear.
King Luc gives me a small, clipped smile. “Given the circumstances, yes.”
I allow myself to truly take in both their scents. Luc’s magic is much more powerful. It makes sense, given that he was chosen to be king, but the stark contrast is surprising. Raph always seems so strong compared to the rest of the carnies, it’s weird to think there is greater magic than his.
As the last of the audience leaves, I let out a long exhale.
Baelor, Lilian, Rowan, Reina, and Taryn all come out from backstage, joining Khalid, Yasmeena, and me.
“Tonight, carnies, you may have just changed lives,” Raph says, and I hear a rustling from the back entrance.
Draven.
“Apologies, I was helping Gemma put Nico to bed,” he starts, hustling towards us. “You guys have definitely changed the trajectory of this conflict. Tonight showed many of the felion and lupion that peace is possible.”
“What are our next steps?” the king asks, surprising me.
I won’t pretend to understand Luc, but my experiences so far have definitely changed my perception of him. In the media, and in whispers in the community, he’s portrayed as brutal and cruel. Scary, even.
This demon is tame. I’d even argue he comes across a little soft, not afraid to be vulnerable. I wonder if it’s because these people are all close to him, or if this is his true nature, and everything else is a part of a facade he’s upkeeping.
Raph and my Alpha are different leaders from Luc; they’re consistent. My father is a tough, unrelenting asshole with the general public, and he was the same at home. If I woke from a nightmare, he didn’t comfort me. Raph is the opposite. Always friendly and polite, no matter the circumstances.
Luc has more layers to unmask, and it intrigues me. I wonder if my father truly fears him, or if it’s all a formality.
“A formal treaty, hopefully,” Draven says, patting Reina on the back. “Right, fangs?”
“One can only hope,” she retorts. “Great job or whatever, but I’m exhausted. See you all in the morning.”
Luc nods as if to give his approval, and Reina and Draven walk out of the tent. I blow Taryn a kiss, and she catches it before Rowan pushes her tank out of the exit, leaving just the six of us.
Baelor’s arm is wrapped around Lilian. He looks almost drowsy, unconcerned with the way Luc’s gaze bores into him.
“Good night, royals,” Baelor says, his words a little slurred.
He’s drunk.
“Good night, Baelor,” Raph says with a smile. “Go get some rest.”
They turn and head for the exit, when Luc speaks up, surprising me. “Good night, Lilian.”
Once we’re alone, Yasmeena pulls me into her, and we press our noses against one another. “You did so well, princess,” she whispers.
“That was all you, nuisance,” I say, and kiss her deeply.
Her hands move to my jaw, and mine down to the small of her back, her lips parting on the cutest gasp.
“We need to sleep.” There’s a sad, pathetic look in her eyes, but I nod.
