Chapter
Twenty
Things had been suspiciously quiet for the entire week. Caelan hadn't seen or heard from Danu since I released his land, and I'd heard nothing either. A year ago, this was my dream. Peace and silence.
Now all it did was make me suspicious.
Mom took pity on me and sent over a gown for tonight's visit to the fae court. The dress was stunning, the azure fabric perfectly matching my eyes. But the best thing about it? I could walk in the damn thing. The bodice was a sweetheart style but had enough support to hold the girls up without any extra tape or finagling, and the waist nipped snug around my ribs. I swayed back and forth in the mirror, the skirts swishing around my feet as I moved.
Rowan's eyes lit up when he stepped into the room. He let out a low whistle and motioned his index finger in a turnaround motion. When I finished, he strode over, gripped me by the waist and planted a searing kiss on my lips.
When I came up for air, we were both ready to skip the court and go straight to bed. But alas, duty called. “You clean up nice,” I murmured.
Rowan always looked well put together. Though he dressed more casually than the other Lords, he knew when to dress for maximum impact. Tonight he wore a tuxedo, a human style, yes, but one that told the other fae he was one of us because of me, but he was also the Lord of his own territory and not someone to be trifled with.
Not that the fae bothered with warnings like that. Most were curious and fickle beings, and if they thought Rowan might be fun to play with, they wouldn't care about his position. They might hesitate when they realized his connection to me, but even my Dad had to deal with periodic fae bullshit, and he was their king.
Or was. That title belonged to Rowan now.
We were the least royalty-like people I'd ever met, so the thought of us one day officially taking our crowns made me break into a cold sweat.
Rowan did a little twirl for me. “Think I'll fit in?”
I ran my hands up his chest and rested them on his shoulders. “You'd fit in anywhere.”
He cupped my face in his palms. “My first introduction to your world. Let's see what happens.”
“Your mom is fae. Surely you've been to something like this before?”
Rowan shook his head. “Mom did her best to shelter me from our people.” His face sobered. “Your parents did the same, but in a much worse way.”
True. I spent my formative years without a mother or a father, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. “They're making up for it now.”
Rowan's eyes softened. “Doesn't make it right.” He ran his thumb over my lip. “Your parents will be here in a few minutes. Ready?”
I sighed. “Let me do something about this hair. I'll be right out.”
Mom was sittingon the couch when I walked out. Her eyes lit up when she saw me come out of the bathroom.
“You look beautiful.” She stood and walked over, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from my face. Just like Rowan, Mom cupped my face in her hands. She stared into my eyes for a long moment until she let out a soft sigh. “Evangeline, you are everything and more I hoped you would be.”
I blinked in surprise. “Mom? Is everything okay?”
Her eyes glimmered with silver, a hint to her rule over the banshees. Mom never said so, but I suspected she could sense someone's death just like her banshees could, among other things. “So many things are about to happen, my darling.”
I swallowed hard. “Mom? You're scaring me.”
Mom's lips trembled. She closed her eyes. “Be brave and strong, my darling. You will need both in the days to come.”
My mother popped out of existence in a shimmer of light. Rowan had come to his feet and was at my side in an instance. He gripped my elbow and was about to usher me out of the room when Dad appeared in the spot Mom had just disappeared from.
His face was a blank mask.
“Is Mom okay?”
My father opened his mouth to speak, but the ground rumbled underneath us.
A banshee's scream shattered the night.
