“I have faced many horrible things…but this, I fear, might be the most terrifying of them all.”
“You know everyone who’s here,” I remind him.
“That was very different,” he says flatly. “There wasn’t much time for socializing as we planned to break you out of Halazar. And it’s not like Arina and I spoke much.” All right, he has a point on that last part, I admit.
Still, I continue to remain positive. “You were here with me when we saw this place, you spent some proper time with Twino and Ren then.”
“You did most of the talking.”
“Must you be determined to catastrophize?”
“Yes.” He grins.
I smack his shoulder lightly. “Stop stalling.”
“If I must.” Kaelis heaves a dramatic sigh that puts a broad smile across my face.
Arm in arm, we walk down the hall. With every step toward the kitchen the air before us seems to grow more dense, slowing our steps like a barrier. Kaelis pauses and I tighten my grip around his arm, sensing a part of him is considering just leaving.
“Gilly will be happy to see you,” I say softly. “If nothing else, you can pet the dog.”
“Oh, he will be.” That seems to genuinely relax Kaelis enough to take the chance.
Still, the second we step into the room, everyone falls silent.
Thal glances up from their playing cards and then tosses them onto the table with a dramatic sigh. “And here I thought I was getting a break from the academy. Now the fucking headmaster is here.”
Arina fights a laugh and loses.
“Tell me what you really think about me, Thal,” Kaelis remarks dryly.
“Oh, you really don’t want me to say.” Though Thal seems keen to do so anyway.
I fight a laugh.
“It’s good to see you again,” Twino says warmly.
“Is it?” Ren mutters under his breath. I give him a wary look. He merely smirks, and I roll my eyes at it.
So all my loved ones are content to tease the man I’ve chosen. This fits, but I hate it. And, secretly, love it.
“Thank you for joining our little end-of-year celebrations. Please, make yourself at home.” Twino gestures around the room.
“At least you can help eat the food. Jura’s recipes by their nature feed far too many people,” Ren says, louder, and a bit more friendly.
“And you have the audacity to say that like it’s a bad thing,” Arina huffs.
“I did no such thing.” Ren seems aghast. “In no world is someone going hungry around my table.” He is effortlessly falling into Jura’s old role. “Now, sit.”
Any tension there was at Kaelis’s presence completely eases as the hours pass. By the time another round of drinks are passed, even Sorza is acting like Kaelis is an old friend, hanging off his shoulder. I’m nearly as amused by this turn of events as he is.
Cards are spread out. Arina gives everyone the customary readings for the year ahead. No one talks about their spreads. I politely refuse, but she lays out the cards for me anyway—face down—so neither of us knows what’s there but no one wonders why she isn’t reading for me.
“May I have one?” Kaelis asks, a bit nervous as he approaches her table.
“My one rule is I read the cards as I see them, Prince. Can you handle that?” Arina’s eyes dart up to him.
“I’d expect nothing less.” He sits and I take a long sip of my wine, anxiously watching how they’ll get along. Kaelis extends a hand. “I don’t think we’ve formally met. But I’ve heard so much about you I feel like I know you well already. I’m Kaelis.”
