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Gliding down the stairs, music from the live orchestra filled my ears, the chatter of guests almost overtaking the sounds of the string instruments as all eyes fell upon us. Halfway down the intricate, winding staircase, I stopped, squeezing Zephy’s hand.
“What are you doing?” she asked nervously.
“I want to tell them now,” I whispered back. “Start this party off right.”
“Cade…” she breathed.
But I had already begun to call everyone’s attention toward me.
I enacted a spell to amplify my voice, since I didn’t have a microphone, as this wasn’t how we planned on telling everyone our news. “Thank you all for being here tonight. Queen Zephyrine and I have called you here for a very special and important announcement.”
The music came to an abrupt stop as the orchestra heard my voice, the foyer thickening as bodies swarmed in from other areas of the palace to hear the rest of my words.
“Cade… maybe we should wait,” Zephy rasped again, her eyes darting over the sea of partygoers.
I clenched her fingers reassuringly again and chuckled heartily.
“It seems my queen has developed a modest case of nerves, but rightfully so. Over the past months, it has been a whirlwind of activity, change after change in Ironhelm Place and in the kingdom. But as Ironhelmites, we have always overcome adversity and challenges, remaining loyal to tradition and the throne, accepting that the fates have always placed us where we were supposed to be. And the fates have struck again, in their infinite wisdom, ensuring that the throne will sustain with my bloodline. In just months, the Queen will be holding the heir to Ironhelm in her arms.”
A collective gasp ran through the rotunda, followed by a thunderous round of applause and laughter. I beamed happily, pulling Zephy close to me as the guests raised their glasses in a toast, cheering on our unborn child and our everlasting monarchy.
It wasn’t until much later that I realized that, for the first time, when I held Zephy in my arms in that moment, she didn’t instantly relax against me. The announcement that filled me and most of the kingdom with elation was consuming her with unexplainable dread. But I’d been too blind to notice it.
Chapter14
Zephy
Idid my best to absorb Cade’s good mood throughout the party. His excitement about becoming a father warmed my heart and emboldened me for the future, but I couldn’t shake the dark cloud that slunk behind me, trailing after me no matter where I went. It was ever-present to warn me that things were simply not all right, no matter how much Cade wanted them to be, the uneasy feeling that I was being scrutinized, judged, and followed, like someone was waiting to make a move that never quite came.
I’m being paranoid. I’m overtired and grumpy. And now I’ve got a child growing inside me. I’ll make myself crazy if I keep this up.
“Are you all right, Luna?”
Maywin’s timid voice brought me back to the ballroom, where I stood with a glass of water clenched so tightly in my hand, it was a small wonder it didn’t shatter.
I flashed her an absent smile and nodded. “I’m a little bit tired,” I admitted. “I think I might find the King and retire for the night.”
“I’ll see you to your suite. Let me find Jasper.”
“Thank you, Maywin.”
I looked for my mate, locating him easily at the center of the room, spinning some lavish story among a throng of admiring followers as I approached, their laughter music to my ears. Everyone appeared to be enjoying themselves well enough. My imagination was the only thing that kept the night from being perfect.
“My love,” Cade called, immediately catching sight of me. “There you are.”
He proffered a hand toward me, and I drifted into his embrace easily. “Are you all right?”
“I think the festivities have tired me out,” I told him honestly. “Jasper and Maywin will see me upstairs.”
Disappointment colored his face, but he nodded. “You do need your rest now more than ever,” he agreed. “Do you want me to join you?”
I shook my head. “No, of course not. Enjoy your party. It turned out very well.”
“You see?” He winked at me, and I chuckled in spite of myself. “You have nothing to worry about, Zephy. Our kingdom may not be accustomed to change, but they will handle it as we always do.”
I tipped my head back to look at him adoringly. “I should have believed you,” I confessed. “I promise to heed your advice more often.”
“Axel has been telling you that all along.” My face puckered at the reminder of his earliest ruse, the “trainer” he had pretended to be when we had first met.
