AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Harel waved one of them over and told them to tell the kitchen to prepare for a lunch guest. Evidently I didn't exist. That was fine with me. The sooner he forgot about me, the better.
"Make a room too," Harel added. "I'm sure Cavan will want to stay for a night or two." He looked like he wanted Cavan to refuse, but Cavan smiled.
"It would be my pleasure. Only for a night or two. I wouldn't want to impose any longer than that."
"Of course." That was obviously too much by Harel's standards, but if nothing else, he needed the alliance. Wanted the omegas and their magic.
What did Ryze say about Autumn Court magic? That it was related to death. That didn't sound like a power Jorius needed more of.
"If you'll follow me, I'll show you to your room," Daniek said. "I'm sure you'd like to rest before lunch."
"Certainly," Cavan agreed.
Considering the day's exercise consisted of making a portal from Havenmoor, stepping through it, and walking through the streets of Marial for ten or twenty minutes, I didn't think a rest was warranted.
On the other hand, I was happy to be away from Harel and his courtiers. I hadn't looked, but I knew they were watching, listening and judging. I didn't care what they thought, but I didn't want to be on display either.
I stayed close to Cavan as we followed Daniek out of the throne room and down the ornate corridor.
Like everywhere else in the Autumn Court, the bedroom the courtier led us to was opulent.
The air was thick with the scent of sandalwood. The walls were adorned with tapestries depicting scenes of what I assumed were Fae mythology. Rich autumn colors adorned every surface, from the yellow-gold curtains to the russet velvet cushions piled high on the enormous four-poster bed.
The bed was made of carved oak, with intricately detailed posts which reached almost to the high ceiling. Silk sheets embroidered with gold thread were tucked in neatly across the top of the mattress and pillows.
Matching nightstands sat on either side of the bed, their carved wooden legs gleaming. A plush armchair stood in each corner, their front feet sinking into thick woven rugs on the polished wooden floor.
Sunlight poured through a set of double doors that led out to a balcony overlooking lush gardens below.
At the far end of the room, a fireplace dominated the wall, its stone mantel intricately, and somewhat excessively, covered with carvings of flowers and animals. It looked as though a fire hadn't been lit in there for a long time.
"Thank you." Cavan dismissed Daniek with a nod.
The courtier looked less than pleased, but he backed out the door and closed it behind him with a bow.
Cavan sighed and his posture relaxed visibly.
"He doesn't spare any expense, does he?" I looked around at everything. It must have cost a High Lord's ransom just to decorate this room.
"Not when he's trying to impress his guest," Cavan agreed.
"Guest, singular." I raised an eyebrow at him. "He doesn't like to make a girl feel welcome, does he?"
"Harel isn't a fan of women," he said.
"You don't say," I said sarcastically. "He doesn't seem to be a fan of anyone but himself. You didn't mean any of that, did you?"
I placed my hands on my hips and gave him a level look. The ability to look him almost eye to eye might be one of my favourite things about being Fae. If I was human, I'd have to crane my neck.
"Which bit?" he asked, feigning innocence.
"Most of it," I told him. "You're not really gathering omegas for our power, right? You're not planning to invade the other courts? You're certainly not handing me over to your men."
"No. No. And definitelynot," he said. "I bet I wasn't lying about your mouth."
He stepped towards me, gripped my shoulders and pushed me until my back was against one of the bed posts.
Heart racing, I looked back at him. "Did you and my mother ever…" I wasn't sure why I needed the answer to that, but I did.
