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Or perhaps he was so used to having people want to kill him that it no longer impacted him like it would a normal person.
Draven was possibly the least normal person I had ever met. And considering Arthur was my brother, that was saying a great deal.
“Only two members of it.” He nodded ahead to where a man and a little girl had stepped out from around the corner.
The little girl looked to be about five or six or so. She was ebony-skinned with dainty features, sweet pudgy cheeks, and tightly curling turquoise hair that was braided into two plaits. She wore a yellow dress embroidered with white flowers and bright blue leggings.
“She’s adorable,” Draven whispered in my ear. “Isn’t she?”
The red-haired man gave a friendly wave and smiled at me. Gawain.
This must then be Taina.
“She’s very sweet,” I admitted, waving back at Gawain.
“This is my husband, Gawain, and our daughter, Taina,” Crescent said proudly, holding the little girl by the hand as she held Gawain’s with her other. “I don’t think you and Gawain had a chance to formally meet yesterday.”
“Pleathed to meet you Lady Morgan,” the child lisped. She made an admirable attempt at a curtsy and I stifled a smile.
I crouched down. “Very pleased to meet you as well, Lady Taina,” I said solemnly. “Are you excited for the festival this evening?”
The little girl looked up at me, starry eyed and nodded without speaking.
“She loves the drums,” Gawain explained with a wide smile. “And the dancing. Crescent is a wonderful dancer. He’s been teaching us both.”
“I see,” I murmured.
Crescent and Gawain were looking at one another with undisguised affection, clearly anticipating a pleasant family evening out.
I glanced at Draven, feeling awkward, not sure of how to proceed. I felt so out of place around their overt happiness. Around a functional healthy family.
Abruptly, I wondered how the stitching process worked. On the face of it, it sounded rather... painful. I hoped the word was more of a symbolic description than a literal one.
“You’ve never visited Noctasia, have you, Lady Morgan?” Gawain said pleasantly.
“No, I have not yet had the pleasure. I’m so thankful my lord and master... I mean, Prince Kairos... has granted me permission to visit.” I shot a sugary smile in Draven’s direction and tried to look as humble as possible. Is this what you wanted? I practically screamed with my eyes. The obedient, grateful Paramour?
“Well, you’re in for a real treat,” Gawain promised.
“If we can all form a circle,” Crescent instructed. “We’ll be above in a moment.”
We had to touch each other? I wasn’t sure I was currently capable of touching Draven with anything but the tip of my blade.
I stepped up next to Crescent and he placed a hand on my shoulder. To my relief, Gawain and Taina came to stand beside me. Draven completed the circle, standing between Taina and Crescent.
I watched as he put a hand gently on the little girl’s shoulder and smiled down at her.
When he saw Taina did he think of his own daughter who had been so heartlessly stolen away?
They made a pretty picture, standing there. The prince and the little girl.
Like a deadly viper, Draven could be deceptively beautiful when he wanted to be. I forced myself to look away.
“Ready?” Crescent said.
I started to nod. And then, we vanished.
