AllFreeNovel
Share Us
SEVENYEARSLATER
I hated these things.
The fire in the middle of the clearing reeked of burning herbs, and the Shades nearby reeked of cheap wine. It was meant to be a bonding experience among the palace staff and the members of the Guard who weren’t celebrating with their own families, but I was mostly overwhelmed.
Crowds were a lot more comfortable when I had something todo. A job. Someone or something to guard.
Socializingwas an entirely different beast.
“Drink with us, Levana!” Andrus called, holding up his goblet in a toast, wine sloshing over the sides onto the dry dirt. “I don’t think I’ve seen you have one drink yet.”
“Because it smells undrinkable,” I mumbled.
“Pah! What a snob,” he laughed, making me bristle. Andrus had been trying to get into my bed for years, having singled me out as a Shade of equivalent social standing and possibly worth impregnating.
My family would probably approve, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
Andrus was justsoobnoxious.
“Calm down, Blue,” a gruff voice from behind me drawled. “Here. I brought the good stuff.”
Calix, the palace’s head cook, pressed an open bottle of fine vintage into my hand, watching me expectantly.
“Blue?” I held his gaze as I took a swig, more to get everyone off my case than anything else.
He grunted, not bothering to acknowledge the obvious—the eyes that marked me as something of an oddity, a darker color than most Shades possessed. The only thing I’d inherited from my mother.
“Good?” he asked. If it had been anyone else, I would have thought the question was asked purely out of politeness. A meaningless throwaway, meant to make small talk and nothing else.
But Calix wasn’t known for either politeness or small talk. And he probablydidcare how the wine tasted. As far as I could tell, flavor was the only thing he was interested in.
I’d always admired that about him, though I barely even admitted that to myself. There was something verycompellingabout seeing someone who was unashamedly passionate about what they enjoyed.
It had made Calix something of a fascination of mine since he’d come to work at the palace, though I did my best to ignore it. Any day here at court could be my last. I couldn’t afford fascinations.
“Yes, it’s good. Thank you.”
He gestured for me to have more, but I shook my head, passing the bottle back. Perhaps I could leave now. I’d made an appearance. Verner was the only other member of the Guard whose company I enjoyed. He was the closest thing I had to a childhood friend, having grown up not far from Erith. My father didn’t invite guests onto the property, but I’d met Verner a few times at local festivals over the years.
He’d wisely skipped this event entirely.
“Leaving so soon?” Calix asked, taking a swig of wine and giving me a challenging look. “The party just started.”
“I’m not much for parties.”
“Pity.”
“I’m sure you’ll be miserable without my company,” I agreed drily, already looking around for an exit path through the trees that would draw the least amount of attention.
“I’m confident I will be.” Calix sounded so serious that I couldn’t help but turn my focus to him. Was he being facetious? He had to be. There was no other explanation. “I had hoped I might get to talk to you tonight.”
“Why?” It was a blunter response than I’d intended to come up with. Wasn’t Calix the direct-to-the-point-of-rudeness one? It had been much remarked on at court.
By the night, it was inconvenient that he was so attractive, with his rich orange eyes and defined, muscular physique. Combined with his unabashed love for what he did and his outrageous confidence, it made him very… distracting.
Calix took a step closer and I was surprised to find Ialmosttook a step back in response. It was unlike me to be intimidated by anyone, but there was no denying that there was something about Calix that wasmorethan most Shades I encountered.
He seemed like the kind of male who could make anything happen just by the force of his personality alone. Like no obstacle would be too big for him to overcome. I never quite knew how to deal with those types.
