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“Are you okay?” Maeve removed her sword, lifting it as if she thought Kieran was behind me, holding me hostage.
“I’m fine.” The warmth I felt for her returned, taking away the annoyance that had caught me off guard. Even if she couldn’t admit she was wrong, she did care about me. And that counted for something. “It’s been a long day.”
Her lips tightened. “It has, but we need to go downstairs. The other competitors may think you are weak if you don’t join them soon.”
My body tensed as two parts of me went to war. One part hated the thought of the other competitors thinking I was weak, while another equal-sized part liked the idea of them thinking that so they would underestimate me. But Orla would be pissed if I waited too long, and there was enough tension between us that I didn’t want to add more.
I clasped the key in my hand and went to the door, Maeve following. I locked the room, and we headed downstairs.
I managed to keep my heels from clacking like they had when I’d first arrived. Walking in them wasn’t actually painful anymore, and I didn’t hate the dress, though I still would’ve preferred to wear pants and a shirt, so at least I hadn’t completely changed.
We strode into the dining hall, and it looked more glamorous than before. Candles sat in the center of the tables, and the overhead chandeliers were dimmed. The effect was intimate, but with all the people there, it didn’t pass for romantic. A buffet had been laid out against one wall with loads of spirits, water, chocolates, breads, jams, honey, and something I swore looked like cinnamon rolls.
I salivated as the sweet aromas washed over me, but my heart nearly stopped when I glanced at the one place I shouldn’t have.
Kieran sat at his usual place at the Winter table with a man who looked similar to him and had to be his brother, Prince Nolan, on his right and a gorgeous woman on his left. That had to be their sister, Princess Brianne. But what caught my attention was how she contrasted with her royal brothers. It was marked, especially with the three of them sitting together. Both brothers had the same hair color, Nolan’s shorter and styled in messy upward spikes. The princess’s hair was a dark blonde that waved to the floor. Both men had blue eyes, with Kieran’s as pale as ice and Nolan’s a cobalt blue. The princess’s eyes were a warm honey brown that reminded me of the sun on a winter day.
As I examined them, Kieran caught my eye, forcing me to look away. I didn’t want him to think I was pining for him.
Rowan sat on the right side of the table next to a man with short brown hair while the quiet Winter fae sat alone on the other side of the table.
Interesting.
“Alina,” Maeve murmured.
Lovely. I’d stopped at the edge of the table and was staring at the Winter fae. All six had stopped their conversations to stare back at me.
I smiled, wanting to make them uncomfortable. Ivy would never have done this, but Alina was taking root under my skin. “Good evening,” I nodded. “You all performed amazingly out there.”
Flinching, Rowan bit her bottom lip while the silent man arched a brow. King Kieran bowed his head slightly. “Princess Alina.” His response was the kindest out of everyone, which made me feel funny before the hurt settled in again.
I nodded and made my way to the Summer table. My usual spot was vacant, with Dallas seated on my left and Orla on my right. I’d expected Orla to sit at the head, but I didn’t want to challenge her authority. I took my seat, locking eyes with Curry next to Dallas.
As I sat down, Dallas smiled. “You don’t know how happy I am to see you.”
Instead of the disgust that usually accompanied my interactions with him, a sense of ease spread through my chest. I placed a hand on top of his and replied, “I’m full of warmth at seeing you.”
He blinked before his face transformed into a smile as bright as the sun. “You finally remember.”
“What?” Orla gasped. “Is that true?”
I released Dallas’s hand and touched my sister’s shoulder. “I don’t remember everything, but more is coming back to me, including memories of our time together with you lying under the weeping willow in the garden.”
“Thank the rising sun.” She placed a hand on her chest. “You reminded me of Alina at the ball, and when I was told you had used your magic in the arena, I hoped you were returning to your previous self.”
They were both getting their hopes too high. “I’m remembering things, but I’m still not the same person you remember. I lived a separate life on Earth, and I won’t ever be just like her.”
“Isn’t that sweet, son?” a man with dark eyes interjected. He sat between my sister and Curry. “Too bad she wasn’t her former self. She’d have made sure she killed you.”
The insinuation that I was weak slammed into me. No one talked to me that way and got away with it. “It wasn’t a moment of weakness. I wanted your son to hang in torment, awaiting his death. Unfortunately, I underestimated him.” My attention landed on Curry, whose sneer took up half his face. I continued, making sure he felt each word, “That won’t happen again.”
Orla grinned as the table fell silent, and then we all got up and filled our plates with food.
I hadn’t realized how hungry I was, so I overate tremendously. Most people were enjoying spirits. But not me, not after that one night when I’d learned an important lesson.
After everyone finished eating, we all headed out to the lobby. The family members would be leaving soon, and the rest of us would go to bed.
In the entrance hall, the High Court lined up together.
