The aroma of the food is amazing as Summer, Dane, Aneurin, and I walk past the cobbled path, up the marble steps, and through the two arched doors that lead to the dinner feast inside the Patter Castle where Princess Summer grew up.
The Feast of the Full Moon brings all men and women of all kinds of wealth together for a night of celebration.
“You were so lucky to grow up in here,” I whisper to Princess Summer as she clasps her hands in delight. She is wearing the most beautiful golden and cream dress, one of her favorites.
Plus, I helped pile her hair high on her head so she really looks the part.
“I am so happy peace has returned to the kingdom,” Summer sighs in delight, and soldiers who line the entrance to help ward off troublemakers all nod and welcome Summer with affectionate smiles and kind words.
Everyone loves her here.
“Spoiled as ever,” Dane growls behind me. Aneurin chuckles, but the golden-haired Dragon Lord quickly stops laughing when Summer stops to talk to a soldier.
“Jesse!” Summer shines with happiness as she attempts to hug the soldier standing at the entrance, but Aneurin grabs her shoulder and jerks her back.
“Jesse!” Aneurin quickly takes her place and opens up his abnormally huge Twin Dragon Breed arms to embrace the suddenly terrified-looking soldier.
Summer’s face boils in rage at being pulled away from Jesse, and Dane grabs her hand and forces her back by his side.
“Good, mouse,” Dane growls, trying to keep her calm.
“I can’t b—breathe, m—mate,” Jesse gasps out after Aneurin squeezes him so hard I think he almost collapses the poor soldier’s lungs.
“I apologize.” Aneurin releases him, not sounding truly apologetic at all, and he quickly stalks off into the feast, followed by a quick-paced Dane, who has to drag Summer along with him.
“See you later, Summer,” Jesse says, waving at her then glancing over at me.
As I smile in apology to the young soldier, I spot—oh my—is that a baby eagle head I see popping out of his hair?
The scraggly-looking bird has an electric aura, like that of a Mage or Dragon Lord.
Such a powerful aura suggests the animal is no ordinary species. The baby eagle has to be a Sprite Ally!
Some mortals are lucky enough to bond to animals who are Sprites in animal form. They are extremely rare.
My gosh, Princess Summer knows everyone, doesn’t she? She’s so popular!
I finally pace forward and walk into the crowd to catch up to Summer, Dane, and Aneurin, who stop by the table with all the food.
They start plating up with their choices while Dane keeps Summer in his line of sight.
They are so protective of her; I think it’s very romantic!
Ah, romance…
I follow close behind, my stomach clenching as my thoughts turn darker.
The Lost Horde hasn’t arrived yet, but I assumed they’d already be here.
In the meantime, I’ll be thoroughly preoccupied in fourth wheeling with my friends while I patiently await Storm’s arrival and his imminent humiliation.
I can’t wait to reject him and make him feel the pain I’ve felt.
I am not hungry as I follow Summer, Dane, and Aneurin to the top throne table, where Alexa and Colton, the new king and queen, welcome us and usher Summer closer.
I end up sitting in the corner between Dane and Aneurin as they readily eat all the meat they piled onto their plates.
“At least these mice know how to cook,” Dane growls as he tears into a steak, his blue-green eyes sparkling in appreciation of the meat.
“Aye, the little monkeys did well for this feast.” Aneurin picks up a wine glass and clinks it to Dane’s.
They chuckle as brothers and Dragons, filling up on their wine and clinking the brass jugs down onto the table at the same time when they’re done.
My eyes scan the crowd of mortals, and there is still no sign of the Lost Horde just yet. The sun has just set, so they can arrive at any moment from this point onward.
“How do you feel about your mate making an alliance with us?” Dane growls to me, curious about my thoughts. “You never told me what our answer should be, in your opinion.”
“I simply wish to introduce you, and then I will leave it up to both of you to decide,” I say plainly, and Aneurin offers me a chicken drumstick.
“Silver, we will assess his worth as an ally and his tendency to loyalty,” Aneurin adds happily and is disappointed when I refuse to take the drumstick.
“I have no appetite.” I shrug and nearly jump when Dane slams his fork down into the table and causes a crack in the wood.
“No food, no desire to speak openly, and carefully guarded secrets for weeks since your return… Did your mate really treat you like dirt? Do we have to teach him a lesson in respect?”
“He is not worth the breath from your lungs,” I answer quietly. “He is a seven-hundred-year-old brute…”
I trail off as I see a collective mirage around the room. Silver movements in the air with the arrival of more beings…
This is it.
“And you are mere babes, compared to me.” I still in fright as I feel a tickle on the top of my hair, and I hear the familiar growl and controlled tone right behind us.
I spin to see Storm placing a hand on both Dane’s and Aneurin’s shoulders.
Storm then steps back as Dane and Aneurin quickly rise from their chairs to face the wild-haired, untamed beast.
I also decide to stand and face Storm, brave enough to do so with my friends beside me.
But before I can glance over the same gray leather pants, gray coat, and the familiar broken fire leaking from Storm’s cheek, there is a sudden silence behind me.
I glance over my shoulder and see the room consumed by shock at the appearance of the thirteen tall silver-headed monsters, all in human form, spread out over the area of the feast, inspecting artworks, the music, and the food.
“Shadow Assassins,” some kid whispers, but the assumption is incorrect.
“No.” Storm puts up his hand, and his strong voice carries through the hall.
“We are here to celebrate; don’t stop on our behalf. We mean no harm and have paid good gold to stay the night. Enjoy the food and dancing, and find willing women to warm your beds…
“It’s going to be a long feast.” Storm’s eyes take in the room, his tone managing to calm the terrified mortals.
Normalcy and chatter soon fill the air while Storm locks his burned-golden gaze with mine. I hold his gaze without so much as blinking, while my gut twists with a tiny shred of anxiety.
His aura is controlled and only slightly on the verge of rage.
He is here to do business; he is not interested in me.
