Chapter 24

When I woke, I remembered dreaming of Ronan. I frowned as I blinked away the images, brows creasing, part of me still in the dream, fiery hot hands tracing circles up my...

I rolled over, squeezing my eyes shut.

Now was not the time to start getting the hots for my Faerie husband.

Eaven returned to retrieve me from my room. Silver chains decorated her antlers, tinking like bells as she walked. Her pale eyes nearly glowed against the silvery grey dress she wore. It had long billowing sleeves and a train that followed her as she glided through the halls.

She took her time fussing over me, dressing me in the outfit she had selected, and tending to my hair. Like a child, she was more than eager to dress me up and show me off.

I was no faerie or high goblin, but with all of Eaven's efforts, I couldn't shake the strange wildness that had somehow caught in my eyes. Silver paint shimmered against my skin in swirling patterns. Small white flowers and purple butterflies were woven into my hair, which she had twisted and braided up off my face. My eyes widened as I had looked into the icy vanity mirror.

Something was different, but I couldn't place my finger on it.

Once we were ready, we departed for the dining room. More of the small, glowing orbs of light floated all around it. They careened through the air, a few of them hovering closer to me, inspecting the new intruder. If I squinted, I could see small pixies within them. I waved my hand to fend them off.

"They won't harm." Eaven was closer than I had expected. "They just want to look at your pretty mortal face."

I looked from the lights to Eaven. She had managed to turn a compliment into something that sounded darkly threatening. The goblin smiled at me. I wished she wouldn't.

"I'm sure they have plenty else to look at, living in Faerie." I replied with a small smile as we walked into the room. In the clothes that Eaven dressed me in and my skin cleaned from the bath, I felt the most refreshed I had felt in days. Part of me could almost forget that I was captive to a terrifying and mysterious Night fae now stuck in a wintry High Goblin court.

Almost.

A long table made of clear translucent ice sat in the middle of the room. It reached from the door we stood at nearly through to the other side. The four chairs gathered all to one end appeared almost comical. It looked more fit to feed a hundred guests than just a small few.

Especially with all of the food that lay upon it.

Plates upon plates were heaped with food. Aromas of every kind floated to me, each more intoxicating than the last. A roast spiced to perfection. Vegetables of every variety buttered and herbed. Fruits stacked high in colorful assortments. Sweets and pastries of every flavor. I had not realized I was hungry until I felt saliva pooling in my mouth.

"Have a seat. Brother and Fire Bastard are coming soon."

That name again. I felt myself bristle at it, even though the insult was directed at Ronan, for some reason it made fire bite at my tongue. Like I wanted to actually defend him. I resisted the impulse, and I sat in the chair Eaven indicated, settling myself right in front of a plate filled with what I hoped was turkey legs. They looked like turkey, but the meat was a bit darker. It smelled delightful, whatever it was.

The door on the other side of the table swung open, revealing Ronan. His hair was damp, and he was wearing a new tunic, this one much nicer than any I had seen on him before. The fabric was a deep red silk, with golden embroidery along the cuffs and collar. It made the red of his irises stand out and highlighted the crimson strands of his dark hair. His skin, which had always appeared dark, was now a few shades lighter, glistening golden.

He was like a flame amidst the cool grey ice of the goblin castle. It was no surprise he did not get along with its inhabitants. Even their home didn't seem to like him.

Behind Ronan walked a scowling Theodan. His pale features were dark, and there was a sense of impatience to him. Like he wanted this all to be done and over with as soon as possible. He wore long robes of silver and blue silk set over a fine white dress shirt loose at his chest, revealing his pale skin underneath.

They were both undeniably attractive, but it was Ronan I found my eyes following as he came to the table. I didn't miss how his gaze had honed on me as well, fixing on me a few heartbeats longer than usual.

They seated themselves, Theodan next to his sister at the head of the table, and Ronan next to me. The tension in the room had magnified two-fold with both of the males arriving. I was quite relieved when I spied a pitcher in front of Eaven.

Wine?

Oh thank God, may this ass-backward world have mercy on me. I could finally have a drink.

I reached out while the three other fae silently regarded each other, making no move to start on the glorious feast in front of them. My muscles still ached, and my head felt full of fuzz. Wine may not be the best solution right now, but I didn't see anything better.

Ronan saw me move and his hand gripped mine before it could grasp the pitcher. I stared down at his black-tipped claws on my brown skin.

"You might have managed faerie wine before the Hunt, but I do not think your body could handle it now, Heather."

I glared at him, and Eaven giggled. "Look, brother. He treats pet like he cares."

Theodan grunted his response without even looking up. I felt my appetite dwindle. Of course, they would have faerie wine. I glanced around at all the food. Likely faerie food too.

Ronan, pleased that I had decided to forgo the wine, started to load his plate up. He grabbed a raw looking slab of meat and one of the legs that sat in front of me, along with an array of other hunks of animal flesh that decorated the table.

This spurred on Eaven and Theodan, who followed suit. Though, they seemed to prefer a more vegetarian assortment. Eaven, in particular, filled her plate with fruits and sweets; as if she planned to start with dessert instead of dinner. Theodan opted for a salad, the number of greens on his plate making up for the lack on Ronan's and Eaven's.

Feeling uneasy, I used a fork to prod one of the pieces of carrots on a dish near me. When it remained orange and didn't turn to something potentially fatal, I tentatively spooned them onto my plate. They were glazed in sugar and smelled faintly of cinnamon.

Eaven didn't miss my hesitation and lowered her voice; like it somehow would not be overheard by the two males at the table.

"No worry, Heather. Food is not glamoured. We do not like eating rocks and bugs. Bad for teeth." She grinned, revealing her sharp teeth for emphasis, and I smiled weakly back.

"Great."

"I see you did well at the Hunt. I must say, I was surprised you joined." Theodan's tone carried an air of disdain as he addressed Ronan, looking at me with curled lips. I got the sense he didn't much care for the idea of the Hunt—or a human wife, for that matter.

Ronan made a show of biting into his leg of meat, exposing his long fangs while Theodan awaited his response.

Theodan cleared his throat while Ronan made sure he got every morsel of meat off the bone, gnawing on the thick gristle. I found myself arching one of my brows, watching him. He sure had turned up the caveman act a few notches.

Ronan put down his cleaned off bone and made to cut a big slab out of his steak.

"You could say it went well," Ronan replied, finally, now that he had devoured half his plate.

Theodan straightened, lifting a forkful of greens to his thin lips. "I heard the Day Prince was there as well. Did you see him at all?"

I noticed Eaven's grin falter, and she looked sharply over at her brother.

"Yes," Ronan replied rudely through a mouthful of meat.

Theodan pursed his lips. "Well?"

This time Ronan finished chewing. He swallowed and grabbed one of the silky napkins to clean off the hunks of meat in his claws. His eyes glinted with something so unquestionably fae, I was surprised it was the first time I had seen him with such an expression. The features of his face were sharper, and though his body held in a relaxed position, it was taunt and ready for what was to come. Like what he was going to say next was going to set things off, and he couldn't wait for it.

"I saw him, yes. When I stabbed him through the stomach and took the mortal woman he had been about to claim for myself." Ronan's lips widened in a grin that made the blood curdle in my veins.

All eyes in the room turned to me.