#Chapter 443- A Drink
“Please,” the shadow says, his voice awkward and apologetic.
I’m still rigid with fear when Conner storms out onto the balcony, his hand smacking the shadow-person in the chest, slamming him against the wall. ” Who the hell are you!?” Conner demands.
“Please!” the shadow says again, “I’m so sorry! I was just standing out here, also getting fresh air! This is a complete accident!”
And suddenly, the voice snaps into place in my memory. “Conner!” I call, Rafe fussing in my arms, not liking the sudden change in my energy and the fear spiking through me, though I’m calmer now. “Please – it’s the Atalaxian Prince. He is – I don’t believe he means us any harm.”
And even though something about that concept doesn’t match up – an Atalaxian? Not meaning us any harm? Especially after the meeting I just had with my uncle?
Still, somehow, I know the truth of it down in my bones. He doesn’t.
Conner glances at me and then backs up a little, removing his hand from the Prince’s chest. “Should I escort him out of here, Luna?”
“No,” I sigh, shaking my head. “Not unless he wants to go, of course. But the night air is for everyone. I can’t have it all to myself just because I’m the Queen.”
The prince looks between Conner and I for a moment, stepping further into the light so I can see his pale features and the details of his chic black suit. “I would…stay, for a moment, if that’s all right? Have a quiet word with you, so that we don’t leave this evening on bad terms?”
“That’s fine,” I say quietly, somehow a little pleased that he will stay. I’m still terribly curious about him, perhaps despite myself.
“Would you mind?” Conner says to the prince, his voice tight. “If I performed a body check? To ensure that you don’t have…”
“Be my guest,” the prince says, spreading his arms wide and allowing Calvin to pat down the sides of his body, and then his legs.
When Conner stands up and nods to me, his face quite serious, I nod back to him and give him a smile, grateful for his protection. “I’ll be just inside the door, Luna,” Conner says.
“Thank you,” I say, genuinely meaning it, hoping that he hears the sincerity in my voice. Conner nods again and steps to the door, standing with one foot in the ballroom and the other out on the balcony, a constant threat to Calvin should he make one wrong move.
“Protective of you,” Calvin says, glancing at Conner and taking a few steps closer to me not too close, but close enough to be conversational. “As he should be. Your men are loyal.”
“As loyal to me as I am to them,” I say with a little shrug, studying Calvin’s face carefully. As I do, I wonder a little how did he blend so seamlessly into the shadows? It’s not that dark out here was I just so distracted that I missed him?
Or is something else going on?
“Congratulations,” Calvins says, dipping into a little bow. “The ceremony today was very moving, as was the vote. It is inspiring to see how much your people support you – the wolves and the humans both.”
“Is it?” I ask, turning my head a little. “Do you…not get this kind of support from your own people?”
“I’m afraid it’s not a question we ask them,” he says, his voice a little chagrined. “My father’s policy is instead to…tell the people how they feel about the royal family. And then punish them if they show any evidence to the contrary.”
I raise my eyebrows, genuinely surprised that he’s being so candid with me.
“I can’t say that I think this policy is wise,” I murmur, wanting to shout from the rooftop that his father is a tyrant, but working very, very hard to be a diplomatic Queen.
“You can be harsher than that if you wish, Queen,” Calvin says, smirking a little as he takes a step closer at me and studies my face for a moment before dropping his gaze to Rafe in my arms. ” I certainly won’t tell anyone.” He’s quiet for a moment and I adjust the baby so he can see my son better.
A smile comes to Calvin’s face. “Your son is a very handsome boy,” he says, smiling at Rafe. “I’m sure he’ll grow to be a strong King, like his father.”
“Thank you,” I say quietly, looking proudly down at Rafe myself. Then I look up at Calvin, curious. He’s young, I think my own age – certainly younger than Sinclair – but, well, I’m a parent, aren’t I?
“Do you have children of your own, Calvin?” I ask.
I find myself surprised when he nods and smiles, bringing his gaze up to mine. “Two,” he says, his smile growing as he thinks of them. “My Luna gave birth to our son just a few months ago – he’s just barely older than this one here.”
I grin broadly at him, liking him even more now that I know he’s a father. There’s something about that – the alliance between parents who love their children. And damn it, even if I was determined to hate the Atalaxians… well, I can’t hate all of them now, can I?
Which, I suppose, is perhaps what this prince wanted.
But something about what he said…I turn my head a little, curious. Something about his words strikes me as…wrong. And I can’t put my finger on it just yet.
“And your other child?” I ask, curious.
“My daughter just turned three,” he replies, his smile increasing. “She is…well, she makes me laugh more than I thought anyone ever could. She’s a joy to me.”
“That’s wonderful,” I say quietly, smiling up at this man who is such a surprise. Because he seems – honestly, he seems like he could be a friend. ” Dominic and I hope to give Rafe a little sister at some point, to torture him a bit.”
Calvin laughs at this, shaking his head. “No, little girls are always a gift. I’m sure Rafe will treasure her.”
“Calvin,” I say softly, almost a sigh, taking another step closer and taking a risk, unable to hold back my words any more. “Considering your country’s policies on women and girls – you have to realize that what you’re saying comes as a surprise to me.”
He nods slowly, sighing a bit through his nose. “Well perhaps it is less of a surprise to you then,” he says softly, his words barely audible as he glances towards the door. “That the father of a very beloved daughter might want a stronger alliance with a nation that feels very differently about girls and their futures.”
I look up at him and see true honesty in his eyes, and I’m struck and moved by it. I open my mouth to make him that promise of friendship on the spot when suddenly I realize…
That while Calvin has mentioned twice how much he loves his daughter and wants more for her…he didn’t include her mother in that sentiment. And when he mentioned her before, he referred to her not as his “mate,” but has his “Luna.”
I frown now, confused, staring up at him.
“What?” Calvin asks, taking another step towards me, concerned I think to see my concern. He reaches out a hand, I think instinctually, seeking to press it against my own arm to help where he can-
And as he leans closer, suddenly his scent hits me in a wave-
My eyes go wide as I breathe in the crisp winter scent of him – starlight on snow, and frost, and bergamot – my nose even tingles the way it does when I sense snow in the air –
And – something moves within me I don’t know what, because it’s not…it’s not big enough to be truly real, but it is something that feels remarkably like
Like…a bond.
A bond, between me and this strange prince.
And as I step away from him the prince’s eyes go wide as he senses it too.
