CHAPTER 68

The weeks passed quickly.Rune brought Faye four candidates to choose from who would serve as a healer for her village. It surprised her that he was able to find day-bloods willing to work with Anarians.

He explained the position was within his court, and they would be paid a salary to care for her village. Faye didn't understand it entirely but was grateful her village wouldn't need to scrape and save to have medicinal care.

She began leaving the door open between their rooms, inviting Rune's company during the day. At night she joined him in his bed and was met with either pale blue eyes, or Voshki's dark misted gaze. They talked into the night some nights, others she writhed beneath him, screaming her pleasure. At the end of each evening, she slept curled against him, cherished in his arms.

Faye stood in front of her mirror, studying her reflection. The illusion of what she would have been if she'd been court-born staring back at her.

Rune had been right. When she slipped the sheer dress on it wasn't see-through. It didn't look like a gown a vampire would pick out, the intricate jeweled choker covered most of her neck. She smiled. Or maybe that was the point, Rune didn't want his eyeliner showing at the wedding.

She swayed her hips, the skirt sweeping with her movements. It was beautiful. The gems sewn into it making it appear as though she was stepping out of the Darkness itself as it coiled at her feet.

Her glossy black hair was pulled into a high ponytail and Sparrow helped her with her make-up. Faye didn't recognize the lined, smokey eyes and plum-colored lips that stared back at her. From her face to her satin heels, nothing about her was her. Faye caught Rune's reflection in the mirror. He came to stand behind her, gazing at her, thunderstruck.

He leaned closer, not touching her as he rasped at her ear, "You leave me without words."

He affected her, striking right to the core of her being. She only wished he would look at her this way when she was herself. She buried the thought behind a smile and slipped her hand into the crook of his arm. They were going to a fancy event. Of course, he would think she was pretty in formal dress.

It didn't mean he wished she was a true court born dark-blood.

They walked together to the great room where Vashien and Sparrow stood, waiting for them. Her sister was breathtaking in her strapless red dress.

Sparrow shrieked when she caught sight of her. "How the fuck did you get her to wear that?" She asked, taking Faye's hands and stealing her from Rune. "Darkness, this dress. Look at you, showing side boob." She turned to Rune. "I could never get her to do that. Good job."

"You look beautiful." Vashien smiled, warmly as Sparrow returned to him.

Rune slipped his hand over Faye's lower back, and she leaned into him.

"Shall we be off?" He asked.

No.Faye glanced down at her bare index finger before dropping her hand and straightened her back. She nodded, dreading the fact she was about to be surrounded by dark-bloods from courts and noble families. Everything she spent her life avoiding.

Rune explained, when they arrived at the Artithian palace they would walk together down the great hall and present their gift to the newly married couple. It sounded simple but set her teeth on edge.

Their surroundings faded and refocused much brighter. Faye shielded her eyes as they adjusted. They stood outside on a stone landing with Sparrow swearing under her breath behind her.

Faye hardly registered the dozens of people bustling about by the palace walls that towered above them. It gleamed in whites and golds, with tall arching windows and shining points.

Hulking armored men with white feathered wings stood at the edges. A pair of them holding open huge double doors.

"Vsenia," Rune smiled down at her, offering his arm.

She walked beside Rune, startled as the crowd parted for him. Faye's heart thundered. All the dark-bloods were staring at them and she stiffened under their gaze. Rune seemed unphased by the attention, strolling to the double doors, ignoring the stares and whispers completely.

Sadi and Damian approached them, adding to the whispering murmurs.

"You look like you belong here, dove," Damian said, regarding her with a feline grin. His arm around Sadi's waist.

Faye smiled at him as she glanced over the crowd. The women dressed in gowns like hers, sheer, skintight, and revealing. Damian and Sadi's attire didn't hold to the formal dress. Damian wore low slung black leather pants with his boots. The deep purple trench he wore accented with a black scarf looped around his neck, resting against his bare chest.

Sadi wore an embroidered corset over a white low-cut shirt with billowing sleeves that barely covered her high breasts. Her black skirt was ruffled, cut nearly indecent in the front, angling to be longer in the back before falling into a small train. Her thigh high belted boots covering her exposed legs.

The Familiar pair strolled into the building in front of her and Rune.

He made eye contact with one of the guards and motioned to Vashien and Sparrow, and said, "Please escort my guests to my seating."

A look of confusion covered the man's features for a moment before he bowed his head, and said, "Of course, Shadow Prince."

Faye's breath caught as they crossed the threshold. The whites and golds continued into the gutted interior. The building was a massive hall, one room that stretched on for what she guessed would be a twenty-minute walk.

Overhead were grand, glittering chandeliers in matching rows. The arching ceilings stretched into a wide swath of intricate stained glass that made up the center of the roof. Light streamed through it lighting a walkway along the white marble floor through the center of the hall.

She walked with Rune down a few stairs to the lower level leading to the white marble floor, doing her best to ignore the dark-bloods surrounding her.

Faye glanced across the space. Rows of seating lined either side of the hall. They rose higher as it moved further back. Above the ground seating along each wall were carved pillars that separated what looked like three floors of box seats. The guests Faye spotted in these upper floors sat with glasses and other refreshments, having the entire box to themselves. Unlike the shoulder-to-shoulder ground seating.

The important dark-bloods, she mused as she stepped forward with Rune. Women in the crowd continued to examine her, looking her up and down before stopping on her bare index finger. Their eyes widened as they quickly turned back to their partners. Faye squeezed Rune's arm as she noticed other people staring and whispering to each other.

Names Faye didn't recognize were called and a pair of women began walking down the stained-glass path.

"Do I look okay?" Faye asked as they moved closer to the walkway.

Rune met her gaze, his look softening as he smiled at her. "You are stunning."

"Then why are they glaring at me?" Faye plastered on her fake smile and glanced out at the crowd.

"The Familiar Princess, Sadist Benevolence and Damian De Lor Meire." A brilliant light engulfed Damian, and reformed larger. Faye swore she heard her sister squeal in delight as she struggled to hide her shock at the massive black tiger with red stripes that now occupied the space beside Sadi.

In a sweeping move she tossed her ruffled skirt over Damian's back and sat, crossing her legs. Faye could only stare as Damian prowled down the stained-glass path.

Rune's hand settled over hers as they took another step forward.

The guard who announced the names inclined his head at her, and asked, "Your name, Lady?"

Faye glanced at Rune, and he gave her a gentle nod. Faye turned back answering, "Faye Alexander."

"The Shadow Prince, Rune Sacarlay, and Lady Faye Alexander."

Faye followed Rune's easy pace. An easy pressure brushed her mind, and Faye relaxed, letting him in.They stare because a woman has never accompanied me.

She kept her head forward.Ever? She asked in her mind, hoping Rune would hear her.

Small things I safeguarded to offer my queen. Things I now surrender to you.

Faye's heart tightened. He was choosing her, in front of all the realms. She wanted to hug him, but it was impossible here. She tilted her head to watch the colored hues light his features as they walked. He was so beautiful and held himself alone for so long. Faye tightened her hold on the inside of his arm.

This could work. She could fit into his world, and he would help with hers. She could be happy, have a family.

Faye glanced up at him again, finally able to admit to herself she was falling for this man.

They followed behind Sadi and Faye watched the rhythmic sway of Damian's tail as they walked. A pair of smaller thrones at the end of the walkway came into view. Stairs rose behind them to the king and queen of Artithia, Jha'ant and Sabadoc. The bride and groom sat in smaller versions of the elaborate thrones, dressed in flowing white and gold robes.

Rune stopped at the end of the stained-glass path and inclined his head. "We offer our blessing."

Faye held her face neutral as an intricate gold box appeared before the bride. She took the box and inclined her head at Rune

"We thank you, Shadow Prince." The princess turned to Faye and inclined her head with a genuine smile. "Lady Faye."