CHAPTER 80
The great room transformed before Faye's eyes as Frances phased away. His tables and rows of jewelry vanished with him. An elegant dark wood dining table appeared near the far wall between the grand staircases.
Damian snaked his arm around Sadi's waist as they strolled to their seats. He turned back to Faye, his movements lazy and arrogant. "You've stolen the High Queen's consort and most of what remained of her—" He sucked a breath when Sadi elbowed him in the ribs.
Damian threaded his fingers through her thick black hair and pressed a rough kiss to her temple. "Playing a bit rough, kitten."
Rune fell into step beside Faye, replying, "We have five members. If you are concerned for Lyssa, you are welcome to remain with her."
Damian pulled Sadi's chair out, letting her take her seat. He smirked at Faye as he took his own, holding her gaze across the table. Gaging the queen of the court, he would soon join.
Faye smiled and glanced up at Rune, brushing her hand over the side of his throat. Turning back to Damian, she said, "I can't steal what belongs to me."
The Familiar's metallic silver eyes gleamed. He turned to Sadi with a broad smile. "Bit of spine in this one. I like her."
Sparrow snorted. "I can pull a bit of your spine out if you keep talking shit."
His smile shifted into a smirk. "You, I already like it."
An array of dishes appeared on the table, and Faye's mouth watered over the spread. Rune poured her tea, then a glass of crimson wine for himself.
Faye glanced over her strange group as dishes passed between them. People who would soon make up her court, Faye realized.
"You two birds need to train. Be able to defend yourselves when your court is tested." Damian glanced between Faye and Sparrow. "At the very least, learn to shield until he can get to you." He gestured to Rune with his knife. "I would say dawn in the courtyard, but the sky here doesn't move."
Faye fought the urge to roll her eyes. They wouldn't be tested. Their court wasn't going to war. She only wanted to protect her people from those who would mistreat them.
Faye took the plate Sparrow handed her, selecting a few cuts of herb crusted chicken. "Vash can show us what we need."
Damian scoffed. "When was the last time you trained?"
"It's been some time." Vashien angled his wing past Sparrow and thumped Faye's back. "You're about to have the darkest court in recent history. You'll need to train."
Faye glanced over her sister's head at Vashien. With a sigh she raised her brow, her expression saying,Do I have to?
Vashien nodded.
"So, dove." Damian's voice called her attention. He pointed at Rune when she glanced his way. "Learn your shielding from him. Your combat from me." He gave the Shadow Prince an appraising glance. "I've never tangled with Pure Blood. Care for a dance?"
Sadi laughed, her fingers clasping under Damian's jaw, squeezing either side of his mouth. "He would kill you with half a thought." She kissed him, going back to her meal.
"What makes you so special?" Sparrow asked, pouring a shot of whiskey.
Damian flashed her a feral grin. "I'm from the Order, dove. Took twenty generations to get to the likes of me."
Sparrow's shoulders sagged. "That's how you got to be a tiger."
Damian nodded. "The Order assigns us to wealthy nobles usually. We serve as bodyguards and bed warmers."
Her sister snickered, "Are you assigned to Sadist?"
Faye nearly choked as Sadi arched a brow, glaring at her sister as Damian laughed. "No, I parted ways with the Order. Artistic differences."
"My visions led me to him." Sadi blinked, Sparrow's words forgotten as she gazed up at her mate. She purred, "I need him to survive what's coming."
Faye exchanged a glance with Rune, before asking, "What's coming?"
Sadi turned toward her startled. Her gaze took them in as though she'd forgotten she was sharing an evening meal with them.
The twin Faye never wanted to study her before uttering a single word.
"Death."
A chill slipped down Faye's spine. Familiarity could see the future, and Sadi saw death on the horizon. Before she could ask who's, Damian pointed the tip of his knife at Rune. "These two look similar enough. Glamor her eyes and let my sweet kitten take care of big brother Alister."
"We don't want to kill him," Faye said. Alister was immortal. He'd recover from his injuries if his head remained on his shoulders, but Faye was too strong. She worried if she used magic against him, she would channel too much power through him and break his shard.
Rune's brother lost enough; she wouldn't take more.
"It's not to the death, dove. He just needs to yield or lose consciousness," Damian explained.
Sadi stabbed a cut of meat, lifting the skewer at the end of her knife. "Alister is dangerous."
Sparrow snorted. "He's a day-blood."
"That day-blood has more dark blood on his hands than you have in your entire body." Sadi's midnight gaze met Faye's. The rage flickering in their depths, unsettled her. "Rune saved you that night, and you abandoned him. Over words."
The table fell silent, everyone tensing as Sadi held Faye's gaze in challenge. A dare to deny her accusation. Anger flushed Faye's cheeks, her power climbing with the emotion.
"Enough." Rune broke the silence, his deep voice taking a hard edge.
"No. She wants a court." To Faye, Sadi hissed, "Understand this. You either have blood on your hands, or you are the blood on someone else's. Those who are clean are untested, young, or cowards."
Faye's back went rigid. She would crush this dark-blooded way of thinking. Beginning with her court. "If you believe mercy and compassion are weaknesses, you're the coward."
"Words of the young and untested." Sadi looked her up and down, then licked her knife.
The casual way she spoke, so certain she was right, scraped Faye's long-standing hatred for dark-bloods. Their arrogance.
"Why are you joining our court?" Sparrow shrugged off Vashien's hand when he tried to quiet her. Licking her teeth, the petite blonde glared. Propping her elbow on the table and opening her hand, silently demanding a reply.
Sadi's power curled within her in response, rising. Without thinking, a flicker of Faye's dark power swept through the Familiar. Faye wouldn't allow her to wield her strength at her sister. Her magic enveloped Sadi's, choking it, forbidding the Familiar access to her reserve.
Sadi's attention snapped to Faye, her teeth bared. "How are you doing that?"
A tendril of power wove itself up Faye's, blending into her own. It climbed steadily as Faye tried and failed to stop its ascent. It reared back just before touching her mind, and claws sliced through her connection, severing her hold on the Familiar's power.
"How did you do that?" Faye leveled her gaze at Sadi.
Sparrow leaned forward, her gaze flicking from Sadi to Faye. "Do what? What are you two doing?"
Sadi glanced down at her meal, stabbing another cut of meat. "Do you feel the depth of their power?"
Faye nodded.
"It seems you have Familiar magic." Sadi bit the cut of beef off her knife tip. "Teaching you will be interesting if you survive Alister."
Memories of his sword at her throat spoiled Faye's appetite. She rested her hand on Rune's thigh, the simple touch comforting her. His hand covered hers, his fingers curling around her palm.
She would need to train to stand a chance against Alister. She met Damian's gaze. "Can we start tomorrow?"
He lifted his brow in agreement as he finished his wine.
Dinner remained tense but uneventful for the rest of the evening. Rune rose with Faye as the others paired off, retiring for the evening.
Faye entwined her fingers with his as they made their way to their rooms.
"You will need to learn to shield yourself if you intend to train with Damian."
Faye smiled up at him. "Are you going to wake up early to teach me?"
He lifted her hand to his mouth, his lips meting the back of it. "Shielding is simple. I can show you before we retire for the night."
She followed him into his room.Our room.Faye smiled at the thought. Rune sat at the end of the large bed, guiding her to stand between his legs. He leaned forward, so close she felt his breath on the hollow of her collar bone. He glanced up at her, waiting.
"We're together. You're allowed to touch me."
His blue eyes glinted as he smiled. "You will have to forgive me. I am old fashioned."
"Aren't you supposed to listen to your queen?" Even with her teasing tone, she stumbled over the title. Wondered if she'd ever get used to it.
Rune wrapped his arms around her pulling her closer and kissed the bottom of her throat. "It feels strange, touching you without invitation." His lips grazed along her neck as he spoke.