FREYA
As soon as the girl was gone, Freya made her way to her motherâs room. Gwylan was wrapped up in new silk sheets, fast asleep with a frown creasing her face. In the past few months, her mother had sunken into herself. She was almost skin and bones now. Freya held her motherâs fragile hand, waiting for the guardsman who would be taking her to the Gathering.
Another young guard from the Albatross family arrived not long after. Freya was disappointed he wasnât as friendly as the man she had met the day before. She wondered if she would see him again. She hadnât gotten his name.
At least the flight was quick. They went straight up the side of the mountain to the palace at the top. He left her at the entrance where music could be heard streaming out.
The large archway was supposed to seem inviting. To Freya, it seemed more like the gaping maw of a creature ready to swallow her whole.
Not only was she the outcast of her people, but only recently she had been at the bottom of the social ladder. She was about to walk into the palace, and she still felt like a misfit, even if she was wearing a nice dress now.
Her hope was that the Council meeting would end soon, and her father would give her permission to leave. She didnât want things to be awkward if Aurik was here.
Inside the building, the light was too bright, and the music almost nauseatingly too loud. She was hit with the smells of a buffet of food at the opposite side of the massive ballroom, along with the scents of expensive perfumes. Colorful materials swirled around as dancing bodies crossed the floor. A wide range of wing variations caught her attention.
Freya felt the eyes dart in her direction. Each look of disgust and shock was a new stab to the gut despite telling herself she didnât care.
Gentlemen turned their ladies away from the sight of the one they surely saw as an intruder. The whispering seemed to grow louder than that of the music.
So these people were no more elevated than the people she knew. They were just as scared of her. Was it because her wings being gone meant that they could lose theirs? Sheâd never thought of it that way before now.
Freyaâs eyes were drawn up to the bright crystalline chandeliers as she tilted her head back to hold in the tears trying to break free. She knew she didnât belong here. This wasnât her place, and it would never be.
She hurried to a dark alcove at the far left of the ballroom, attempting to stick to the walls and avoid the mass of people. The lighting in this area was dim, and she attempted to keep her back to the wall.
A servant walked by with a tray of drinks, and she grabbed one. A bubbly liquid unlike anything sheâd tasted before passed her lips. She tossed it back, knowing the alcohol could help her mentally escape.
She didnât know how many of them sheâd guzzled before the large wooden doors on the opposite wall clanged open. There were too many dancing couples and moving bodies to see who had entered the hall of the party. She hoped it was a sign the Council meeting was at an end, and she could begin to look for her father.
âFreya, itâs good to see you again,â a familiar voice whispered into her ear.
Her cheeks were flushed and hot, and she knew somewhere in her mind that her face turned a shade of red.
It was Aurik. He stood close enough so she could feel the warmth radiating from his body. His hand was already on her hip, and she followed him in the direction of the others. She hadnât meant to say yes.
âWould you accompany me for a dance?â
She went along as they entered the dance floor. She knew there was no way she could deny her prince this request.
She felt awkward dancing, but she also felt grateful that Aurik was willing to stand by her side. The buzz from her drinks was beginning to fade as she saw the wide eyes looking in her direction. So much for staying hidden in her dark alcove.
Luckily, Lonan had taught his daughters how to dance. The steps came easily to Freya. Aurik easily led her through the dance with his arms wrapped tight around her. He had flown her through the air so many times before, but she knew this was different. This time it felt different to be in his arms. The way his golden eyes looked down into hers threw a shift in the air surrounding them.
The music seemed to fade away, and it felt as if it were just the two of them dancing together. The bodies swirling around them belonged to people who now didnât matter. Maybe the bubbly alcohol had affected Freya more than she had thought.
Aurik was smiling down at her, ignoring the looks coming his way as if to question his judgment or even his sanity.
He was holding Freya tight against his chest as they moved.
âI have to tell you something,â he said. âIâm sorry I couldnât come talk to you. Things have been happening.â
âAre they declaring war?â
He shook his head. âI canât tell you here.â
She felt something different about the way he was holding her now compared to all the times before. This wasnât some princely duty to make one of his people feel normal with an assisted soar through the air. There was a heavy emotion in his movements now. Freya knew Aurik was trying to convey something to her, dancing in public like this. But she wasnât in the right state of mind to comprehend what was happening.
The music came to a halt. The crowd had gathered near the buffet tables. All the servants were rushing out with new trays of drinks, making sure everyone had one.
She looked up at Aurikâs face, trying to make sense of what he was saying. Sheâd thought maybe he was already off preparing for battle, and thatâs why he hadnât come to see her. What else could be happening?
Aurik led Freya closer to the crowd of officials. They were wearing the symbol of Council members. Finally she saw her father among them. He looked so tall and handsome.
Lonanâs brown eyes widened in surprise when he saw Aurik. Of course, sheâd never told her father that she and Aurik had been talking. And maybe it was custom for the prince to help welcome newcomers. Still, her father looked like he had questions for her.
Behind the body of councilmembers, two figures seated themselves on the thrones on the platform at the back of the ballroom.
A giant man with golden wings seated himself comfortably and for the first time in her life Freya knew she was in the presence of her king, Hawke Aurelian. At his side his small Queen with dark blue wings nestled herself into her own throne.
The musicians played a fanfare to get the crowdâs attention so the royals could speak.