Chapter 2: A Week till Winsol

Chapter 2: A Week till Winsol

Lizaveta

Lizaveta dressed excitedly, causing her ladies-in-waiting to sigh and huff, scolding her sometimes about her fidgeting. But a saving grace had come to Hayll.

Over the past few days, Lizaveta had been shadowed by Andulvar with Luther accompanying them every once in a while. She had spent time with Stephan, finding him charming and nice enough, but still a Warlord in a prominent court.

Now her moon's blood was over and the males around her began to relax, and now, Jaenelle was at court.

Which meant, of course, that Uncle Daemon and Uncle Lucivar would be attending as well.

When Lizaveta was finally dressed, she bolted from her room, running into Angeline in her reception room. As an Eyrien, she had the dark skin and golden eyes, but she held a lot of power in how she held herself. Lizaveta knew Angeline could handle any weapon her father put into her hands, and she was also a capable Priestess, but there was also something sharper under her skin, something that radiated out of the Blood Opal the Eyrien wore.

"Are you ready to go?" Angeline asked. Lizaveta nodded and smiled when Angeline advanced.

"The lets go." She said.

The receiving room for Jaenelle's quarters were large, and made it seem as though they had stepped into a one story house. A door to the left opened into a study while on the right, an open arch lead into a small kitchen and dining area. Toward the back would be the antechamber before the bedroom that would have doors branching into the Consort's room, a modest bathroom, and the servants' room, and that held a back way to the kitchen. There were three "rooms" situated like this for Jaenelle and her family, kept especially so within the castle. They were the only ones to use this part of the housing wing and it was jokingly called SaDiablo Hall.

Lizaveta had been through these rooms many times when Lucivar and Marian had been visiting their children and felt at ease with her surroundings. She was not, however, prepared for the strange man sitting on one of the couches in the receiving room. His hair was long and had a warm, golden brown color. His skin was like rich honey and his eyes, eyes that should have held the amber eyes of the long-lived races, were silver. Those eyes had passed over Angeline and Andulvar easily enough, while pausing to take in Luther with his wife Meredith under his arm. He seemed more intent when Alyxandria had trailed in, looking around curiously. But when she had entered, the man had honed in on her and wouldn't stop staring. She tried to distract herself by greeting the members of her extended family.

"So your mother isn't here?" She heard Daemon asked Luther. Her brother shook his head and looked at Meredith, smiling warmly.

"No, she leaves the children with us when she has to go back for Winsol in Dena Nehele." Her brother remarked. Lizaveta stomped over and jabbed her brother sharply. When he yelped and turned to her she cocked an eyebrow.

"Children?" She repeated. She was twenty-four to Luther's twenty-five and Alyxandria was almost twenty. Luther laughed and patted Lizaveta's shoulder.

"You know what I meant." He chuckled. Lizaveta rolled her eyes and turned to Daemon.

"Hello Uncle." She greeted.

"Lizaveta, how pleased I am to see you again." Daemon said and embraced her. When he released her, Lizaveta noticed that Jaenelle had walked up, bring over that man.

"Lizaveta, I wanted to introduce you to somebody." Jaenelle said. The man stepped up as Daemon backed away, leaving the pair in a small space alone.

"My name is Rhys Genua." The man said, his silver eyes glittering in anticipation.

"Lizaveta Ardelia." Lizaveta replied. It seemed like Rhys was twitching under his skin and Lizaveta eyed him warily. She opened her mouth to ask him about it when he pounced on her. He heard male voices shouting and a midnight voice calling them off, but all she could see was Rhys. He was on her, his arms wrapped around her under her breasts, pulling her toward him. She put her hands up so they were resting on his chest and she felt the wild flight of his heart. And then his mouth was on hers, and the sheer need he had rushed from him and into her. She felt her blood sing back to that need.

And then he was suddenly gone.

Lizaveta opened her eyes, feeling her lips swell a little from the kiss, and looked at the people before her. Lucivar and Andulvar each had one of Rhys' arms and were snarling at him. Rhys only strained forward, a hungry look in his eyes.

"My Queen." Rhys called pathetically. Lizaveta put a hand to her lips as the shock waved through her. She was tense and jumped when Angeline put a hand on her shoulder.

"Who is he?" Luther demanded, turning to Daemon.

"He is a Warlord Prince who has just found his Queen and you will put. Him. Down." Heat radiated from each word as Jaenelle, furious, stepped up to Lucivar.

"Cat, he attacked her." Lucivar exclaimed.

"He didn't attack me Uncle, he kissed me." Lizaveta countered. Lucivar and Andulvar snarled in unison. Jaenelle snarled back. The men dropped Rhys, who tried to rush past Jaenelle, but she put a hand on his chest and he halted, his eyes still shining. Lizaveta walked forward but was stopped by Angeline.

"We're we like this?" Jaenelle asked, turning to face Daemon. He smiled and shook his head.

"I wish." He replied.

"Who is he?" Lizaveta asked, repeating Luther's question.

"I am no one, my Lady." He said dejectedly, his arms hanging limply at his sides.

"I know this is a lot to ask, but Gwen has asked us to join her for dinner and I think we need the time to mull over these, interesting introductions." Jaenelle said, and while the others agreed, Lizaveta felt a pain deep in her chest over not being able to spend the time with Rhys.

"Fine." She muttered and was escorted out by Angeline.

Although Lizaveta had expected differently, she was glad to be seated in the main dining hall for dinner. Gwen had not yet arrived, but her husband and Consort, Tristan, sat next to his young daughter Jeanine, feeding her little bites from her plate. Gregory wasn't to be found in the hall, but the other members that made up the First Circle and their respective Consorts or wives were already seated, casual conversation filling the time before the actual meal.

"Well, let's sit down." Jaenelle said and walk toward the massive table. She sat down with Daemon on her left, putting him in between the court and the rest of the family. Lucivar flanked her, followed by Marian and their children, Daemonar, Angeline, and Andulvar. Luther walked easily to sit across from Angeline, with Rhys on his left and Meredith on his right. Alyxandria sat next to their sister-in-law, which left the foot of the table to Lizaveta. She sat nervously, looking at Rhys on her right and Andulvar on her left, this was more foreboding than if she had looked into a web. Lizaveta closed her eyes for a moment to steady her breathing, this didn't mean anything. Her reaction to Rhys was only a reaction to someone so exotic, someone foreign with a straightforwardness she wasn't used to. Opening her eyes, she saw Rhys looking intently at her, worried by her anxious scent. She looked away quickly.

She would not be ruled by fate.

"Sorry I'm late everyone, my meeting lasted longer than I thought." The voice that wafted through the room was breezy and warm. Lizaveta looked up to see the Hayllian Queen Gwen step into the dining hall followed by her son. Everyone in the room stood as Gwen walked around and took her seat at the head of the table, gesturing the others to sit as Gregory took his place.

"Jaenelle, I am so very happy to see you again." Gwen said, taking the linen napkin from the table and draping it in her lap. Others followed suit and the staff began moving around the table with platters to serve the guests.

"I apologize for dropping in on you unexpectedly Gwen, thank you so much for accommodating us." Jaenelle replied, her voice strong. Although her words were subordinate, her tone implied a much higher power. Everyone at the table knew who the bigger Queen was.

"Think nothing of it Sister. Now, let's eat, we can discuss business afterward." Gwen replied just as the platters were unveiled. It was a modest spread, nothing surprised Lizaveta compared to the meals she had been eating at the court this entire time, and this pleased Lizaveta. Gwen did not try to flatter Jaenelle by making herself seem more, extravagant.

"So Lady Ardelia, I've heard that you've been spending some time with Lord Tremont. Is he going to escort you to the Winsol Ball this year?" Gwen asked suddenly. Lizaveta looked up, startled, but was relieved to find no maliciousness in the woman's face. She seemed like she was dabbling in harmless gossip.

"Well, I," Lizaveta faltered as her gaze strayed to Rhys, who looked angry for some reason. "I haven't even begun to think about it Lady."

"I'd be more than happy to take you Lizaveta." Gregory spoke up from his seat. Lizaveta flushed furiously and she heard Lucivar cough to cover his laughter while Daemon just made a noise of amusement.

"The Lady has a week to decide." Lizaveta looked up in surprise, Rhys' voice was collected but there was no mistaking that chill. She looked to her brother, feeling a hard knot being to form in her stomach.

"Why does it feel like I've stumbled into the arena?" Lizaveta quipped nervously. Gwen laughed, changing the topic of conversation and the mood.

Lizaveta shivered as she felt a whisper of a voice before the light brush against her inner barriers.

You will not actually honor any of these males with you presence to this Ball? Lizaveta didn't have to look to know that it was Rhys who sent the message on the Black thread. She was caught off guard by the knowledge of his Jewel, one he had hidden well, but kept herself engaged in the conversation at the table. She had practiced this early on in her childhood, maintaining polite conversation while mentally preparing something with allies.

I can hear you as well, just to let you know. Daemon's voice slid along the thread, sinking into Lizaveta's core. She didn't reply to him and only felt the agitated snarl Rhys loosed.

I don't even know who you are. Lizaveta finally snapped when she felt Rhys waiting for an answer. She closed her barriers, throwing up a Black shield that would, technically, be useless against even one of the Black Jeweled Warlord Princes but they would take it as a sign to leave her alone.

Which, thankfully, they did.

What did I miss? Daemon got all snarly-quiet for some reason. Jaenelle sent her question along the Ebon-gray distaff thread for privacy. Although it had been three thousand years, Jaenelle was still figuring out Twilight's Dawn, or she had it figured out and kept everyone else in the dark. She didn't seem able to weild as much power as she used to, but could communicate on any of the threads. It was an oddity.

Nothing. Just that Rhys fellow is getting very possessive. Lizaveta replied. Jaenelle hesitated in their discussion to reply to Gwen. Lizaveta had lost interest in the topic as soon as Rhys growled at her.

He has seen you in a web. Jaenelle finally sent back and it was Lizaveta who paused. She took a bite of her food, something she had been served but had no idea what it was, and didn't care. She used her eating as a way to think and not have to pay attention.

If Rhys had been able to read a web, then that would mean he was a Black Widow. Which meant he was on the same power level as Daemon SaDiablo a Angelline, which was a terrifying thought.

Was it bad? Lizaveta questioned.

It could be. Was all Jaenelle answered with.

Lizaveta looked down at her plate, trying to keep herself from staring at Rhys. She felt, in the very core of her being, that if she got involved with him, she would be in a greater danger than she had thought.

Stephan

Stephan felt his heart skid to a stop when his partner mentioned the name of the ancient Witch. His hand froze in midair, the playing piece still clutched between his forefinger and thumb. He caught his pause and set the piece down, trying to sift through his whirlwind thoughts while keeping his façade of peacefulness.

"Supposedly, this Lizaveta Ardelia is practically one of the family. I saw her heading out into the gardens with Lucivar Yaslana after dinner." His partner said offhandedly to another man in the group.

"More like dragged. The Eyrien didn't seem happy." The other man laughed.

"Was Daemon with them?" Stephan asked, trying to keep only curiosity, and not panic, in his voice.

"Yeah, he was acting escort all night though. I have to say, the Lady Jaenelle is still one fit bird for being from Challiot and being over three thousand." The first man stated. Stephan nodded and then watched his opponent's move. Five moves ago, Stephan could have annihilated him, but had held his hand, not wanting to flaunt his true power to the other members of the court. He had been trained that way, to seem mild and demurring to lighter Jeweled Princes. A wild cat had their claws clipped at first outburst, but a tame one could hold on to his sheathes for years and could unleash them on those who grew soft and fat on complacency.

"Marked." Stephan said as he moved a piece closer to his opponent's Queen. He watched in smug satisfaction as his opponent was startled but quickly fell back into security. He moved his Queen, unaware of the noose tightening around her neck.

"What I want to know is what's going to happen to Ardelia after Winsol?" The second man inquired.

"Well, there's rumor that Gwen wants her to marry Gregory. She likes the girl enough and it'd be a good match." The first man replied. Stephan bit back his snarl and waited for his turn.

"I heard something a bit more interesting. You know that man Lady Jaenelle brought with her? Supposedly, he's a pleasure slave that she saved from some backwater territory and, even though he couldn't be changed, she was giving him to Ardelia so she'd be taken care of and he'd have a nicer mistress." The second man countered. Stephan clutched his Warlord so tightly, he began to feel the glass begin to crack under his hand. When the two men turned their attention to him, Stephan smiled and set the piece down in a different location than planned. His opponent smiled and attacked his Queen with a Warlord.

"And captured. Good game Tremont. Maybe one day you'll beat me." He said, beaming a large smile and holding out his hand. Stephan shook hands as the third man vanished the board.

"One of these days, I think I will." He replied.