The dinner is delicious, the drinks aplenty, and everyone has their guards down for once and are centered in peace.
There’s a serenity to this moment, seated amongst Caz’s family and friends. I met Veno’s wife, Tallulah, who is a beautiful woman and the complete opposite of Veno. Where he’s serious and alert, Tallulah is playful and giggly. I’ve not met Lew before tonight, but when he came in, he couldn’t stop staring at me. Not in a disturbing way, but more like he was trying to understand me and how I’d gotten with Caz. Simpson and Paulina did the same, but more in awe. They’re very nice, but they have a look to them—one bred from roughness and difficult times. I get the sense that they’re two people you should not mess with. Simpson is tall and lean, a light-skinned brown man with a great smile. And Paulina has a very strong build, her skin pale, hair red, and cheeks splattered with freckles. She looks tough, but also carries a feminine grace.
They all have stared, and I bet it’s hard for them to understand what Caz and I have. Caz isn’t the kind of man who settles down, that much has been clear. He doesn’t like people and prefers to be alone. He’s their leader, and I’m this woman who literally fell out of the sky and is now sitting next to him with my hand in his lap. He holds on to me like I’ll float away if he lets me go.
Lew’s wife, Nikita, is stunning and in my world would pass as an Asian or Pacific Islander. She’d kept me entertained a bit before Caz’s arrival, telling me all about her teenage daughter who was going through a rebellious phase and didn’t want to start drinking youthwater yet.
It was interesting to learn that people don’t start drinking youthwater in Vakeeli until they’re eighteen. Apparently, when a person turns eighteen, a ceremony is placed for them to enter adulthood. They’ll drink their first cup of youthwater and celebrate a long, prosperous life.
“She says youthwater is a punishment!” Nikita exclaimed before. “She doesn’t understand that it can give her a fruitful life! So many kids would kill to get even a drop of youthwater. But anyway, you and Monarch Harlow, huh? How is that? Is he much nicer than he lets on? No, never mind. Don’t answer that. I’m just glad he’s finally found someone to be with. I don’t want to hex it.”
The three women Maeve hired to cater and help with dinner are named Bella, Joelle, and Danica. Bella and Joelle are mother and daughter, Joelle being the mother, and Danica is their assistant.
There is something unique about Danica. Besides one of her eyes being a ghost-gray with a red scar running from the bottom of her brow to the tip of her eyelid, there’s something else about her and I can’t quite place my finger on it. She’s been staring at me since she arrived, which isn’t new considering everyone has been stealing glances. I’m the new chick around, and I’m sleeping with the monarch of Blackwater, but Danica doesn’t know I’m new…I don’t think. Regardless, she stares at me with an all-knowing gaze, that one sharp brown eye locking on me every chance it can. Her skin is like porcelain, her hair a soft black collected into one braid that falls down the center of her back. She hasn’t said much, while Bella and Joelle were practically gushing to Maeve and Juniper about letting them cater and serve us for the night.
Even now, Danica watches from the kitchen. Her hands are busy, but she cuts her eyes at me sporadically, zoning in, before going back to slicing something with a knife.
A hand drops to my upper thigh and squeezes lightly. I look to my right, into blue eyes. “You okay?” Caz asks.
“Yeah. I’m fine.” I place my hand on top of his, giving it a squeeze back. “Did you like the dinner?”
“I did. It was great. How about you? I know it wasn’t a cheeseburger, but still good, eh?”
I laugh. “Yeah. It was good. Especially the water beans.”
“Told you you’d like them.”
Joelle, Bella, and Danica make their way to the table with large trays in hand. On the trays are small plates with slices of yellow cake, berries, and gold cream.
“Have you ever had Gold Cake before?” Nikita asks from across the table as a plate is set in front of me.
“Of course, she hasn’t, Nikita,” Juniper quips, rolling her eyes. “She hasn’t been in our world long.”
“I’m only asking.” Nikita shrugs, slicing her fork into the cake. “Whether you have or not, it’s so good. In fact, I’ll probably ask for seconds.”
“It’s infused with whiskey,” Caz says to me. “Don’t eat too much. It’ll get you really drunk.”
“Probably why Nikita here likes it so much,” Juniper teases.
“Oh, whatever, Jun! Like you can’t say the same. This is, what, your sixth glass of wine?”
Juniper points her fork at Nikita. “Oi, don’t call me out like that. I’ll stab you with my fork.”
Nikita breaks out in laughter, and I notice Tallulah giggling at the conversation. Nikita leans over the table a bit, whispering to Juniper. “What do you say we go to the Silver Swan after this?”
“You think your husband will go for it?” Juniper whispers back.
“I can hear you both,” Lew grumbles, and that causes both Juniper and Nikita to break out in laughter again. Yeah, they’re pretty drunk.
“We have Yurina keeping an eye on Britt for us, babe. Come on,” Nikita whines, clinging to Lew’s large, tattooed arm. “Let’s go out, have a little fun.”
“Not a chance. Yurina is old and falls asleep at the drop of a hat on her porch. I don’t trust Britt at home alone for more than two hours. She’ll throw a damn bash for all we know.”
“You’re right.” Nikita’s head shakes. “That girl, I swear. Caz, can’t you, like, instill some kind of monarch law where teenagers have to listen to their parents?”
One side of Caz’s lips quirk. “I believe that’d be an abuse of power.”
“Well, sometimes people need it in order to get in line.” Nikita shrugs, but I don’t miss the way Caz fidgets in his chair a bit. “She still hasn’t taken the youthwater, you know?”
Caz leans back in his chair, relaxing again. “Just trust her. Let her grow into her own woman. She’ll thank you for being patient with her down the line.”
Nikita presses her lips, and her eyes soften. “Wow. Are you always this sentimental? Willow, what have you done to our monarch?”
I fight a laugh, and a few others at the table laugh too. I carry my eyes to Caz who has lowered his head a bit, his face turning a bright red. He’s so adorable.
