He ignored the woman’s comment. “Fortuna, you were invited?”
She snorted, flapped her hand, and crossed through the room to him. “Oh please, it would hardly be a party without me.” Her eyes moved over him slowly. Moving closer, she readjusted his grey sweater. “Ooh, look at you, so rugged. Honestly, what have they done to you? You look like you haven’t eaten properly since you left.”
He brushed her hand away. “What are you doing here?”
She looked into his eyes but said nothing in response. Instead, she turned to Fate and leaned down, exposing a great deal of her bosom.
“You must be Fate.”
Her flaunting astonished Fate, who had never seen such a seductress before, though she had heard of such women.
“Who are you?” She’d intended to ask what a regal woman like Fortuna meant by visiting the palace, and why she, unlike the other guests, took the time to acknowledge Fate’s presence.
Unfortunately, Firmus interjected. He put his hands on the woman’s shoulders to restrict her movement. “I apologize. This is my sister, Fortuna.”
Fate glanced between the siblings, astonished by their difference in temperament. “Sister?”
A man’s boisterous greeting echoed through the main hall. “Oh, what a surprise!” His sudden outburst drew the attention of the Ignis siblings to the entrance. He jumped up and down, forcing his way through the crowd.
Fortuna groaned. “Ohh, here he comes.”
The man approached, panting and pouncing wildly at Fortuna and Firmus.
Fate struggled to see him clearly because of his wild behavior. When she finally examined him, she almost couldn’t believe her eyes. “Are there—” She shook her head. “—three of you?”
By chance, the man mirrored Fortuna with a proud chortle and a flip of his hair. “Three of me? Praise be, whatever would the world do?”
He looked so much like Firmus that Fate checked them twice.
Fortuna elbowed the lively man against the ribs and cleared her throat. “As I’m sure you can see, this is our brother, Fortis.” She scanned Fortis from head to toe and pursed her lips. “Look at this fool, so dandy. Firmus, this is precisely what I expect of you. Take away some of his bliss. He has more than enough as it is.”
Fate carefully examined the three Igni. “You’re triplets?”
They nodded in unison, but each responded differently. Firmus narrowed his eyes, Fortuna sighed, and Fortis beamed.
As far as Fate knew, it shouldn’t have been possible for an Ancient couple to bear triplets. All Ancients were supposed to be born with their mate. Essentially, they were twins.
The Elders called them ‘Bound’—one soul split in half, an inseparable bond that could extend into many lifetimes.
Since the early decline of the Ancients, there were rumors of Bound being separated. Many Ancients died of illness when they could not find their other half, yet none of the triplets appeared ill.
A crack echoed through the hall, and Fortuna turned sharply towards an old woman by the door to the yard.
The woman cracked her cane against the tiles again.
Giving a partial curtsy, Fortuna excused herself. “I have some business to attend. I will be seeing all of you later.”
Firmus’s gaze trailed after her with suspicion. He looked at Fortis next and relaxed with a sigh. “Did you leave the King’s party?”
Fate repeated his words in her head: King’s party. Considering Fortis didn’t serve in Macellarius, he most likely served in Nitor. That suggested Neco had invited his brother to the event, a very odd occurrence for two quarreling kings.
Fortis flapped his hand. “That I did! I heard there was a striking woman approaching the palace but I never imagined it would be Fortuna.” He trailed off and shook his head to draw himself back into the conversation. “Anyhow, where’s little Abyssus? I thought you two were an inseparable force.”
Firmus darted off without warning, surprising Fate with his sense of urgency. His need for Abyssus often proved greater than hers. Sometimes Fate even wondered if Abyssus and Firmus were Bound. She tried not to think about it because it meant she was separated from her intended mate. Those thoughts would only concern her.
Will I die?
She fidgeted uncomfortably and focused on Fortis.
He grinned the moment he regained her attention. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Fate. I am honored to have your company during this important occasion.”
“You might be the only person who thinks so,” Fate said, saddened by her revelation.
He crossed an arm over his chest and bowed to her. “Lady Fate, if you wish, I would be honored to celebrate with you.”
Her face burned as she let out her hand to accept his offer. Deep down, she wondered if Abyssus felt the same way about Firmus. Of course, Fate’s reaction to Fortis differed from their bond. She admired his aura without falling victim to it. The same could be said of her feelings towards Firmus. Fate, like Firmus, cared little for anyone other than Abyssus.
Fortis led her across the yard, and they sat down on the edge of a fountain to view the drinking adults. Though he didn’t say so, he seemed to share her distaste for the party.
She kicked her feet back and forth. “You are from Nitor?”
“I serve in Nitor, or at least, I am Niteo’s personal guard.”
“You must be close to call him without a title.”
“Close?” Fortis winced. “I’m not sure. Titles are only appropriate when I’m addressing someone who has earned my respect.”
Fate considered that for a moment. “Are you suggesting I’ve earned it?” She wanted to ask why Niteo didn’t deserve his respect, but decided it sounded rude.
