As soon as he let Valaine in, the entire room seemed to lose a few degrees from its otherwise pleasant temperature. It had taken being apart from her for a few hours to understand the peculiar psychological effect she’d had on me—and, judging by the glow in my brother’s eyes, on him, too. It wasn’t just her appearance that enticed, but also her presence. Some people just had this way of drawing attention, of electrifying the air around them, without doing or saying anything.
“Esme. I didn’t know you were here,” Valaine said, bowing politely.
“Sorry I took a while to greet you,” Tristan replied, while I gave the Aeternae a soft and friendly smile.
“My brother and I were just catching up.” I sighed. “We’re loving our quarters, just so you know. The rooms are simply gorgeous.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Valaine replied, then glanced at Tristan. “The lord and lady supreme have requested your presence in the garden for an appetizer before dinner.”
“Oh?” I mumbled, straightening my back.
Valaine smiled. “They want you to try a few blood selections, infused with various aromas and oils. We try new recipes every year, and the lord and lady supreme want to make sure that everything is to your liking during dinner.”
“You are most kind,” I said, getting up.
Her eyes widened with surprise. “Esme… You look beautiful!”
My cheeks burned. It felt nice to have her attention on such a positive note. I wasn’t sure why, but I enjoyed her compliments more than anything. I doubted the lady supreme’s appreciation would’ve struck a similar note. “Thank you,” I murmured, my head low. “It’s a beautiful dress. I’m merely the one wearing it.”
“Nonsense, you’re the one who brings out the dress’s finest features,” Valaine said. Her kindness surprised me. No wonder my brother was nearly smitten with her. “Shall we go?”
We followed Valaine through several corridors, picking up Derek, Sofia, Amal, and Nethissis along the way, and occasionally stopping to marvel at the marble and brass sculptures, the ornate columns, and the enormous, hand-painted porcelain vases that decorated the spacious hallways. A lot of care and attention had gone into the interior of the palace, making sure every corner was used to its full potential, regardless of its function.
The gardens were out of this world, much bigger and downright astonishing from up close. A maze stretched out before us, made of hedges and sparkling fountains, blossoming trees and elegant statues on solid marble bases. Again, just like with the palace’s interior, the garden made use of every single patch of dirt to create this enormous masterpiece.
Water gushed from the fountains, its rushing sound making me smile. Birds sang in the trees and the flowery bushes, and the evening breeze added a delicate chill to my skin, reminding me of midnights in The Shade. In the middle of these gardens, a white gazebo rose, its pillars covered in pink rose-like blossoms with spade-shaped leaves. A table had been set there, made of white iron, with matching chairs.
The lord and lady supreme were already waiting, along with Kalon. I’d expected to see Petra, Zoltan, and Corbin, as well, but they were nowhere to be seen. Several servants waited behind them, dressed in black-and-white uniforms—much like what I’d seen Zurah wearing. It was definitely the signature style of the palace staff. Around the gazebo, a dozen golden guards stood quietly, the colored feathers from their helmets dancing in the wind.
“Where are the high priestess, the chief councilor, and the master commander?” Derek asked as we approached the gazebo, walking behind Valaine.
“I believe they have administrative duties to attend to, milord,” she said.
Glancing around at our crew, I found a sense of relief knowing that my brother and I weren’t the only ones who’d been dressed up for the occasion. Derek had also been fitted into a dark gray three-piece velvet suit, while Sofia looked simply stunning in her copper satin dress, a black lace bodice tightened to bring out her gentle curves. Amal didn’t seem comfortable in her pale orange dress, but she was beautiful, nonetheless. Her long, white hair had been pulled up into a tight bun, diamond earrings pouring down to her collarbones. Nethissis was a true vision in emerald green, and she seemed to enjoy this a lot more than Amal.
“Welcome!” Acheron said, rising from his chair as we reached the gazebo. Danika didn’t move, but Kalon stood, as well, his eyes immediately finding me. For a split second, I felt like an ant under a magnifying glass, the sun burning through me, even though the sky above was dark, with a handful of twinkling stars just overhead. “We usually dine much later in the evening, but we didn’t want you to spend too much time waiting.”
“And we have some delightful new varieties of aromatic blood we’d like you to try,” Danika added, motioning for us to sit down. Every move she made felt like a dream. Her grace was impossible to describe, but I took a stab at it by mentally comparing her to a porcelain swan into which the universe had breathed life. The term “poetry in motion” came to mind. But then the mental image of Exiled Maras rammed through my head and ruined the moment. There were a lot of common points here, so I became increasingly determined to figure out where the similarities stopped.
Kalon pulled up a chair for me to sit in, and I had a hard time looking at him, worried he might peer right into my eyes if I wasn’t careful. “You’re a true vision tonight, Esme,” he said, his voice low, as I took my seat and gave him a faint but thankful nod.
“Thank you,” I managed, trying to focus on the table, instead.
There were crystal pitchers filled with blood in the middle, but the servants had also added a couple of fruit and cheese platters to the display, along with fresh water bottles, for Amal and Nethissis.
“How is your stay in the palace, so far?” Danika asked us, as Valaine sat next to Tristan and me. To my right, Kalon was quiet, but I knew he was still watching me.
“It’s wonderful,” Sofia said. “The staff is incredibly kind and considerate.”
“And the rooms are stupendous,” Nethissis replied. “I admit, I’ve rarely experienced such lavishness.”
“I’m glad to hear that!” Acheron said, jovial and practically beaming at us. Out of all the Aeternae we’d met so far, I could easily see him as the most excited for our presence here. We were like shiny new things for his sole delight, and he planned to enjoy every second he got to spend with us. “My beloved Danika has spent centuries perfecting our home. Every guest room is a reflection of our philosophy of living.”
Danika smiled. “I still change things up, once in a while. So far, I’m happy with the styles we’ve managed to accomplish.”
“You are personally involved in the decorations, then,” I concluded, and the lady supreme nodded in return.
“Along with a team of artists and craftsmen, of course,” she replied. “I like to heed their advice, but sometimes I’m also a bit hard-headed. The end results have yet to disappoint, so I reckon I’ve done something good.”
“You most certainly have, Your Grace,” Sofia said. “And the gardens are equally breathtaking.”
“That would be the lord supreme’s doing.” Kalon chuckled, pulling a crystal glass closer to my side of the table. Acheron grinned.
“I am an aspiring gardener, at best. I enjoy the tranquility of nature, so I make sure we have as much of it beneath our windows as possible,” he said, watching as Kalon poured blood into my glass. It was a thick liquid, crimson red, with an irresistible scent. My mouth was practically watering, already.
“Try this one first,” Kalon said, glancing at me. “It’s Rimian, with a hint of hot spices.”
“New menu,” Danika clarified. “We always taste new varieties before we allow them to be served at our dinners, especially with new and special guests such as yourselves.”
The servants mobilized, coming closer to the table and pouring different bloods in multiple crystal glasses, from which we could easily choose. I was still staring at my glass, my tongue increasingly restless as it yearned for a taste. I could certainly understand why the Aeternae had chosen to consume the blood of humanoids like the Rimians and the Naloreans. Much like the earthlings’, it was bound to be delicious and far more nourishing than what we got out of animals.
Briefly glancing at Tristan, I braced myself for the tasting. I knew I’d love every drop, as my senses were already on high alert, preparing my body for the reward ahead. I took my glass and brought it to my lips, feeling Kalon’s gaze drilling into me. The first sip was like dipping my toes into a warm ocean of golden sunshine.
It was sublime. The taste lingered in my mouth for what felt like an eternity. I could almost feel the donor’s emotions coursing through me. I wondered if I’d experience more, if I drank the whole glass in one go. I took a chance and did not regret it. An avalanche of aromas paralyzed my tongue, my own blood rushing as I closed my eyes and allowed the experience to take a firm hold over me.
In that sweet and spicy darkness, I caught snippets of a past, enhanced reality. Sunshine through a window, bathing me in warmth when I was only a child. The smell of the forest after a summer rain. The sound of a musical instrument playing somewhere behind me. The feel of soft linen against my skin, the hard ground beneath my bare feet as I climbed up a redwood tree. I wasn’t myself anymore. For a few fleeting seconds, I was a child again. I ran along the sharp edges of a stony ridge, the ocean breeze combing through my hair…
“Esme.” My brother’s voice brought me back.
