this. I had a family and friends to protect me, and it felt good.
“Are you hungry?” my mother asked as we walked through an archway into a large dining room.
“Starving.”
We seated ourselves and my father, followed by the Blood Guard, quickly joined us. The conversation was much lighter now, everyone talking about the customs of the region, or locations in the city with exceptional beauty that I should visit immediately.
“You must take her to the temple, Arrick. She will love it there.” Leona smiled at me.
“I plan on it. I’ve already taken her to the gardens and she loved it. Right, Claire?”
“Yes, they are beautiful.” I wished I could go hide in the gardens that very moment. I was so tired and didn’t feel like talking to anyone for the rest of the night.
“They are my favorite place,” my mother winked at me and raised her hand to have dinner served.
Several golden platters were carried in by hooded servants. They smiled widely as they served us, lifting the lids from atop the dishes after placing them delicately on the table. I always felt the human servants at Palace Noire were so skittish. It was nice to see how comfortable they were here.
I wasn’t sure what I was expecting for dinner. My meals at Palace Noire were all served in little silver goblets, but what sat before me made a small gasp escape me. A petite porcelain bowl sat delicately before me, its edges painted in a golden leaf design. “What is it?” I knew it was blood of course, but I had never seen it served in such a way.
“It’s been infused with almond oil. It’s one of your father’s favorite dishes.”
Sure enough, my father was looking hungrily at his bowl, but he waited patiently for everyone to be served. Arrick and the Blood Guard were brought plates matching the design on the bowl, each topped with a mountainous salad and large grilled fish, steaming and oozing juices. It was cooked perfectly.
When everyone was served, I expected the feast to begin. In fact, my stomach growled loudly in anticipation but it was disappointed. My father rose first, everyone else following his lead. I stood up last, unsure of what was going on. We all joined hands and bowed our heads, my father clearing his voice. I caught him stealing a glance at me with a smirk on his face and then closed my eyes with everyone else.
A giddy sensation crept through my heart, warming it as I held hands with my mother on one side, and Leona on the other. I knew exactly what we were doing and it was so traditional, I felt like I was having my first formal family dinner for the first time in my life.
“Tonight we have one very special thing to be grateful for. A miracle and a dream that Nyx has blessed us with. The homecoming of our daughter, Claire. I have never been more happy since the night she was born. To Claire!”
Everyone raised their glasses, turning toward me, smiles on their faces. Yet the hairs on the back of my neck were standing on end. Something didn’t feel right. I scanned the room, everyone looked genuinely happy. Was I just being paranoid?
No, it was just my nerves. I was finally where I belonged, surrounded by my family. Nothing in my life had ever been this right before.
Chapter_6
I spent the next week exploring the Château and Naos. Arrick spent most of his time with the Blood Guard and my father, making their plans for what they would do. For a region that was preparing for war it was completely peaceful. I guess it made sense; telling the citizens would only cause mass hysteria. No point in causing everyone to go running in the streets, fearing for their lives.
Some days my mother would join me in the gardens and talk to me about, well, about everything. She mostly wanted to know about my life. I told her how I grew up and about Liz. She could easily sense how much I missed my old life. I promised her that I was happy to be home and it was the truth.
I wanted to ask her about bringing Robin, Dmitry and even
“Are you hungry?” my mother asked as we walked through an archway into a large dining room.
“Starving.”
We seated ourselves and my father, followed by the Blood Guard, quickly joined us. The conversation was much lighter now, everyone talking about the customs of the region, or locations in the city with exceptional beauty that I should visit immediately.
“You must take her to the temple, Arrick. She will love it there.” Leona smiled at me.
“I plan on it. I’ve already taken her to the gardens and she loved it. Right, Claire?”
“Yes, they are beautiful.” I wished I could go hide in the gardens that very moment. I was so tired and didn’t feel like talking to anyone for the rest of the night.
“They are my favorite place,” my mother winked at me and raised her hand to have dinner served.
Several golden platters were carried in by hooded servants. They smiled widely as they served us, lifting the lids from atop the dishes after placing them delicately on the table. I always felt the human servants at Palace Noire were so skittish. It was nice to see how comfortable they were here.
I wasn’t sure what I was expecting for dinner. My meals at Palace Noire were all served in little silver goblets, but what sat before me made a small gasp escape me. A petite porcelain bowl sat delicately before me, its edges painted in a golden leaf design. “What is it?” I knew it was blood of course, but I had never seen it served in such a way.
“It’s been infused with almond oil. It’s one of your father’s favorite dishes.”
Sure enough, my father was looking hungrily at his bowl, but he waited patiently for everyone to be served. Arrick and the Blood Guard were brought plates matching the design on the bowl, each topped with a mountainous salad and large grilled fish, steaming and oozing juices. It was cooked perfectly.
When everyone was served, I expected the feast to begin. In fact, my stomach growled loudly in anticipation but it was disappointed. My father rose first, everyone else following his lead. I stood up last, unsure of what was going on. We all joined hands and bowed our heads, my father clearing his voice. I caught him stealing a glance at me with a smirk on his face and then closed my eyes with everyone else.
A giddy sensation crept through my heart, warming it as I held hands with my mother on one side, and Leona on the other. I knew exactly what we were doing and it was so traditional, I felt like I was having my first formal family dinner for the first time in my life.
“Tonight we have one very special thing to be grateful for. A miracle and a dream that Nyx has blessed us with. The homecoming of our daughter, Claire. I have never been more happy since the night she was born. To Claire!”
Everyone raised their glasses, turning toward me, smiles on their faces. Yet the hairs on the back of my neck were standing on end. Something didn’t feel right. I scanned the room, everyone looked genuinely happy. Was I just being paranoid?
No, it was just my nerves. I was finally where I belonged, surrounded by my family. Nothing in my life had ever been this right before.
Chapter_6
I spent the next week exploring the Château and Naos. Arrick spent most of his time with the Blood Guard and my father, making their plans for what they would do. For a region that was preparing for war it was completely peaceful. I guess it made sense; telling the citizens would only cause mass hysteria. No point in causing everyone to go running in the streets, fearing for their lives.
Some days my mother would join me in the gardens and talk to me about, well, about everything. She mostly wanted to know about my life. I told her how I grew up and about Liz. She could easily sense how much I missed my old life. I promised her that I was happy to be home and it was the truth.
I wanted to ask her about bringing Robin, Dmitry and even
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