Chapter 7
Peter was clearly a king; there were no two ways about it. Tall and majestic, a crown on his head, and his eyes blazing; he looked like he controlled everything with the twist of his finger. His eyes blazed, and his jaw was strong and set, looking at the table as if he were calculating his next move. He was certainly the most serious of the princes.
On his arm, his wife was the opposite. Draped in light linen, her dress the color of clouds, Yvette was small and thin. She was nearly a foot shorter than him and much younger. She was smiling, though, despite the weight of her heavy crown, and her stick-thin arm was locked in his hand.
Everyone bowed or curtsied, and Katianna knocked her knee against the table trying to do the same.
Behind him was the final brother, his Irish twin, she understood, and the former king.
Alexander was slightly shorter than Peter, and Katianna was surprised to see he looked older. His face was grey and drawn, and his temples showed salt-and-pepper against the dark hair. His chest rose and fell with more effort than the others, and his teeth were half clenched.
Beside him, Ariel was clearly the most beautiful woman in the room. Katianna felt like a child playing dress-up beside the tall red-head. She wore a green dress that was cut in the front, nearly dipping to her naval. Her long, red hair fell in waves nearly to her waist, and she wore a crown as majestic as Yvette, her fingers and neck dazzling in jewels. She looked more of a queen than the actual queen, standing shoulder to shoulder with her husband in flat shoes.
The others dipped to a bow appropriate to the current Regents, and the men pulled out the chairs for their wives.
To Katianna's delight, Ariel was seated beside her. She turned to the redhead with a friendly smile.
“I'm Katianna. I've seen your dancing. You are amazing!”
Ariel turned to her as if seeing her for the first time. “Thanks,” she said, looking her up and down. “You must be Katianna. We've been briefed.”
“Briefed?” Katianna asked.
“On the…unique situation that Spencer claims is happening,” Alexander spoke up, clearing his throat. The servants advanced forward, placing warm platters on the table.
“How are you, my lord?” Spencer asked, trying to change the subject.
“I am well, thank you, Spencer,” Alexander said. “It is nice to see you again. Thank you for returning.”
“Of course, my lord,” Spencer replied, keeping his head bent as he was served.
“He doesn't look well,” Katianna lowered her voice, whispering to Spencer. He caught her eye, shaking his head, and she understood to ask about it later.
“Do you have any sightings to report, Spencer?” Peter spoke up. Katianna had her utensils in her hand, her mouth salivating at the meat that was placed in front of her. She hadn't realized that she was hungry until this moment.
“Of King Richard?” Spencer asked. “No. It was my understanding that he was killed.”
“He was,” Peter said. “We just like to check. You spent many years on Earth.”
“I spent many years everywhere,” Spencer corrected him. “But I assure you, since the report came that he perished here, I have heard and seen nothing.”
“Unless he's been reincarnated,” Cole said, smirking. Spencer's head shot up, his eyes narrowing.
“It's possible,” Spencer said, coolly.
“And it's possible I could figure out how to transform into a wolf,” Cole replied. “Magic works in mysterious ways.”
Katianna felt the feeling of dread in her stomach again. She waited until everyone was deep in conversation before she spoke softly to Spencer once more.
“He doesn't believe us,” she said.
Spencer sighed. “Cole is just snarky,” he said. “He hasn't had a chance to look into anything yet, so he's living inside his own box. Don't worry, my love, he will find an answer.”
“And if he doesn't?” Katianna asked.
Spencer raised his eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“I just mean, if he doesn't find evidence that reincarnation exists?”
“My love,” he looked right into her eyes, “you know in your heart that this is real, don't you?”
“I…” she couldn't deny it when he was looking right into her eyes and sending shivers up and down her spine. “Yes, I know it's real.”
“Good,” he said, leaning over to kiss her. “Then that's all we need in the end. But Cole will find an answer. Once he removes his head from his–”
“Spencer!” Katianna exclaimed, with a laugh. It drew attention back to them, and she covered her mouth with her hand. “Sorry,” she said.
“Share the joke, please,” Peter said, looking right at her. Her eyes widened.
“Oh no, it was just something funny that happened on Earth,” she said. Peter raised an eyebrow.
“Which was? Don't be afraid. You are among friends here.”
“Which was....me...falling into the mud on my first date with Spencer.” It was a lie, but it was the only thing she could think of. “So embarrassing”
“Oh my,” Enya saved her. “That would be awkward. Clearly, though, Spencer was not too bothered by it.”
“I did laugh,” Spencer got into the story. “Only for a moment.”
“What would you do if I fell in the mud?” Enya turned to Cole, cocking an eyebrow.
“Ask you to stay down there so I could snap a picture, and then help you up?” Cole smirked, and she laughed, shaking her head.
Luckily for both of them, the conversation topic turned, and Katianna let out a sigh of relief.
Dinner was finished soon enough, and everyone rose to retire to the library for drinks and general socializing. Katianna felt like she was in the sixteenth century with all these formalities.
She noted that Ariel rose first, reaching her hand out. Alexander took it, and his wife's arm flexed to support him as they headed into the library.
“What's wrong with him?” she asked. Spencer's eyes flicked upwards to make sure that they were far enough away, and then spoke.
“The relationship between supernatural beings and carapaces has always been odd. Sometimes, they were allies, but mostly they were hunted. When Ariel married Alexander, there was many carapaces who didn't like it. Prolonged exposure to them, especially in the numbers they brought, was damaging. He will never recover.”
“Yet, they continue to be together?”
“Alexander argues that one carapace, even the queen, isn't damaging. He just can't be on Earth where the rest of them are.”
“She's the queen of carapaces?” Katianna replied. “Wow. I understand what you mean for a marriage of convenience, but it's not that way now.”
“What do you mean?” Spencer asked, confused.
Katianna smiled. “They love each other, isn't that clear?”
“I…” he looked between them and back to Katianna. “I don't know. It's always been accepted that they were what you call a powerful couple.”
“Spencer,” she said softly, “can't you see love when it's looking you in the eye?
He smiled down at her, kissing the top of her head. “Of course, I can,” he said. “I see it every time I look at you.”
She squeezed his hand as they settled into the library. It seemed an odd way to spend an evening–among princes of Dragons. And yet, somehow, it seemed natural.
It was only half an hour of quiet conversation before the day hit her. She yawned loudly, and then covered her mouth, blushing.
“Oh my goodness, I'm sorry.”
Spencer laughed, rising. “Come, my dear. I shall escort you to your room. It's been a long day for both of us.”
“Thank you for everything today,” she said to the others, dipping low. “It was…wonderful?”
Alexander smiled briefly. “Goodnight,” he said, dipping his head. “It was an honor to have your company, Katianna.”
It was only once she was gone that Cole spoke up.
“You don't really believe that's Katianna, do you?” he asked his brother.
Alexander's eyes flickered to his youngest brother. “And what is your opinion, Cole? Although I'm quite sure I can guess it.”
“That's not the same girl,” Cole said, firmly. “Reincarnation is just not something that happens.”
“Are you sure?” Rosa spoke up, meeting his witch eyes. “You didn't think the Donizetti line could be revived. You didn't know what magic you were holding until you were told. I'm not questioning your ability, Cole, my dearest brother. I'm saying that we learn new things all the time.”
“No, you don't.” Cole glanced at Enya.
“What?” Enya asked, a sinking feeling in her chest.
“The last time Spencer brought Katianna around here, I…she and I….”
“Sorry, you did what?” Nicholas smirked, from his place by the fire. “Did you steal her virtue, Cole?”
“I did not,” Cole replied. “But I may have kissed her. More than once. She may have run because she was avoiding me. I don't think Spencer knows, but she chose to go back to Earth, likely to stay faithful to him.”
Her husband's romances before they met didn't bother Enya. But she was still put out by his lack of respect for an existing relationship.
“Were you in love with her?” Enya asked, and Cole laughed.
“No, it was just a thing. How do you say it? A fling. It meant nothing to me, but I get the feeling it meant everything to her. I know her, and that isn't her.”
“Cole,” Alexander put his palm to his eyes, sighing. “Thank God you finally got married before you bothered the whole kingdom.”
“If she's got magic to reincarnate,” Ariel said, “I could possibly feel the same thing from an old corpse of hers? If she doesn't just vanish?”
“Do you feel magic on her at all?” Alexander turned to his wife, and she shook her head, sliding into his lap.
“Nada. But there's so many of you around. Maybe I'll make nice and get her alone.”
“My concern,” Peter said, speaking up for the first time, “is that if he is right, and some people do have the ability to do this, what if Father does as well?”
Everyone fell silent at that, looking to each other. Cole had not considered that. They had killed old King Richard in a violent battle that no one would forget anytime soon. If he wasn't really dead, everything was for naught.
“I will look into it,” Cole said, at last. “But really, I'm not sure.”
“Be sure,” Peter stared down his youngest brother. “Our future depends on it.”
Ariel leaned into Alexander's chest, her eyes staring off into the fire. He squeezed her shoulder, a small smile on his face. “Penny for your thoughts?” he asked.
“I was just wondering if someone could learn how to do that,” she said, looking back at him.
“We have to find out if it's real first, Ariel,” he said, and she shrugged.
“I know. But if you do eventually go before me, maybe you could learn how to do that.”
“One would think you are fond of me,” he said softly.
She giggled. “Or I like being a princess. Either way.”
“Either way,” he echoed, staring into the fire. This world was getting so confusing. No one stayed dead, except, it seemed, for the ones they wanted.