Black Crown (Darkest Drae, #3)(23)

I looked at Lani and Kamini, both dressed like me in a silver-and-green corset with a flowy skirt of panels shaped like leaves. Kamini still wore her plain crown of silver leaves, but next to her sat the box I’d pulled out of the Jade Castle, which held the golden crown Luna wore when she ruled Kanahele o keola. Yeah, I totally had that name memorized.

“You look stunning,” Kamoi said, leaning toward me, offering a smile with his compliment.

How had I ever thought he was good looking? So strange. Last-month-Ryn must’ve been running hard because when Today-Ryn compared Tyrrik with Kamoi, there was no contest. Like, zero.

“Will you dance with me tonight?” he pressed, resting his hand on mine.

I was trying to be nice, but he wasn’t making it easy. “No,” I replied with a tight smile. When his face fell, I added, “I’m just barely feeling better after shielding here from Gemond, and I have to fly back tomorrow.”

I glanced at the prince and saw his gaze heat as it dropped to my torso.

“I’m up here,” I said, calling him out. “This is your last warning to stop gaping at me like I’m a piece of ripe fruit.”

He swallowed and met my eyes with a blush and low chuckle. “I apologize.” He laughed again and added, “For the thousandth time. I understand how you feel, and I can respect your boundaries. Your mate is a lucky . . . man.”

Whatever, I’d heard him apologize so many times the words were meaningless from his lips. “Listen, I’m sure you’ll have your pick from the Phaetyn. I wish you a happy life. But that’s not with me. I love Tyrrik.”

“I understand, and I’ll do my best to make sure I stop making you uncomfortable.” He scooted his chair back and stood. “Excuse me one moment.”

“Of course.” This time my smile was mostly sincere. I glanced down at my now-empty plate smeared with chocolate and fruit juice and wondered who had eaten all my food. I turned to Lani to ask if she’d sneaked some, but she had three empty plates in front of her. I’d really eaten everything already?

I glanced over the other Phaetyn and saw Kamoi at the chocolate fountain. He had two plates laden with berries and cake and was pouring chocolate into a bowl. I could make nice, and I was hungry. I leaned over to Lani and asked, “How much longer?”

She said something else to Kamini before facing me. “A few minutes,” Lani replied, glancing at the sky. “The sun is about to set, and I think we’ll all feel more comfortable if the barrier is in place before darkness falls.”

The barrier should’ve gone up as soon as we got here, in my humble opinion.

“I’m going to grab a little more—”

Kamoi returned with his food and surprised me by setting one plate in front of Lani and one in front of me. “A peace offering. I’ve been an idiot today.”

I was already facing Lani and Kamini which was the only reason I saw the younger sister’s face fall. I stood and smiled at Kamoi. “Thanks, but I think Kamini should have this one.” I pushed the plate at her, and when she opened her mouth to protest, I added, “That’s a Phaetyn-size portion. I need a Drae-size portion.”

Kamini and Lani laughed, Kamoi joining in a fraction of a second later. I excused myself, grabbing an empty platter from the middle to fill so I wouldn’t have to get up again.

While I was busy loading up the plate with all the delectables to eat, I noticed Kamoi filling three tall glasses of lavender lemonade. “Hey Kamoi,” I hollered. “Will you please get me a glass?”

He grinned boyishly. “Already got you covered.”

Mistress Moons, this was going way better than I had anticipated. My lingering juju was clearly unfounded.

I returned to the table and fell into conversation with the royal Phaetyn. The four of us ate and laughed, and I sipped at the lemonade, but the beverage was excessively sweet for my taste. I placed the drink to the side, lifting my glass of water to my lips to take a few sips.

The sun kissed the top of the treeline, and I nudged Lani. “Isn’t it time for you to work your Phaetyn mojo?”

She laughed, and the shrill sound grated on my ears. I reached over and scooted her lemonade just out of reach and said, “I don’t know what’s in that stuff, but I think you’ve had enough.”

Lani, Kamini, and Kamoi all snickered, and it took me only a moment to realize how stuffy I sounded. “Fine. Fine. I'll relax, but you said yourself you wanted the barrier up before nightfall. And don’t get drunk. On lemonade.” I had no idea if they put something stronger in drinks at celebrations.

The Phaetyn in the crowd were also acting strange, like they’d had too much honey ale, and I wondered if there was a separate table of it. Not that I wanted to be drunk, but maybe a cup would help me not feel like such a stick in the mud.

“What’s the matter, Ryn? Don’t tell me you’re having regrets about not being Queen?” Kamoi asked.

What a question to ask. I rolled my eyes and reached for my water glass, but it was now empty, so I grabbed my glass of lemonade and took several long draughts of the over-sweet concoction. Party Ryn was coming to Kanahele o keola. After a few gulps, I coughed on the sickening taste. “Seriously, what is in that horseplop?”

Kamini snickered. “It’s my mother’s special brew.” She blushed and added, “I mean, Alani’s.”