Chapter 40

The looking glasses were set up on the rooftop outside of the dome. Torgux led her through one of the decorative doors and into the night air. It was odd, because they were still very much visible from the interior of the dome, and yet, somehow, being outside of it offered a modicum of privacy.

“I would offer you my coat,” he told her earnestly, “but I am afraid it would crush your feathers.”

Tianna withheld a shiver. It was cool out, but spring was progressing, and the air was warmer than it once was. And while she was unused to cold snowy winters, having lived her life in Texas, she wasn’t a stranger to being outside in nasty weather. The life of a ranch girl had made her fairly hardy.

“You are right,” she told Torgux, “and I wouldn’t want to face Ms. Inaz should I destroy her creation.”

“I have heard that she simply disposes of those she becomes displeased with; has their poor fashion-less bodies dumped out behind her shop. In the spring, the poor street cleaners have a hell of a time prying loose the mountain of corpses.”

Tianna laughed. “That sounds about right. I was wondering what she did in that back room of hers.”

“Truly, though,” Torgux looked down at her, “you are stunning tonight. I fear that we will be overrun by Daemon seeking your favor.”

Tianna blushed a little and Torgux gave her a small smile.

“Come. I have aligned this one to the merging of the constellations,” he told her, guiding her to one of the farther looking glasses. He bent over and checked it first, before stepping back and gesturing for her to take a turn. To her surprise, the telescope was unclouded and clear, with more magnification than she was expecting. The constellation in question was a group of rather bright stars that did, indeed look like lovers reaching out for one another.

“Beautiful,” she breathed, and she meant it. The stars never failed to amaze her, to make her feel like the tiny speck of the universe she was. She stepped back from the glass and looked upward, a strange feeling of longing coming over her. Was Earth out there somewhere? Or had she fallen into a different dimension and this was Earth, but some other version of it? The constellation did not look familiar to her, yet she had never really studied the stars with any seriousness, she simply liked looking at them.

“Yes,” Torgux agreed, but he wasn’t looking at the stars. He cleared his throat and tucked his arms behind his back, the picture of discomfort. “There is something I wish to discuss with you,” he lowered his voice. “Please forgive me for doing so here, if the matter was less urgent…,” he seemed to catch himself and took a deep breath. “I know that we have barely just met, and you are completely new to court and your station...I must seem very forward to you and it won’t be long before others point out that the situation warrants caution.” Something on her face must have given her thoughts away, for he continued, “Ah, I see this is already the case. That is good, that you have friends to guide you in this matter. But I assure you I have no desire to be deceptive, so I wish to expose the matter at hand and converse with you plainly. First, you should know that I am of no great wealth. The estates of my family only barely qualify for recognition to this court. For many generations, that has been enough. The money that the various lands brought in was enough to maintain them and live modestly. Unfortunately, my father has undone us. He lived as a king, despite the fact that we had no resources to do so. The people in our lands suffered from his greed, the property has fallen into disrepair, and the fields sit empty for lack of equipment and labor with which to work them. Even now, years after his death, we suffer, despite my attempts to correct the damage. I am afraid it is too little, too late.”

Tianna thought she knew where this was going. Torgux met her gaze.

“I do not tell you this for pity, but so that you understand my position. This will be my last year at court, for I cannot burden my people with such things. But I must say that you have presented me with a beacon of hope. You are new to court, beautiful, and independently wealthy. You could use a guiding hand to the intricacies of this life, I think we get along reasonably well, and I certainly don’t mind that you are human, as some others might. A partner such as yourself would easily restore my lands, it would hardly register as a dent in your wealth. For my part, I would do my best to be a good partner for you, as well.”

“Wow,” Tianna stared at him. He was a very handsome man; she could almost, almost get behind his proposition. She wouldn’t have love, but he was offering to be a companion and friend. “You really lay it all out don’t you?”

“I wouldn’t lie to you Tianna, or hide things from you. Trust me, this conversation has been incredibly humbling in that manner. I have much to offer, just not in the way of finances, though if my property was restored enough that I could manage it well, I might reach that point again. I like you, and I think you could like me, as well. There are many marriages that are based on less.”

Tianna stood, unable to respond. Marriage. It wasn’t surprising, she supposed. Even Thanlos had pretended that they were wed. It was the way of this world. Explaining that she had been planning on staying single wouldn’t make much sense to him.

“I can see that you need some time to think on it. I do understand that such decisions do not come lightly, and that I have sprung this upon you rather suddenly. It was not my intention to upset you, only to prove my honesty in the matter.”

She should turn him down. It was cruel to do anything else.

He ran his fingers along one of his horns.

“Is it because of the Hadrian?”

What?

“I know you have had an association with him, and...he watches you.” He paused and looked a little uncertain. “At the risk of sounding like a jealous suitor, I feel that I should offer you a warning. Xor’annan has more wealth than he knows what to do with, and a title that would be highly complementary to your own...but he...well, he is known for the violence he wages both in battle and out of it. He is the Queen’s blade for a reason. He is also a cold, emotionless man and cares not who he hurts to get his way.”

Tianna flinched internally. He wasn’t wrong. She had experienced both of Torgux’s accusations about Xor’annan’s behavior firsthand. Yet it was an oversimplified assessment. He was not cold and emotionless, rather guarded and wary.

“I think he might hurt you very badly,” Torgux admitted. “Should you not choose me, I would prefer nearly any other suitor.”

“It is kind of you to care, but you have misunderstood. Xor’annan is not my suitor, we are simply both invested in Eveera’s survival.”

“Good,” he smiled. Her words satisfied him, and he offered her his arm once more. She, however, was not satisfied. His proposal and subsequent misalignment of Xor’annan had taken what had already been a confused mash of emotions inside her and gave them a twist. She wasn’t entirely certain that his warning had been out of kindness, though his openness in other matters spoke to his honor.

“Torgux,” a large Daemon called when they re-entered the dome. She thought she recognized the man, one of Torgux’s companions from the banquet.

“Alas,” he murmured for her ears alone, “my duties as host demand my attention. You will think on my words?”

Oh, she would, just maybe not in the way he intended. She couldn’t marry him. Even with the promise of companionship, and Torgux was enjoyable to be around, there still wouldn’t be the only ingredient she cared about. Love.

Still, she nodded anyway. Tomorrow was soon enough to let him down. She considered that proposing in such a public venue might have been part of his plan, it was difficult to turn him down outright, but then she rejected the idea. He hadn’t pushed for an answer and there was truth to his claim that he simply wished to give her honest answers before others gave her less savory ideas. Whatever Torgux was, he seemed genuine.

He left her there on the floor and she spent a few moments searching for Tril. Somehow the venue managed to be open and yet provide many little barriers to her sight. She failed to find the woman, but that was alright, she was craving some solitude anyway. She considered taking her leave. No, they had just arrived, and she had just returned from her conversation with Torgux, no doubt leaving would be rude and cause far more stir than she was wishing to deal with at the moment. Yet, her thoughts had started swirling and it would take a moment or two to settle them. She made her way toward one of the folding wooden space dividers, avoiding groups of Daemon that looked as though they were eager to start conversation.

“He is here,” a feminine voice spoke low and urgently as she passed. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him at a gathering he hasn’t been commanded to. I didn’t think anyone even sent him invitations anymore.”

Tianna slowed slightly but didn’t look up. She was probably wrong, but it sounded like…

“The Hadrian does not need invitations. He can show up to whatever he wishes. Who in their right mind would stop him?” A second woman responded.

A twinge of anticipation shot through her. He was there. She didn’t do anything so obvious as searching the room for him, but she did halt her journey, pretending great interest in the statue to her side as an excuse to study the room. The piece was a Daemon warrior, with a heavy helm that covered most of his face and grand looking robes.

“Vanhous,” Xor’annan’s familiar voice rumbled at her side. Behind her, the gossiping women gasped. “a representation anyway. Kirisika’s lover, or so the story goes. Torgux has gone to extremes for this party if he had this commissioned.”

She blinked up at him, and her mind temporarily short circuited. She had seen Xor’annan many times, in his armor, the casual dress he wore at the manor, and even from across the room at the banquet. Now, it was clear that he had never really tried to impress. Good God he was an attractive man.

He had dressed for the occasion, eschewing the—rather silly—short pants with long white stockings that most of the Daemon men favored, and wore rather straight legged pants instead, a white shirt visible beneath a black vest embroidered with swirling red designs, and a matching tailcoat with similar embroidery at the cuffs and high-necked collar. A ruffle of a white neck-scarf topped the ensemble, less billowy than his court counterparts. In short, he had followed a similar style and yet somehow managed to make everyone else look like poofed up peacocks. Or perhaps that was more due to his bearing. He oozed confidence and power, like a barely restrained beast, dressing up and playing nice, and that was something that was simply noticed. Even now, the crowd was shifting, an unconscious adjustment, most moving to give him space, some, all women, moving to advantageous places to catch his eye.

There was a flicker of humor in his gaze as he focused on her, as if he knew the effect he had on the room, on her, and quite enjoyed the game. Big bad predator, toying with his prey. He leaned in, crowding her. The little hairs along her arms stood at attention. Hell, her entire body stood at attention, waiting.

“You look delicious tonight, Hellcat.”