She came over, head bowed and eyes set to the floor, upon Morningstar's arm. As soon as they had come over halfway Morningstar looked over and looked at Geras.

My brother with the scowl grunted. “Wish me luck,” he muttered under his breath as he pushed away from us. With a sigh coming to his lips he began his own way down the dais, eyes on Morningstar. As they came to meet Geras bowed his head before lifting it again and striding over to Morté. My eyes had to dart quickly from group to group as Geras arrived and Morté stood. The King of Death grinned a little and turned from Geras to his many children. He began to speak quietly to him, in a volume we could not hear.

“He will be fine,” Morningstar’s low voice came to our ears. Looking up I saw him coming up to his throne, hand still around that of Selena, who followed behind him. His eyes were on myself, Nyx and Hemera.

“But, brother, my lord …” Hemera anxiously said.

Morningstar shook his head as he finally let go of Selena's hand. He stepped back and addressed her. “Princess Selena, welcome to my court.”

I breathed in long and slow and forced myself to look away, folding my arms. Instead of looking at she who was intended to be my brother's bride, I focused on the patterns in the rich red material beside me. I could hear Morningstar's murmurs as he briefly introduced Selena to them. As our party loosened I began to find an avenue to leave, with the intent of moving to the library.

A soft hand lay on my arm. I looked to see Nyx smiling. “He won't want you to leave yet. They'll be drinks now, I'm sure. Formal toasting, and all that.”

“I'd rather …” I gestured at the door, meaning the cell at the end of the stairs leading from them.

Nyx smiled slightly, “one drink, brother.”

“One,” I growled.

And she nodded, encouragingly.

The groups merged, becoming one. Two kingdoms united through marriage, despite it being a farce on one side. But we would wait well beyond the time when they had left. Geras would be with them, likely now a spy, and Selena would be with Morningstar. Within my limited grasp. I could get to know her, my daughter.

If she was mine.

There I was, awkwardly holding my second goblet of wine. After I had finished one I had attempted to sidle away as a mixture of underworld Rahlians - those of Rahl - mingled with the being of Morningstar's court. But easily my brother had stepped to my side, fakely smiling to others as he subtly took my wrist and brought me back around to face them. He shoved another drink in my hand.

“Not yet, brother,” he whispered.

“I still want to kill him now,” I muttered under my breath. “And I have to wait for that.”

“We made an agreement,” he hissed, and took a couple of steps back into the crowd, taking me with him. “You sat down at my table. Celebrate with me, and then you can go.”

“You're annoying,” I grunted.

And he left me there, letting go of me to join his farcical new allies. Huffing I rejoined as a grumpy scoundrel and rogue, eyeing up Vitus. We exchanged a few looks, and I honestly hoped at one point I would have the chance to fight him.

I ended up on the periphery of the crowd, detailing my own entertainment, but staying. It was safer on the fringes, alone.

“You haven't looked at me once,” the pure, melodic finally sounded beside my ear.

I stilled, the breath rushing from my lungs. I did not move, did not look to her. Because I knew exactly who she was. Instead I glanced around us and made sure no one was watching.

“Selena,” she murmured.

“It wasn't my idea,” I answered in a grunt, bringing my goblet to my lips.

She sighed, slowly. “At least … she'll be protected.”

I swallowed hard, my eyes dropping down and staring into the warm red liquid. Room temperature. Exactly how it should be, and a rich taste.

“... Sephora-”

“Who else knows?” she whispered. “Aside from him and you?”

“The people in the room,” I answered, tapping a finger on the metal of the goblet. My heart beat hard in my chest, threatening to burst out in a flurry of blood and pain. “They … won't say anything. He asked them and they worship him so …”

“Good.” Out of the periphery of my vision I saw her nod once, firmly.

“He said there were others,” I whispered, thumping in my ears. “Others … like me.”

“I've been married to him for thousands of years, Char. What do you think?”

So I wasn't special. Not one tiny bit - our thirty years of romance were just another one of her many affairs, and my one single restbite in my slavery.

It hurt, stung, for a moment. But then it flew away on brief wings, because I had already survived twenty years out of that place, and though my heart still beat for her, and though I still could not look at her, I had somehow limited my care of her. I did not burn every time I thought about her, cried when her name was mentioned. What I thought about most was my daughter that her and I might have together.

“I see,” I breathed.

“You left me, there, with no more allies,” she replied.

“I needed to. And you left me first.”

She rolled her eyes. “To protect our daughter.”

“Oh so she is mine now,” I scowled.

“Stop it, you know what I mean.”

It was my turn to hiss and roll my eyes. Savagely I stared into my goblet, then downed it. The rich taste trickled down my throat, pungent and slightly smokey. Seconds passed as I calmed.

“You'll take care of her?” she asked.

Closing my eyes I nodded, clutching the goblet. “Of course I will.”

There was a sigh of satisfaction from her. “Good. Just keep her safe, and I will do my best to … protect your brother.”

“Geras will be fine,” I said in a low voice. “And I barely know him, really. I haven't much power here, but I will do what I can.”

“Char,” she said softly. “I don't love him, but I have to stay. For my children.”

I opened my eyes to glanced around us. Still, nobody was watching, all of them far enough away to not be interested.

“And I don't care much for my brother, but I have to stay here now. For her.” And for the prospect of bringing Morté down. I watched her from the corner of my eyes but kept my eyes forward.

“And because he got you, didn't he?” she grimaced a little.

“Who do you mean?” I growled.

“Morningstar,” she replied, her eyes dancing over me. “Come on, Char, I know you. You wouldn't willingly be here.”

My lips formed a thin line. “It's not like your darling husband. We made a deal.”

“I am sure. He is the king of deals, but, you still would not be here of your own accord. I know how much you hate … him. Hated what he was doing. You told me every time we-”

She which cut off as one of her children twisted around. She was a tall creature, all blonde and red eyed. Big lipped, a strong jaw and a proud look told me much that I needed to know about this ball-buster. She also happened to be the one that had accepted Geras as hers. Amusement came to my mind as I imagined what sort of relationship they would have. Love would not be on the cards. Duty, would.

“Brigette, dear,” Sephora softly said.

“Mother …” the one called Brigette said, and she gestured to me roughly, “why are you talking to that?”

“And that was why I left,” I hissed at her. Finally I swung around and stared her in the face. I very briefly met her eyes, holding it for a few small moments as my heart thudded, and all those long minutes of resisting her as her gorgeous purple eyes pierced mine and I was lost, so lost in the wonders of the woman I had loved the most. Still loved? Did I? I accepted she had other lovers easily, but did I still love her?

“Mother …?” Brigette murmured, shocked.

The woman was fully turned around to me. Our hearts beat in succession, our eyes locked. Together we breathed, together we thought, together we dreamed what could have been had she never gotten pregnant. Perhaps we could have ended Morté on our own and ruled, and I could have been as powerful as Morningstar …

No. No, I was not a ruler.

Furiously, I tore my eyes away. Twisting around I moved roughly past her daughter, who stared at me in stunned silence. And there were others, but it seemed they had not heard anything, they only saw as raised eyebrows and confusion came my way. Heavily I shoved my empty goblet onto a table and began to march out of the group.

Spying my brother I made for him, as he stood saying nothing next to his equally still and silent fiancé. Appearing beside him I made him gasp slightly, surprised.

“Can I go now?” I hissed at him, as quietly as I could.

Twice he blinked, and Selena brought a surprised look to her face. He took me in slowly, then looked me up and down with a frown.

“And you could have been so much better,” he curled his lip, flourished a hand. “Go then.”

I didn't care how long I might be there. I only wanted to get out of there. Striding with strength I left as fast, but as strongly as I could. Through the library, down the stairs, into the dungeon. There was no one with me, but I walked in anyway, right into the cell waiting for me, the door open.

I slammed it closed after myself.