A Love From A Different World

Chapter 10

Mor watched with amazement as Azriel danced swiftly with the blond beauty. She was pretty sure that she had never seen him dance, possibly ever. Hadn't he only ever sat at the bar while she begged him endlessly to get on the dancefloor with her? It was incredible how much sway Celaena had over him- incredible and terrifying.

Mor was sure that she was not the only one who saw the way Azriel looked at the human. The longing in his eyes was entirely foreign to her. As was the unguarded facial expression the Shadowsinger had on right now. He was staring directly into Celaena's eyes, grasping her hand tightly, the other one drifting on her hip.

She watched as Azriel looked uncertain with his steps, as Celaena patiently led him through each dance. She wasn't quite sure either of them realized that they were the only two still dancing, their bodies still pressed together. Despite herself, Mor knew that they made a gorgeous couple; Celaena was all golden and bright and Azriel was all shadows. She also knew that everyone else at the party though so too; they were all staring. Most likely because in all of their centuries together, no one- even his own family- had ever seen Azriel like this. Carefree, joyous without restrain.

Celaena grinned and said something, making Azriel throw his head back and roar with laughter. Mor looked across the room to her cousin. Rhys looked like he was boiling with rage as he too watched the couple. He too could not take off his eyes from the pair, gripping the arms of his throne. Mor was glad that no one would see him like that; they were all too preoccupied watching the dance. She knew that there was something unsettling with the human, but this? If her suspicions were right- she didn't even want to think about it. Prythian was already on the brink of a war against the Hybern King, the last thing the Night Court needed was another between two brothers.

Rhysand watched as his heart tightened with every dance. He hated it. Hated the way Celaena was looking at Azriel, the way Azriel was looking back at her. The way they were holding each other, hated everything. And he had no right, none at all. His anger was baseless- and that was why he hated it even more. Celaena was not anyone's, she barely even knew them and they were her. Yet, she already entrapped two from his court. The last time Rhysand had felt this way towards his brother was centuries ago back at the Illyrian camps when they had just met. The High Lord was so focused that he did not sense that someone was near him until they spoke.

"She is quite something, isn't she?" Tarquin's critical blue eyes looked at Celena with curiosity.

"Yes," Instantly, Rhysand regrouped himself and once again graced the new High Lord with his mask. "She is indeed."

"Her name is Celaena, isn't it?"

Rhys did not like the direction of the conversation. "Yes, it is."

"What a pretty name." When Rhysand raised his eyebrow in question, Tarquin continued. "I was just curious about something,"

"Continue,"

"As beautiful as she is, she is still a human..."

"Forgive me for not seeing your point,"

"How is she here- why is she here?"

"Celaena is my guest, not that it's any of your business." Rhys knew that Tarquin was new to the whole High Lord bit, and that he spoke his mind carelessly, but surely someone must have taught him when to shut it.

"I mean no disrespect-"

"Perfect then."

"But, if you snatched her from the human realm this concerns all of us."

"It does not concern any of you."

"Rhys-"

"Let me make myself clear, Tarquin," The High Lord of the Night Court was beyond pissed off. He didn't even know who Celaena was or what were her motives, and despite all that he did not want to let her go. On top of that, Azriel seems to be in love with the girl. And now he had to explain himself to a child about his mess of a situation. "Celaena is my guest and friend, where she comes from is not your business."

"I won't be the only one to question her, others might even investigate. The other courts might see you as another Hybern."

"I'm nothing like him,"

"Maybe not, but they'll only see that you have a human in your court."

"Let me worry about that then."

"I'm just trying to help, after all," The youngster gestured to the party. "Wasn't all of this to mend relationships?" He did not wait for an answer before walking.

The young, arrogant prick pissed off Rhysand. Mostly because he was right. Having a human in his court was dangerous, especially when he still suspected that she was a spy. The last thing he needed was the other courts turning their backs on him in fear of that. Just what the hell was he going to do?