A Court of Madness and Depth

Chapter 22

"What is going on with you two?" Rhysand asked, his gaze bounced between Azriel and myself as he sat between us. I did everything in my power not to laugh as Azriel carefully wove a glamor to cover up my scent on his hands. Rhys studied me carefully, from my head to my feet, his eyes narrowed around my midriff "Weren't you wearing a corset over this dress earlier?"
"It felt like it was suffocating me," I shrugged. Rhys didn't buy it. He had found us a few moments earlier, winnowing to where we were in the woods right outside of Adriata. He had explained that we were to meet with the High Lord of the Summer Court and had not seemed to notice the tension between the two of us until now.

"Then where is your corset?" My brother persisted.

"Somewhere in Spring. Do you want to go back and look?" I asked, laughing lightly. He only offered me a glare. Fine if he wanted to play I would play. I rolled my eyes in an effort to remind him that his overprotection was not welcome, "Tamlin didn't take it off me if that's what you're wondering."

Azriel stiffened just slightly enough for me to notice. My brother's glare didn't falter as he analyzed my face, trying to detect some glimmer of information. I kept it bare, wearing the mask he had taught me to dawn. Azriel, curse the male, had slipped into shadow. Probably scouting out where we were to meet with Nostros.

"He will see you now," a blue faerie with wings larger than their body glided into the room where the three of us waited. Saved by the High Lord of Summer. I thanked the Mother that this examination was over.

"This conversation isn't over," Rhysand said in my direction, but his eyes glanced, ever so slightly, over to where Azriel had been sitting only a few minutes before.

The blue faerie gestured for Rhysand and I to follow, so we let them lead us through open walkways, and down to a formal royal dock where a large boat, dawned with sparking lights, lay in the tiny harbor.

Atop the boat were fae lights strung in elegant lines. They drifted down the rigging of the boat, casting the entire ship in gold and blue light. Even the water beneath seemed ethereal as its crests caught the glistening glow with each rise and fall. Faeries and High Fae danced and swirled with mirth and pleasure as cheerful music, that was foreign to me, played without ceasing. They moved together, an alive body writhing with glee and joy.

In spite of myself, I found my feet moving to the music, as if drawn into the dance against my own will. Beaming with pleasure, I followed the blue fae up the gangway to the deck of the ship. Rhysand seemed to be in the same sort of trance from the music that I was, a brilliant smile was peaked across his beautiful face.

"Do you wish for any refreshments," the blue fae asked, they gestured towards a table filled with salty rolls and icy bars of frozen fruit, which seemed to stay cold despite the heat around us. My mouth watered at the sight of the delicacies, but I knew that we had a task at hand that could not wait.

The night was incredibly warm, and I began to feel gravely jealous of the Summer Court climate. No wonder everyone around us was so full of mirth, it seemed like they never had to be cold. Though it was dark there was an unmistakable heat rising from the ground as if the land and seabed itself were blessed with a comforting fire directly beneath their crust.

However, some members of the court seemed to have found warmth in other ways. High aloft the quarterdeck of the ship I could see the High Lord of Summer. He glowed with blue fire, his entire body immersed in light. His stark white hair had been turned a light blue by the power that ebbed around him. He was dressed in a loose blue gown, with gold clasps holding it around his shoulders, the attire accentuated his deep and dark brown skin perfectly. He truly was beauty incarnate.

Drawn by our gazes Nostros let his eyes drift from the four faeries writhing before him. He beckoned for us to approach, but had the courtesy to send the four faeries in his attendance away. He had to produce his own ritual earlier, but it appeared he was not done with the merriment. The four fae, a combination of colors and sexes and station, had been kissing every part of him revealed by his clothing, worshiping their High Lord's body with their mouths. I felt myself blush as I approached them.