Soul Chains

Chapter 28: Follow Me, Lover Boy

I sigh as I wander around the celebration in the dining hall, which is full of red, white, and gold. Crowds full of people mingle around and I manage to spot Reine talking to Azuma and Eden, their children hanging around their legs. I notice Eden's beautiful emerald gown and Azuma's black suit with an emerald tie and I can't help but smile at how they seem so perfect for each other. My breath hitches upon looking at Reine in her floor length ruby red dress, the back curving down and the front being held up by two thin straps that tie behind her neck. I make my way over to her and Eden's eyes flicker over to me, a smile of recognition creeping up her face as Azuma and Reine continue to talk. Azuma's eyes flicker over to my figure after noticing Eden's attention drifted away and Reine turns halfway to look at me. Reine smiles softly as I arrive and the royal children run around in circles.

"Carry me! Carry me!" one of the small girls shouts and Azuma laughs as he bends down and picks up the red haired, blue eyed girl.

"I thought you only had two children?" I ask.

"Who told you that?" Eden raises a brow.

"Bridgette and Aidan were talking about them," I shrug.

"We do. This is Hikari," Azuma says, bouncing the girl in his arms once before he turns his attention to the blond haired, green eyed boy running around, "and that's her older brother Axen."

"Then who..." I trail off, watching the third little girl with blonde hair and brown eyes curiously.

"That's Ruki," Eden smiles, "she's Hikari's and Axen's cousin."

"Cousin?" I raise a brow, my mind automatically thinking of Aidan and I'm pretty sure that he doesn't have kids yet-- especially one this old already.

"Azuma has siblings too, you know," Reine chimes in with a chuckle and my lips part in realization.

"Right...I don't know why I didn't think of that," I sigh, laughing awkwardly.

"Probably because I never told you?" Azuma smiles bemusedly, "Eden and I have been talking to Reine for about a half hour, so you're a bit behind. Sorry about that. I have three sisters and two brothers, by the way."

"Sekai!" Bridgette shouts over the crowd as she makes her way over in a silver floor length dress similar to Reine's that shimmers when the lighting from the room hits it, joining the conversation, "you look nice, your highness. As do you, my queen."

"Thank you, Bridgette," Eden smiles fondly and Bridgette nods in appreciation.

"You don't need to call me by my last name, Bridgette," Azuma sighs, "how many times have I told you that? Call me Azuma."

"Sorry...Azuma," Bridgette chuckles before she glances around our small circle, "Reine, Gabriel. Nice to see you both."

"Likewise," Reine smiles.

"I'm gonna go get a drink," I say as I turn to leave before I smirk and lean down to Reine's ear as I do so, "you look very nice, by the way."

I don't miss the way Reine's breath hitches at hearing my words as I start to walk away and I continue smiling, hoping that she realizes I truly meant it. I make my way over to the table that's used for snacks and drinks before the dinner begins and I grab a wine glass as I scan the options on the table. I settle for a foreign sounding drink that looks close enough to a soda, its color being a deep red with hints of deep brown and it reminds me of Cherry Cola. As I turn around, I accidentally run into a blue eyed brunette who rushes passed me and the drink goes flying out of my glass and towards her. My eyes widen in horror and she gasps, but the drink stops midair and becomes captured in a bubble-like substance. I lock eyes with her and we stand there frozen for a few seconds, unsure of what to do or say.