Chapter 255: The Fae Crown Prince and His Concubines.
After the exchange of formal greetings, so annoyingly ritualistic and cold, Ren took her place beside Kai. Her gaze wandered briefly over the long table where they were expected to dine. They set the table with ornate silverware, crystal goblets, plates gilded with ancient runes... and seated across them, two Fae women who hadn’t stopped staring at her.
Concubines, she realized. Their beauty was sculpted to flawlessness, but their eyes held nothing but smug curiosity, like she was a rare animal brought in for show.
Discomfort prickled beneath her skin, and she immediately linked her thoughts to Kai.
"This is stupidly awkward. He came to greet us with his concubines."
Kai’s amused voice echoed in her mind.
"It’s nothing compared to how boring he can be."
Ren stifled a snort, lifting her goblet only to hide her expression. Gods, this realm was exhausting.
Just as she leaned toward her husband just a bit to whisper something else in his mind, Lucieth’s voice rang through the tension like a dish dropping on the floor.
"Tell me, King Benkin," he said, his tone silky and deceptively polite, "Why did you let your vampire son live?"
The table froze. The maiden who was helping the King to eat his soup put the spoon down.
All gazes turned toward the old King. Benkin, unfazed, slowly raised his eyes to meet Lucieth’s, his voice was steady.
"Because he is my son," he said simply. "And I didn’t know that. Have you ever seen a father who would gladly put his own child to the sword?"