Free Red Rope of Fate by K.M. Shea Page A

it was safe to assume dinner was no longer being served, but the kitchens would still be open for evening tea.
    Seer Ringali reached into his sash and pulled out a tiny satin bag, which he passed to Tari. “You did well. Here is your tre at, share them with your wolf man.”
    “Thank you Seer Ringali,” Tari said, bowing slightly. After a cross examination Arion admitted ‘welcome’ was the only elvish word he had picked up. Tari hoped it remained that way for the duration of Seer Ringali’s stay, or she would have some very awkward explanations to give.
    Seer Ringali nodded before separating from Tari, turning down a different hallway. Tari gripped the bag, flexing the soft cloth that covered her hands, and continued on her way.
    “Tari?”
    Tari looked up to see Kiva come around the corner. Her older sister was dressed in a beautiful peach colored dress, her hair was twisted and secured to the back of her head with a gold clip. She looked suspiciously lovely for a night that did not have a banquet scheduled.
    “Did Seer Ringali have you practicing at this hour ?” Kiva said.
    “Yes, it’s cooler in the evenings. Was there a banquet or state event this evening? Blast, I must have forgotten it,” Tari sighed.
    K iva smiled archly. “No, there was no banquet.”
    “Then why the finery?”
    “I am meeting with Princess Claire.”
    “In your best dress?”
    Kiva sighed. “Once a week Princess Claire hosts an evening tea. She is careful to schedule it on nights that do not contain state events, or on evenings when another member of the royal family is hosting a tea as well.”
    “Oh,” Tari said, leaning back on her heels as she thought. “Wait, Princess Claire hosts the tea, and Arion and I are not invited?” she asked, narrowing her eyes. It seemed odd that Arion’s sister wo uld not invite them. Their celebrity status made them very enviable guests. Was she trying to distance herself from her family? Was the princess ashamed?
    “Arion attends the teas,” Kiva said.
    “ What ?” Tari asked. They invite Arion and not me?
    “Princess Claire wished to extend an invitation to you as well, but Arion asked her not to,” Kiva quickly added.
    “ WHAT ?” Tari repeated, her voice growing dark. Arion was the one who withheld the invitation? After all that pretty talk about friendship and informality?!
    Kiva winced and took a step backwards under the pressure of Tari’s anger.
    Tari squeezed a hand into a fist until it shook. “Where is this tea held, Kiva?”
    Kiva swallowed uncomfortably. “The Crystal Hall.”
    Tari twisted on her heels and started down the hallway as she attempted to shove the stabbing sensation of betrayal out of her ribs.
    “Tari, you cannot possibly mean to go this evening,” Kiva called in protest. “You are dressed in your practice uniform, you haven’t been invited.”
    “Forget it, I’m going!” Tari snapped. “If the humans want informality, they’re going to get it!”
    Tari stormed to the Crystal H all, a smaller but still grand hall that was meant for evening teas—or drinking parties as Tari still called them—and small luncheons. She expected resistance when she reached the entryway—after all she bore no invitation—but the guards scrambled to open the doors for her when they saw her coming.
    Tari blew through the doors, stopping on the small platform the hallway opened into at the top of four stairs to look for her bond partner.
    Tari was aware there were several gasps from a few of the guests—there had to be only twenty to twenty five people present, odd considering a small royal drinking party usually consisted of at least a hundred people—but she ignored the stares and zeroed in on Arion.
    He was standing at the side of the hall, dressed in his formal armor, talking to Eric. Their sisters were not present, but Talon was. This only served to further infuriate Tari. The fact that Eric would invite Talon but Arion would not invite Tari spoke