The Ice Diamond Cuff (Custodian Novel #4) (15 page)

Alyssa's face lit up. Alaris stepped to the
side and grabbed the empty chairs. He was lucky to snaffle the last
two in the tavern just before they were about to be procured by a
couple of elves. The elves rolled their eyes with disappointment,
shrugged at each other, and wandered back towards the bar. The
roomy alehouse was filling fast with tournament participants and
there was only standing room left.

Faedra was astonished by how congenial Alaris
could be. She'd only ever experienced his abrasive side, but as the
night wore on, tales were swapped, and endless amounts of laughter
filtered around the table. Etyran's guilt trip faded, as he
realized how happy the girl he didn't choose now was with her new
friend. For the first time in a long time, Faedra relaxed and found
herself suffering from the effects of having one too many goblets
of mead. The only drink in the tavern remotely resembling red wine.
Thank goodness
she
wasn't representing either of her realms
in the tournament the next day. And just how many drinks could a
dragon sustain before they got even the slightest bit tipsy?
Although, now that she came to think of it, with the amount she had
partaken of during the evening, she should be out cold on the floor
by now. Alaris had drunk her under the table, and he was still as
sober as a judge.

"Okay," Faedra said at last, unable to keep
her curiosity at bay any longer. "What's your secret?" Oops, did
she just slur that 'S'?

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean, Your
Highness," Alaris replied, raising a very sleek eyebrow as he
did.

"Oh, don't 'Your Highness' me. You know
exactly what I am talking about," Faedra said, as she caught the
mischievous energy he was trying, and failing, to conceal. "Between
us, we've drunk enough to put old wasshisface over there out of
stock for the whole tournament, but you're still as sober as a
judge and I'm only just starting to feel tipsy."

"I'd say you were a bit more than tipsy,
Fae," Etyran piped up. She narrowed her eyes at him and turned back
to Alaris, who she discovered, was smirking at her.

"Are you smirking at a princess?" Faedra
asked, mock affronted.

Alaris and Alyssa burst out laughing.

"What?"

"You're funny when you're drunk," Alyssa
said.

"I am not drunk," Faedra protested, scanning
around the table for some support. All she got was Faen nodding and
Jocelyn and Etyran leaning in together and making the universal
sign for 'just a tad' with their thumbs and forefingers. She
ignored them and turned back to Alaris. "Seriously, though. It's
the heat, isn't it? The heat burns off the alcohol, doesn't
it?"

Alaris smiled. His secret was out.

"I knew it. It does," Faedra said in
awestruck appreciation.

"Okay. Yes, it does," Alaris admitted. "It
seems that I am able to control it a little better than you,
though."

"Story of my life," Faedra muttered.

Faen stood up, looked down at his wife with
love in his eyes and held out a hand for her. "Come. I think it is
time I took you home."

Faedra looked up, hitting him with her best
puppy dog eyes. "Aww, really?"

Faen smiled. "Really."

Faedra stood up and wobbled a little. She
looked up at her husband who was steadying her by holding her upper
arms. "Oops," she giggled.

Faen couldn't help himself. He laughed at the
girlish innocence he hadn't seen in the woman he loved for far too
long. "What am I going to do with you?" he said, shaking his
head.

"I have a few suggestions," Faedra replied,
leaning into him seductively and threading her hands through his
hair before reaching up for a kiss.

Faen's eyes widened. "Oh, no you don't. Not
here," he said scooping her up in his arms.

Guffaws and giggles echoed around the
table.

"Are you always going to carry me to
bed?"

"Okay. Time to go," Faen blurted hastily. He
turned to the other guests at the table and inclined his head. "I
bid you all a goodnight."

As Faen turned on his heel, Faedra looked
over his shoulder and shot her friends a wave and a giggle.
"Laters," she called over her husband's shoulder as he wound his
way through the amused patrons, who, however, had not forgotten
their standing and bowed politely as Faen whisked the princess out
of the tavern.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Faedra woke bright and early the next
morning, thankful not to have a pounding head. Her heat must have
burned off all the alcohol, like Alaris had mentioned. She drew in
a deep breath, hoping she hadn't made an idiot of herself or done
anything to embarrass her father or the crown. But, Lord help her
if she hadn't had fun last evening. It was the first time she could
remember feeling that relaxed and enjoying a drink with a bunch of
friends. She certainly didn't regret it; she just hoped she
wouldn't have to do any 'damage control' today.

She heard some noise coming from the bathroom
and looked over to Faen's side of the bed. It was empty. A languid
smile crept across her lips. She pushed the covers back and slid
off the bed. There were two important events she wanted to watch
that day. Faen must be getting ready for his as it started early in
the day. She moseyed into the bathroom and leaned against the door
frame.

When Faen saw her, his face lit up. He rinsed
his mouth and patted his face dry with a soft towel before making
his way over to his wife. Once there, he brushed the back of his
knuckles gently down her cheek before leaning in and planting a
soft kiss to her lips. "
Adkara
, you're awake," he whispered
over her mouth.

"
Adkara?
" Faedra asked.

Faen pulled back and smiled. "It means 'love'
in my language. You don't mind do you? I mean, all husbands need a
term of endearment for their wives, do they not?"

"Mind? No, of course not. It's beautiful."
Faedra reached up and looped her arms around Faen's neck. "Have you
been up long?"

"A little while. I went out to do some last
minute warm up training with Etyran this morning. I did not want to
wake you. You were sleeping so soundly."

Faedra felt her cheeks flush, recalling the
reason she had been sleeping so soundly. She looked up at Faen
through her lashes. "Ah, yes. About that," she said, her voice a
little sheepish. "I didn't do anything to embarrass my father did
I?"

Faen looked at her for a long moment, his
countenance unreadable. Faedra's expression fell. Oh, God. She had
done something to embarrass her father. Her eyes widened and her
breath hitched. She dropped her eyes to stare at her feet. Oh, no,
that meant she'd have to go and eat humble pie after all. How would
her father react? Surely, by now, he would have been told about her
un-princess-like conduct by all and sundry. Would he be angry with
her, showing him up like that? Of course, he would. She was not
only his daughter, but an ambassador to the realm. He was going to
be furious. Oh, how she longed, at that moment, to be normal old
Faedra with only the village gossip to worry about. Her dad, Henry,
would probably do nothing more than muss her hair and ask her if
the hangover was worth it. Good grief, how could she have been so
stupid?

Faen laughed. Faedra brought her stricken
gaze to meet with his mischievous one.

"Do not worry. You did not embarrass
yourself. Just a few giggles with close friends, that is all. I
would not let you get yourself into trouble. Do you not know me
well enough by now?"

After the look of relief that flooded
Faedra's features, her eyes narrowed. She doffed him on the arm.
"You rotten sod."

Pulling out of his embrace, she stalked back
into the bedroom.

Faen reached out and grabbed her wrist before
she was able to get very far. "Adkara, forgive me. It was just for
a moment. I could not resist."

Faedra raised a speculative eyebrow. "You've
been spending too much time with Etyran."

"Alas, I do believe I have."

Faedra closed her eyes and shook her head, a
smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. She felt Faen's relief,
probably before even he did. He moved in close. She could feel his
heat as he wrapped his arms around her and pressed his lips to the
top of her head. With that gesture, all irritation disintegrated
and she melted into his caress.

There was a knock at the door. Without
waiting for a response, the door opened and a familiar head poked
itself around the solid oak. "Come on, you lovebirds. We've got
cups to win and Alsians to beat," Etyran announced from the
threshold.

Faedra squeaked as Faen scooted her behind
him so fast she didn't have time to blink. She was about to protest
when she realized the reasoning behind his action. She was still in
her silky satin nightdress that only reached to her thighs, a
little luxury she'd brought in from the World of Men. Flushing,
Faedra reached her arm over the bed, picked up a pillow and hurled
it at the intruder from behind her husband.

"Hey! What was that for?"

Faen looked down at Faedra before they both
shot a glare at Etyran. "Out!" they shouted.

"Blimey. You guys are touchy!"

Faedra didn't reach for another pillow this
time, instead she held a palm up that now had a purple orb bobbing
above it. Etyran's eyes widened.

"Okay, I can take a hint," he said. "Cor,
blimey. I was only coming to chivvy you along a bit."

Faedra raised her palm.

Raising his hands, Etyran backed out the
door. "I'm going, I'm going. Jeez."

"We will be down in a few moments, my
friend," Faen called, as the door clicked shut.

"You better be," a muffled voice said from
the behind the closed door. "We've got to kick us some Alsian
butt." Footsteps resounded down the corridor as Etyran left.

Faedra and Faen looked at each other, then
sputtered a laugh. "He's been in the World of Men far too long,"
Faedra said.

"That he has," Faen agreed.

***

The swords arena was abuzz when Faedra, Faen
and Jocelyn arrived. One of the most popular events in the
tournament, the stands were brimming over with spectators. Faen
stopped at the steps that led to the royal box.

"Good luck," Faedra said, planting a kiss to
Faen's cheek. "Do us proud."

Faen brushed her cheek with his fingers.
"Always, Adkara." He turned on his heel and headed for the
contestant's tent.

Faedra and Jocelyn made their way up the
steps to join her father in the box. The crowd hushed as soon as
they saw her. Would she ever get used to having so much attention?
She doubted it. Faedra made a gesture that she hoped conveyed what
she was thinking
'as you were'.
Thankfully the spectators
seemed to understand and carried on with their exuberant banter.
She was thrilled to see her dad was also in the box. She wondered
if the king had any idea how much she appreciated the way he was
letting her dad still be involved with her life, and made a mental
note to tell him when they were in private.

"Hey, Dad," Faedra greeted.

Henry stood up and wrapped his arms around
his daughter, giving her a good squeeze. "Good morning, darling.
How are you this morning?"

"Good, thanks."

"Hello, Jocelyn. Good to see you again."

"Good morning, Mr. Bennett," Jocelyn said as
she sat herself behind Faedra and her dad. Henry rolled his eyes at
his daughter. "They're never going to call me Henry, are they?"

"Nope," Faedra said as she let go of her dad
and shuffled past him to sit next to her father, the king. Their
greeting was much more formal.

The king stood, took her hand and inclined
his head. "Faedra."

Faedra inwardly rolled her eyes. This whole
protocol thing was far too overrated. In one of her 'princess
lessons', she learned that whenever greeting the king in public,
she should show respect as a good impression to the people. She
wondered what the crowd would do if she just hugged him and got it
over with. More to the point, what would her father do? She doubted
he would be pleased and decided it probably wouldn't be one of her
brightest ideas.

Faedra inclined her head, also, adding a
small curtsy as she had been shown, which, like usual, she still
fluffed up. "Father."

Seeming satisfied with his greeting, the king
smiled and gestured for Faedra to sit, before sitting himself.

Faedra leaned over to Henry. "What time is
your event?"

"Straight after lunch."

"Do you know who you are playing yet?"

Henry paled.

Uh-oh, that wasn't good. Faedra felt a twinge
of guilt for railroading her dad into doing this. At least with
darts, he couldn't get physically hurt...hopefully.

"Yes," Henry muttered.

"Well," Faedra encouraged. "Who is it?"

Henry swallowed. "Odin."

Faedra bit back a smile. "Oh, don't worry.
Odin likes you."

Henry shot his daughter a dubious glance.
"And what if he didn't?"

"You don't need to worry about that, 'cause
he does."

"Faedra, if you are trying to make me feel
better...It's not working."

"Dad, you'll be fine. Odin's a big teddy
bear."

Henry's brows shot to his hairline. "He's the
God of War!"

"A mere technicality," Faedra said, brushing
away her dad's statement with a whisk of her hand.

Henry dropped his head to his hands. "Oh,
good grief, I'm going to die. I won't even make it to the second
round."

Faedra rubbed his shoulder. "You'll be
fine."

Cheers erupted as the first competitors
entered the arena. It was Etyran, and he had gotten his wish. He
was competing against an Alsian.

Faedra leaned forward, resting her elbows on
her knees. "Come on, Etyran. Kick some Alsian butt," she whispered
under her breath. If Jocelyn's energy was anything to go by, her
friend was thinking exactly the same thing.