Chapter Text
The parties and official functions had not stopped. Even with the city's archangel dead, and no replacement named, these events hadn't slowed at all. The more things change, the more they remain the same, Hypaxia thought, taking a sip and making a mental note of everyone in attendance. Everyone important at least. Tharion was doing the same from the opposite side of the room. Along with a tiger shifter named Allia. Each of them figuring out who was here, who was mingling with whom, who might be brought into their fold.
The rebellion was just beginning to take shape, and they desperately needed powerful allies. Hunt Athalar and Bryce Quinlan were at the top of their list of preferred collaborators, for obvious reasons. But it was too risky to approach them about that now. The asteri were watching them more closely than others. They needed to be patient, but act swiftly when opportunities arose. A bit of a paradox, as Tharion often pointed out, but necessary in these dangerous times.
Number three on that list, a name placed there by her hand and causing some disagreement, was currently walking into the room. The two males that followed him everywhere were a few paces behind. When Ruhn Danaan caught her watching him, he whispered something to one of them and they both split off, disappearing into the crowd. She pretended not to notice him coming straight towards her. And she certainly didn't pay attention to the quickening drumbeat rhythm of her heart. Turning her back on him, she caught sight of one of her witches and decided to join her at the food table.
The witch rambled on about the food, the music, the decorations. A young delegate new to the city and its obnoxious excess, overwhelmed and trying to take everything in. Hypaxia smiled and nodded, offering a word or two here and there, keeping her eyes on the witch. But her mind was wandering far, and not so far, away. Far, to the prophecies her mother had taught her. Visions that were said to be coming true, leading the way to overthrowing the asteri. And not far, to the starborn prince, who she'd grown used to seeing in black leather, his sword strapped to his back, piercings and tattoos on full display. But tonight, he was more subdued, dressed in a charcoal gray suit, a dark sapphire tie that brought his already bright blue eyes to life. His pointed ears still held multiple silver rings and studs, but she noticed some were missing.
"Your Majesty? Are you all right?"
Hypaxia blinked, turning to look at the young witch. She'd been staring at Ruhn, who, thank the Mother, was busy talking to someone else. But the male he was speaking to offered a laughing goodbye and left. This was as good a time as any, she decided. Assuring the witch that she was fine, Hypaxia made her way over to Ruhn, just barely avoiding several drunk angels pushing through the crowd.
*****
This didn't seem like a place the witch queen would be seen. It wasn't the most outrageous party he'd been too, not by a long shot. But it was late, and there were drugs and drinks and lots of barely dressed party-goers of all shapes and sexes. And yet, Ruhn had hoped to see her here. She'd attended the meetings held all day, as he had with his father. So he'd thought there was chance she'd come. A chance that, for some reason, made him want to put on this suit instead of his usual clothes. Flynn and Dec had noticed, giving him a once over and exchanging a look that left them deciding to keep their mouths shut for once. At the sight of Hypaxia, in a simple form-fitting dress the color of the ocean, her hair still half done in elaborate braids that abruptly ended in free, tight curls, he'd told Flynn and Dec to get lost. They didn't argue, but by the time he'd looked back, she was the one lost in the penthouse full of people.
A part of him was still pissed that she'd kept her true identity from him. But he really couldn't blame her. He was only mad because he'd acted like an ass. So, he was actually pissed at himself. Pissed that his father had gone ahead and sent her a formal request for an alliance without telling him. The bastard wouldn't tell him whether that offer had included a marriage between Ruhn and the queen. But he did know what the reply said. A simple "No, thank you". When Dec told him, he'd burst out laughing, too impressed with her nerve and dismissal of his father to feel any sense of hurt. The hurt only crept in once or twice, when he lay awake at night, unable to sleep, unable to think about anything else except that fucking prophecy from the Oracle. Wondering if her healer senses had alerted her to his deficiencies. Whatever they even were.
He tried listening to Ithan, tried to focus on what the wolf shifter was saying, but he only caught every other word. Like magnets, his eyes kept being pulled to her. When Ithan realized that he was fighting a losing battle for Ruhn's attention, he huffed a laugh and said he'd call him later. And then, she was walking towards him.
"Your majesty," he said with a slight dip of his chin. His tone was only partly teasing, showing respect for her position and title while recognizing his past stupidity of not getting her name.
Hypaxia smiled. It was kind and sweet, but he knew she had steel hidden beneath those veils. "Your highness."
"Oh no," he laughed, "formalities aren't necessary for me."
"You're the Starborn Prince," she said, no hint of sarcasm or meaningless flattery. Before he could protest, she continued. "Speaking of which, I've never seen starlight." To his doubtful look, she replied, "Not in person. Seeing your sister on the vidscreens doesn't really count. Care to demonstrate it for me?"
Surprised, Ruhn asked, "Here? Right now?" She shrugged, trying to be casual, as if disinterested by the request she'd made of him. "You should be asking Bryce. She's much more powerful than me."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, but then she said, "Your sister isn't here. Besides, I'd like to see your magic."
"Okay," he said, giving in and leading her towards a quiet corner, away from the crowd. He wasn't self conscious of his power, but he'd never liked calling attention to it. Not with strangers around. When it was just the two of them, he took a deep breath and shut his eyes. Her scent, some kind of spicy perfume that heated his blood, threatened to steal his focus, but he managed to ignore it. And then he ignored the music, the talking, everything, falling deep within his magic until he saw and felt the spark that was always a part of him.
*****
Hypaxia watched his face stiffen in concentration, then looked to his hands as they cupped together. A tiny flare of light slowly turned into a glowing orb the size of an overlarge gem. It hung suspended in thin air above his palms, twirling and undulating with power. Because he'd led them to a dark corner, the starlight illuminated his face, giving off colors that normal light didn't. And when he opened his eyes, the blue in them seemed to ignite. Like blue-white stars flickering in the darkest night sky. She looked back to the starlight and laughed, unable to contain her awe.
But the ball of magic flashed once, and a second later, it was gone. Still smiling, she lifted her gaze to meet his. And found a slight frown there. She mirrored it, thinking it was out of place on him, and something she didn't like to see.
"Are you mocking me?" he asked, not angry, but hurt. As if the usual reaction to this incredibly rare magic was disdain instead of delight. As if no one had ever been made happy by his gift.
She reached out for his arm. "No, of course not!" Ruhn glanced at where she touched him and she pulled her hand back. "It's amazing. Unlike anything I've ever seen." Sensing disagreement forming on his lips, she added, "Any amount of starlight is beautiful."
Faintly, he smiled, forcing her to blink several times, trying to regain some sort of composure.
You're beautiful.
Hypaxia's eyes widened as she realized his mouth hadn't moved. Yet, she'd heard his voice as clear as day. Panic flashed over his face when what he'd just done hit him. What he'd just revealed. He was a telepath. A starborn prince, with the gifts of not only shadow magic but telepathy as well. He was far more powerful than she'd known. What other abilities might he be hiding? And why?
Ruhn stammered some excuse, having misinterpreted her expression as disgust or fear. But the blush that rose on her cheeks couldn't be misread. His compliment left her flustered, speechless. And entranced. When he saw her reddening face, his smile returned, and the warmth on her skin, within her, grew.
“Maybe we could have dinner some time?” he asked, his eyes heavy and laser focused, as if they were completely alone in this room filled with people.
Fighting again for her normal cool demeanor, she found herself asking, “To discuss your father’s plan for us? The one neither of us were consulted about?”
“No," Ruhn replied, never breaking their gaze. "He can go to Hel.”
A quick little laugh escaped her lips and she tried to think about what that might mean for the rebellion. What a powerful fae prince, one who would go against his father's wishes, might bring to their cause. But she became distracted. By his feral yet enticing smile, his brilliant eyes and the way the starlight had reflected in them. How it seemed to have come from within them ...
“I just want to see you again,” he said.
She believed him. There was no ulterior motive in his sharp, handsome features. No secrets. Not like the ones she was harboring at least. The thought that this was a bad idea, and extremely bad timing, floated through her head. Hypaxia knew she should discourage him, discourage this ... whatever this was. But she remembered how kind he'd been in the weeks before all Hel broke loose at the Summit. When he'd thought she was just a nameless medwitch. How determined he was to help not just his sister, but the city.
And how he'd pulled her out of the way when Athalar had destroyed Sandriel. She wondered if he remembered he'd done that. Something in the way he was looking at her made her think he did.
Catching a glimpse of the two males he'd come here with approaching their quiet corner, Hypaxia simply said, "Call me." Before the fae reached them, she turned and walked away. As she wandered through the crowd, making her way to the exit, she felt his eyes still on her. With a long, deep breath, she forced herself to ignore the heat of his stare, willing her mask of calm indifference back into place.