A Little Night Muse(58)

                She shook off her mournfulness. First things first, as her Josh                     would say. “Have you seen EveStar?”

                “Everyone has been summoned to the throne room. The Queen is in                     a mood.”

                Adelyn almost smiled. William had been in the phaedrealii long enough to not even name the moods                     anymore. “I guess that is where I need to go. You’ll have to be my                     disguise.”

                William wrinkled his nose. “You have your glamour.”

                “But none so good as the Queen’s own lover. You owe me this.”                     Most courtiers avoided William and other humans within the phaedrealii. For good reason, as she could attest. Certainly no one                     would expect to see her with him.

                They joined the throngs heading for the throne room.

                Except for the unchanging steel seat at its center, the throne                     room became whatever the phaedrealii conjured. At                     the moment, it was a ballroom of matte white marble, thinly lined with black                     traceries. Hundreds of fluted columns towered upward, their peaks disappearing                     into a slowly roiling haze. Above the throne itself, a giant hollowed globe of                     marble hung as a chandelier. The undefined glow illuminated the room from the                     center, sucking the color from everything below it until even the glorious hues                     of the phae were cast with the pall of dread.

                “Oh, this is a mood all right,” Adelyn murmured. “You are                     taller than I am. Do you see EveStar?” Normally the handmaid flitted both ahead                     of and behind the Queen, always in motion, preparing the way and picking up the                     pieces afterward.

                “I don’t—Wait.” William rocked up onto his toes. “She just came                     in. The Queen won’t be far behind.”

                Which gave Adelyn only a few moments to contact the handmaid.                     But she hesitated. “William, is this really where you want to be?”

                His gaze slid away from her. “Do you know how long I have been                     here?”

                She shook her head. “You know time does not always pass here as                     you might imagine.”

                “I can’t go back now.” He let out a shuddering breath. “It will                     never be the same for me.” His eyes were dark but swamp lights moved within                     them. Haunted eyes.