Did I also mention it's very addicting?
The fey king and queen join in, drinking with me, while Rhyland watches me down half the glass with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Easy," he teases in a low, husky tone. "Wouldn't want to have to carry you back to bed."
"Yeah, we wouldn't want that," I say sweetly, licking some wine off my lips.
"Or maybe you do want that?" His gaze bores into mine as he gently cups the back of my neck.
"Maybe I do." What in the lusty vampires am I saying?
He chuckles, softly massaging the back of my neck as he dips his lips to my ear. "Easy on the wine. I mostly trust the fey, but I still don't want you drunk and vulnerable while they're here." He starts to move away, then pauses. "When they leave, though, and it's just you and me, you're more than welcome to get drunk and vulnerable, if you want."
"And what would you do if I did?" I'm pretty sure I've drunk too much already since the fey king and queen can't even hear us, which makes our flirting only for our benefit.
He releases a deafening exhale. "Nothing."
I start to lean away, irritated and feeling like an idiot. What was I thinking flirting with the enemy?
His fingers tighten on the back of my neck, trapping me where I am. "I wouldn't do anything because you'd be drunk and vulnerable, and anything I did would be taking advantage of you. When we get to that place in our lives, I want you to be sober."
I steady my breathing before I speak. "When? That's a pretty bold statement. Can you see the future or something?"
His fingers stiffen on my neck. "No," he chokes out. Then he's moving away from me and reaching for his goblet. "I'd like to make a toast." He raises his goblet. "To the fey king and queen, who have more than held up to their reputation. Thank you for dining with us." His tone is tight, his demeanor stiff.
He clinks glasses with the fey king and queen, and then with mine, not making eye contact with me.
"Yes, to us." A sly smile spreads across Faraelee's face. "And of course to the new vampire king and queen. You make such a lovely couple. And how quickly you've fallen in love and Proclaimed. Some might say a little too quickly, though."
Rhyland carries her gaze. "True love usually happens quickly and without cause."
"Some may say that," the queen replies. "But not everyone agrees with it. I sure don't. I'm surprised you do, all things considering."
The two of them stare each other down in a challenge, leaving me confused. The fey king appears quite the opposite, though, looking utterly bored.
Their behavior only gets weirder the longer we dine. While Rhyland does continue to flirt and tease me, his remarks and touches are more forced. And the queen acts oddly giddy.
An hour later, the fey bodyguards are lining up out in front of the castle to see their king and queen off.
Rhyland and I walk the faerie-winged royalty to the door, stiffly holding hands, Rhyland stuck in a daze. Our bodyguards trail at our heels.
When we step outside beneath the starry sky, Faraelee turns to Rhyland. "Would you like that gift you requested now?" Her sparkling gaze briefly flicks to me. "Or, shall I leave it with one of your guards so you can give it to her later."
Rhyland blinks out of his daze. "What?"
"The gift you requested." She smirks at him. "For your queen."
"Oh, right." Some of the stiffness loosens from Rhyland's muscles. "Now will be fine. I'd like to give it to her tonight."
Still smirking, the queen whisks off toward the forest with a few of her guards following, her golden dress swishing across the painted charcoal dirt behind her.
I turn and gape at Rhyland, my jaw hanging to my knees. "You got me a present?"
He reaches over and lines his fingers under my chin, guiding my parted lips closed. "Consider it an early birthday present."
"But you've never given me a birthday present before." I observe his reaction carefully, watching for a sign that perhaps he has. That perhaps the dream that whisked into my sleep last night was a memory.
He simply shrugs and grins. "There's a first time for everything, right?"
"I guess so." I frown. I don't even know why. Maybe because the entire night has been so strange. "Is there something going on between you and the fey queen?"
"Why would you think that?" he asks.
"Because there seemed to be some tension between you two."
"I just have some issues with the fey. That's all."