“Indeed,” said Roman, gaze still on his book. “We’ve been very fortunate with you, alterni.” This was uncharacteristically complimentary for the old man.
“Thank you, Master Conjuri.”
Ada sat back in her chair and frowned. “There must be something we’re not seeing. What triggers these malevolenci outbursts?”
Esme copied her mentor’s frown. “A rise in their population? I saw their world, and it didn’t look like they have many resources. What if sometimes the malevolenci become more desperate and so increase their attacks on our world to escape their own? Then with fewer of them left in their world, they settle down.”
“A good theory,” mused Ada. She faced Roman. “You’ve studied the malevolenci more than any Master Conjuri in history. Could conditions in their world be driving them here?”
Roman scowled at his book. “It’s possible. There’s much we don’t know about the malevolenci, even after all these centuries. We know even less about their world.”
Esme had another thought. “Maybe we’re looking for answers in the wrong world. What if something here is making them attack more?”
Roman again scowled, but no one had an answer.
Esme sighed and pushed gray strands from her face. Her gaze drifted from book to book on the table. “You’ve fought this war for centuries. How can we defeat an enemy we know so little about?”
Roman closed the cover of his book and sat back. “We know each species’ weaknesses. We know their strengths. During intense periods such as ours, we’ve seen the demons use the same tactical maneuvers. We don’t need to know why they’re attacking so ferociously again. Whatever the reason, we must continue to do as we’ve always done.”
Owen, leaning back, nodded in agreement. “Use what we know. Fight. Stop the malevolenci from overrunning our world.” His eyes swung to Esme. He smiled. “And, this time, believe we have an alterni strong enough to turn the tide.”
Esme again struggled to pull her eyes from Owen’s, but she forced herself to lean over and put her face in the Chronicles of Kings, Volume XXI.
Focus.
Owen had picked his birthday as the time to declare his retirement as chief of police. Apparently a huge party was in order. Esme, still not attuned to this world’s fashion, had spent the majority of the day prepping with Lexi.
“You look great. Stop squirming.” Lexi checked her lipstick in the mirrored elevator wall and ran fingers through her long, loose locks. Her navy blue dress fit her perfectly, and she knew it.
Esme sighed and took advantage of the elevator mirror for a final inspection. Her lacy, gray dress was flattering. It hung off one shoulder, angled at the bottom, and exposed more thigh than she normally dared. The purple heels and clutch cost a fortune, but Lexi had reminded her of her Order-account credit card and urged her to indulge. Esme hadn’t been sure about Lexi’s approach to makeup either, but she had to admit the neon-yellow lipstick looked cool. Esme herself had added curls and waves to her gray bob.
Esme’s gaze dropped to the golden bracelet, thin chains, and rings on her right hand, and she gave her reflection a small smile.
How far I’ve come. My castorca is the one part of my outfit that feels natural.
Lexi smirked at her as they waited on the elevator. “Not a lot of rooftop parties in your world?”
“Uh. Not for me.”
“Ever been in a penthouse?”
“I knew a guy in Florida who tried… No.”
“Well, Owen throws parties all the time, I think to keep cavali spirits up. Plus he likes us to mingle with the public. He also uses these gatherings to strengthen his contacts as chief of police. Well, he used to do that, I should say.” Lexi smiled with excitement.
“So now that he’s resigning, you’ll be the one working these parties.” Esme realized something. “You’ll be working this party, won’t you?”
“Sorry, but it’s not like I’m abandoning you – you’ll know people from the Order. Hakim’s in Italy this week, but I’m pretty sure your whole cavali team was invited. Max, Dax, Benja, Davis. Tank might even show, since he’s only half troll and blends in.” Lexi made a face. “As for civilians, there won’t be many women to hang out with. Not ones our age, anyway.”
“Why’s that?”
“Most of the public bigwigs are men. There’s not a lot of gender equality in government around here. That oughta be interesting now that I’m the actual chief.” Lexi scowled. “I am a downer, aren’t I? Owen put that in the comments of his final review.”
Esme rolled her eyes. “Compared to Owen, everyone is overly serious. You’re just good at your job.”
Lexi stopped scowling. “Thanks.”
The elevator dinged open, and the pair stepped out. Esme tried not to appear out of her element as she followed Lexi into the rooftop entrance room.
The wall behind them held the elevator, a descending staircase, and bathrooms. The other three walls and ceiling were glass. All around and above, the evening sky was a mix of pinks and blues.
“Come on.” Lexi walked to the exit and out to the open air of the rooftop.
With the sun setting, the rooftop felt relatively cool. Old-fashioned bulbs were strung from the entry to the far corners of the roof. Potted plants divided the rooftop into different sections. To the immediate left of the entry lay a dance floor in front of a stage. The band onstage played jazz, and a large crowd of dancers laughed and chatted. To the right, more docile party-goers stood in cool blue lights shining from a bar’s long counter. Farther across the rooftop, still more people sat at scattered tables or stood around high tables drinking.
Lexi headed for the bar. Esme stepped into the blue light and saw an hors d’oeuvre table around the side of the bar. Lexi had insisted they skip dinner, so Esme followed her nose and got in line behind a pair of older couples. The husbands looked official.
Esme grinned to herself.
Dapper gents. They probably have something to do with the police department or local government. I know some of the older commissioners are with the Order, but we don’t control everything. That’s for the best. We’re here to protect the world, not control it.
Esme smiled at her use of the word “we.” She was a full-fledged member of the Order these days.
Esme shuffled forward in line and read the small plaques by each dish. As she scooped up Peppermingles to see what all the fuss was about, Lexi joined her. The cool blonde held a wineglass in each hand, and one she gave to Esme before taking a sip of her own.
“Thanks.” Esme tucked her purple clutch under an arm and held the drink with that hand while she filled her plate.
Lexi grinned at Esme’s dexterity. “Not your first time at a party with an hors d’oeuvres table?”
“Nope.”
One of the older women ahead was saying to the other, “Have you seen Chief Lord since his accident? He’s recovered so well!”
“Oh, good,” said the friend. “I keep picturing him drowning in that cave-in. It must’ve been terrifying.”
The first woman’s husband picked up a shrimp with tongs. “Cave diving’s a dangerous hobby. Sounds like a fun way to explore, though.”
Esme raised an eyebrow at Lexi and whispered, “Cave diving?”
“That was Owen’s cover story when he was in the hospital after your first mission.”
Esme sighed, shook her head, and tossed a shrimp on her plate. “He couldn’t have said he was in a car accident? I’m guessing he thought this sounded cooler.”
“Good guess.” Lexi shared her exasperation, but she was looking around the rooftop. “Oh, there’s the mayor. I gotta run. Wish me the luck of a jinn.”
Esme laughed. “May you succeed in kissing much ass.”
Lexi scowled like she wanted to argue, then changed her mind. “Thanks.” With that, she tossed her hair and strolled across the rooftop to a table of older men.
Left to her own devices, Esme plastered a smile on her face and carried her goodies
to an untouched high table nearby. A candle burning in a small bowl was the only company she needed, and she set her clutch next to her as if she was saving a spot. In truth, she doubted Lexi would be back.
Esme tucked a wavy curl of gray behind her ear, popped a cracker in her mouth, and listened to the band start up a new song. She made a quick scan of the crowds and recognized a few cavali now dressed like fashionable civilians. Benja was stunning in a shimmering, low-cut dress that exposed her jinn tattoos. Benja had wrapped her dark braids around her head, and long earrings sparkled as she danced with an older man Esme didn’t recognize. Max, to Esme’s surprise, wore a slick suit and danced with a civilian woman. Davis, his pointed ears hidden under long hair, chatted with a man at the bar. A few more faces Esme recognized from the police station. Piper and two other fairies danced seductively at the edge of the dance floor, their dresses/wings leaving little to the imagination.
Of course they’re here. Fairies would never miss such a posh party.
Esme also spotted Joe standing with a group of well-dressed men at the bar. She decided it was a good idea to avoid the nymph, so Esme angled her body to face the farther part of the rooftop.
“Owen, bro!”
Esme now spotted Owen standing with a few civilians. A younger man in an expensive suit held his drink aloft and hurried to join the king. The stranger shook Owen’s hand, and Owen smiled in greeting, appearing genuinely happy to see the guy.
This was the most dressed up Esme had ever seen the king. Owen wore dark suit pants, polished shoes, and a white dress shirt. He’d folded back his sleeves, exposing a nice watch.
He looks good. When was the last time I saw him out of his cavali uniform? Not that I want to see him…out of his uniform.
Esme rolled her eyes at herself and took a drink from her wineglass.
“I haven’t seen you since your accident,” said the young man. “I was worried, man! Heard you were in the hospital for days.”
Owen smiled. “You know me. I’ve always healed fast. Like magic.”
The younger man laughed at what he thought was a joke and slapped Owen on the shoulder. “Well, take care, man. This is a great going-away party! I’m gonna see if I can score with that blond chick.”
Owen looked where his friend pointed – at Lexi. “Oh!” He held in a laugh and slapped the man on the shoulder. “Approach with caution.”
“See ya, bro.” The young man moved off in Lexi’s direction.
Yikes, thought Esme as she watched him go. I hope she doesn’t throw this guy off the roof.
Esme met eyes with Owen as he looked away from the impending disaster. The king bobbed his head in greeting, then put his hands in his pockets and walked to join her.
Esme felt inexplicably nervous. As he approached the other side of her table, she said, “Happy birthday.”
“Thanks.” Owen smiled. “Sorry if you’ve been alone for long. I didn’t see you arrive.”
“Lexi and I only got here a few minutes ago.”
Owen’s face twitched. “That’s right. Thaddeus said he drove you two all over Kansas City today. I hear you and Lexi are best friends now. That’s…great.” He looked uncomfortable. “So great.”
Esme laughed at him. “We talk about things other than you, Owen.”
“Good to hear.” His forced smile hinted at a lack of belief.
Esme motioned with her head to where he’d spoken with the young man. “Who’s that?”
“My cousin.” Owen raised an eyebrow. “He’s also heir to the thrown if I die without offspring.”
Esme gaped and looked where the man waited for Lexi to finish speaking with the mayor. “That guy?”
Owen nodded. “Yeah… He doesn’t know about the Order, which I assume is obvious. My father agreed with my aunt that Jonas shouldn’t be burdened unless it becomes necessary. Roman thought their approach was foolish, which doesn’t suggest Roman’s ever had great confidence in me as king.”
Esme looked from Owen to his cousin and back again. She’d read about lines of succession in the Lord family. A few kings had died without offspring. The next Lord male in line always stepped in. But she’d never wondered about Owen’s heir.
Owen smiled at her across the table. “Enjoying yourself so far?”
“Hard not to.” Esme motioned around the rooftop, realizing too late she had a shrimp in that hand. She dropped it back onto her plate. “Uh… This place is gorgeous.”
“Thanks. A top floor penthouse with a private roof ain’t cheap. It was a splurge purchase after…after your origini died.” Owen met her eyes and shrugged. “Sorry to bring her up.”
“No, it’s fine.” Esme took a sip of her drink, then made a questioning face. “I’m not flinch-y about alt-Esmes anymore, am I?”
“No.” Owen smiled. “I’m glad you’ve found your own life in our world. And I promise, you’re the only one I think about now.” He blinked and clarified, “I mean, when I look at you, I only think of you and not the other…” He looked to the darkening sky for help, then gave up and snagged a Peppermingle off her plate.
“Hey!” she cried in mock protest.
He smirked and said around the candy, “Well, I paid for them.”
“Owen, you’re king. You pay for everything.”
“Hmm. I bet I bought that dress too.” Owen winked at her.
She laughed. “You want it?”
“Depends on how you hand it over.” Owen caught himself, swallowed the candy, and looked away. He drummed his fingers on the table.
Esme felt her cheeks blush. She tried to regain control. “Can I ask what my origini was like?”
Owen sighed in annoyance. “Really? Now?”
“You brought her up.” Esme shrugged. In thought, she wiped neon-yellow lipstick off her wineglass. “I’ve enjoyed learning about my alterni. Obviously I’m sad I never got to meet them, but in a way it’s like discovering family I never knew I had. A few of them were bitchy or stupid, sure, but I’ve loved hearing about them all. Hakim has great stories. Ada too. Thaddeus even told me some. Joe was a fount of information…” She rolled her eyes.
“Ha!”
Esme smiled sadly at him. “But you knew my alterni best. And you knew her best of all, so… I want to know what she was like.”
The band changed to a slower song as Owen paused. The blue lights from the nearby bar gave his face strange shadows, but she could tell he was trying to find the right words.
“It was a long time ago,” Owen said at last. He leaned on the table, tapping the glass candle bowl between them. “Honestly – and I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately – you Esmes have had such different personalities that it’s easy to see you as completely separate people. I mean, you are separate people. And like all people who come in and out of your life, I remember some better than others.”
Esme nodded at this. She forced herself to say, “But you were in love with the origini. You must remember her best.”
Owen lowered his gaze to the candle bowl. “Well… She was beautiful, obviously.” He motioned to Esme’s own face. “Eyes that were brilliant purple, like yours. She was fast like you. Smart like you, though not as much of a smart ass.”
Esme grinned.
So did Owen, then his smile faded. “But she had her flaws too. She had a temper. She focused too much on the job rather than people.” He thought a second. “It’s easier to see a person’s faults once time has passed, isn’t it?”
Esme made a face and tried to explain. “When my dad left, it was easy to remember the worst of him right away. It was harder to remember the good stuff. As for my mom, of course I remember things about her that drove me nuts. But mostly I think of her laugh, her cooking, her way of caring for people when they needed it most… I remember the good stuff.”
“Yeah.” Owen smiled. “Same with me after my dad died.”
Esme nodded. “I guess it balances out, in the end. We remember a person for their strongest traits, for who they were to u
s.”
“I think you’re right.” Owen looked back at her. “I have to say, Esme, of all the different versions of you that I’ve known, you’re my favorite.”
She gulped and started to object.
Owen held up a hand. “No, just hear me out, okay? I’m trying to be serious.”
“Yes, your royal lordship.”
He chuckled but held up his hand again. “I’m serious. You’re the best of them. I know I was drugged out of my mind when I came to your house that night, but I remember what you told me. You said you’d found your place here and felt like you’re doing something that matters. You said you could die tomorrow and it’d be worth it. That was after only one battle, and you’d already proven you’d risk your life for mine.” His eyes locked on her now. “Other alterni have been better cavali than you, better fighters. Hell, your origini was maybe better at magic… But none of them were better people.”
Whether it was her wine, the candlelight, the fine clothes, or the atmosphere, Esme couldn’t look away from his eyes.
Shit. Why can’t he be six foot five?
Esme reached for her wineglass as a distraction, then thought better of adding more alcohol to the situation. She grabbed a remaining Peppermingle.
Owen snapped out of staring at her and looked around the rooftop. “I just remembered. I’m supposed to talk to someone…about a thing.”
“Okay,” said Esme with fake perk. “I’m going to…over there.” She looked where she’d blindly pointed and found only the edge of the roof.
“Great.” Owen moved away from the table and called, “Larry, good to see you!”
Esme picked up her clutch and hurried away from the table without looking back.
She slid her way through the crowd near the bar and walked past the dance floor and jazz band. Since the roof’s entrance room was in this direction, she opened a glass door and went inside to find cooler air. A pair of women had just emerged from the ladies room, and Esme guessed that’d be a decent place to hide and collect herself.
Get a grip, alterni! You do not have feelings for the king. You are not attracted to him. No, no, no! Can’t happen.
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