The crowd broke out into carefully polite applause. They wouldn’t show any real emotion. After all, Amelia’s father was a common criminal, and her Royal family didn’t acknowledge her existence. Sure, the Vicomte had adopted her, but that didn’t change her tainted blood. Besides, she was marrying a mage. No Royal trusted anyone with magick.
The Baron moved to stand beside his wife. He cut a different figure from what I remembered just a few hours ago. The man now wobbled as he stood. He rubbed his red eyes and tried to straighten his longcoat. There was no doubt about it.
The man was piss drunk.
The Baron hiccupped. “We had hoped that our great leader, the Vicomte Gaspard, would be here to officiate, but he has been delayed. Therefore, it’s with deep disappointment that the Baroness and I must step in to play the Vicomte’s part.” The Baron didn’t look the least bit disappointed. “Luckily for you all, I know the Vicomte as well as my own brother. This is what he’d want to say. He’s simply thrilled to have brokered this union. This occasion represents the first alliance between our continents and people. It’s sure to usher in new era of peace and trade.”
The Baroness nodded in agreement. “As we all know, Royal ceremonies tend to be rather long and formal affairs. However, Genesis Rex has asked that we follow his traditions, which call for a short exchange of engagement vows. Not marriage, mind you. We speak of the promise of one to come.”
“The ritual involves a little more than that.” The Baron gave us a lopsided smile. “When Casters do this ceremony, there’s barely any clothing involved. And afterward, the couple kiss and even—”
The Baroness jammed her dainty elbow into her husband’s ribs. He immediately silenced his ramblings. “As I was saying,” she went on. “In a nod to both of our cultures, we will have a short ceremony followed by a dance. That will be more than sufficient and proper.”
Beside me, Philippe wagged his brows. He lowered his voice to a whisper. “Wait until you see what Amelia has planned. She’ll follow the Caster ritual.”
My mouth fell open. “She’s not going to strip down, is she?”
“Don’t be crude. She has a minor act of rebellion planned. I thought she might not get up the nerve, but now that the Vicomte isn’t here? I’m certain she’ll follow through.”
I kept my features level. “I see.”
Philippe flashed me his palm. “Don’t say it. I know. She’s gotten unusually attached to Genesis Rex because she lost Veronique. Well, all the more reason to enjoy the now. Soon enough, I’m sure she’ll be miserable for years to come.” He rubbed his palms together. “Aren’t you excited?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. No, I’m not excited. All I could think about was the fact that I had friends to rescue and a Tsar that might escape at any moment. Even so, there was nothing I could do about any of that at the moment. In only a few more minutes, I could get my friends some help.
I forced my features into some semblance of calm. “I’m happy for her, certainly.”
The Baron’s voice bellowed across the ballroom. “Now, I present to you the King of the Creation Casters, Genesis Rex.”
A tall man stepped up to stand beside Amelia. As I looked him over from head to toe, a chill crept up my limbs. The man wore red fitted leathers. There was no mistaking the outline of his form. Broad chest. Stout legs. Arms roped with muscle. A half-helm covered most of his face. Still, it didn’t conceal the strong lines of his chin.
Was that Rowan?
I shook my head. It couldn’t be Rowan. The man never went anywhere with a clean-shaven face, not to mention enough weapons to kill a small horde. Besides, I’d met Genesis Rex in the desert. He was Rowan’s uncle. From this distance, I was certain the two could be mistaken for each other. The Casters played a game of “body doubles” all the time.
I forced out a slow breath. That has to be it. After so much excitement, my mind was simply playing tricks on me. I needed to focus on finding Rowan, not imagining things. I scanned the crowd. None of the other Casters were visible yet.
I glared at the Baron and Baroness, willing them to speak faster.
The barest rumble shook the floor. A few Royals noticed, but except for some guarded whispers, they seemed as unconcerned as Philippe. My hands balled into fists. I needed to get Ada and the others out of here.
The Baron spoke once more. “If you’ll both put out your right hands.”
Amelia and Rex raised their arms. Her small hand rested atop his much larger one.
The Baroness stepped forward and wrapped their wrists with a golden ribbon. “By taking this troth, you are now bound to marry each another.” She tied the ribbon into a loose knot and smiled. “The engagement is official.”
The Baron grinned from ear to ear. “Aren’t you going to kiss your fiancée? It’s your tradition, isn’t it?” He wagged his eyebrows up and down.
“Francois!” The Baroness swatted him on the shoulder.
Rex turned to face Amelia. Their bodies were only a few inches apart. My heart thudded so hard I thought it might burst. I kept repeating two thoughts over and over.