walked past the gate. From the way it looked, the party had begun.
The crowd moved into the Shaman Court. Hervé tugged her hand and they went to join the festivities. Belle craned her neck upwards as they strolled past the gigantic red gates. Inside, the colour red exploded everywhere like fireworks on Fourth of July. Each vendor in the Shaman Court had festooned their stalls and their merchandise with red banners, flags and decorations. The air was filled with the delicious smells of something baked, fried, steamed and grilled. Belle felt hungry all of a sudden.
Hervé showed her around the court, explained the customs of the people in Seventh Realm, and had her sample many sweets and indigenous snacks from many food stalls, before they settled at one restaurant that was his favourite. The place looked like a tree house. They had to climb long winding stairs before the hostess seated them in a small private dining area. They had to take off their shoes before they settled in. This restaurant didn’t provide chairs. The guests were seated on floor cushions while their meals were served on a short table. The nook had a balcony that overlooked the festivities below.
Hervé ordered drinks for them while Belle perused the menu. The hostess bowed and vanished.
Belle did a double take. “Where did she go?”
“Getting our orders.”
Apparently in Seventh Realm, people could vanish and reappear at will, and the use of doors was highly optional. Unlike the human world. She returned her attention to the menu and gave up. “I don’t know what to order. Everything looks strange to me.”
“Allow me, then.” When the hostess reappeared with their drinks, Hervé ordered for both of them. “What do you think of Seventh Realm so far, love?” he asked after the hostess left.
“Amazing. I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“So, you think you’ll like it here?”
Belle paused when she caught Hervé’s insinuation. He was gauging her reaction to move to the Seventh Realm. “I…”
“Of course, you don’t have to live here if you don’t want to. Both Armand and I have homes in your world.”
“What makes you think I would choose either of you?”
Hervé gave her a solemn look. “Because we won’t stop chasing you until you do. And trust me, Armand and I are very persistent.”
No kidding about that. Hervé and Armand were relentless. The word ‘no’ didn’t exist in their dictionary. Belle averted Hervé’s gaze and looked over the festivities below, ruminating. The prospect of marrying one of them and living in Seventh Realm sounded wonderful. The only problem was that she liked them both to the point she couldn’t choose. Both of them were everything a woman could possibly want in men. Armand made her feel protected and secure, besides having a knack of driving her horny just by the slightest touch.
And Hervé—well, she didn’t think anybody wouldn’t like him. He was one of those people who would shine the room on the dullest day with his cheery disposition. She felt comfortable around him and just able to be herself. She couldn’t even stay mad at him because he’d drugged Armand and lied to her in order to take his cousin’s place.
And besides, she wasn’t sure if she was ready give up her safe, semi-hermetic life to take a leap of faith with one of them into the new unknown. What would happen if the marriage didn’t work? Could she get a divorce from a fae?
Her reverie was interrupted by the loud chime of bell. Suddenly, she noticed a small bell on their table. She hadn’t seen it before.
“Food’s coming,” Hervé noted, taking his elbows off the table.
Belle instinctively followed suit. Moments later, a delicious feast appeared before their eyes. Plate upon plate of steaming food filled the table. From savoury-looking meats dishes to fish, noodles, soup and rice, to mouth-watering desserts waiting to be sampled. “Are you trying to feed an army here?” she asked with a
The crowd moved into the Shaman Court. Hervé tugged her hand and they went to join the festivities. Belle craned her neck upwards as they strolled past the gigantic red gates. Inside, the colour red exploded everywhere like fireworks on Fourth of July. Each vendor in the Shaman Court had festooned their stalls and their merchandise with red banners, flags and decorations. The air was filled with the delicious smells of something baked, fried, steamed and grilled. Belle felt hungry all of a sudden.
Hervé showed her around the court, explained the customs of the people in Seventh Realm, and had her sample many sweets and indigenous snacks from many food stalls, before they settled at one restaurant that was his favourite. The place looked like a tree house. They had to climb long winding stairs before the hostess seated them in a small private dining area. They had to take off their shoes before they settled in. This restaurant didn’t provide chairs. The guests were seated on floor cushions while their meals were served on a short table. The nook had a balcony that overlooked the festivities below.
Hervé ordered drinks for them while Belle perused the menu. The hostess bowed and vanished.
Belle did a double take. “Where did she go?”
“Getting our orders.”
Apparently in Seventh Realm, people could vanish and reappear at will, and the use of doors was highly optional. Unlike the human world. She returned her attention to the menu and gave up. “I don’t know what to order. Everything looks strange to me.”
“Allow me, then.” When the hostess reappeared with their drinks, Hervé ordered for both of them. “What do you think of Seventh Realm so far, love?” he asked after the hostess left.
“Amazing. I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“So, you think you’ll like it here?”
Belle paused when she caught Hervé’s insinuation. He was gauging her reaction to move to the Seventh Realm. “I…”
“Of course, you don’t have to live here if you don’t want to. Both Armand and I have homes in your world.”
“What makes you think I would choose either of you?”
Hervé gave her a solemn look. “Because we won’t stop chasing you until you do. And trust me, Armand and I are very persistent.”
No kidding about that. Hervé and Armand were relentless. The word ‘no’ didn’t exist in their dictionary. Belle averted Hervé’s gaze and looked over the festivities below, ruminating. The prospect of marrying one of them and living in Seventh Realm sounded wonderful. The only problem was that she liked them both to the point she couldn’t choose. Both of them were everything a woman could possibly want in men. Armand made her feel protected and secure, besides having a knack of driving her horny just by the slightest touch.
And Hervé—well, she didn’t think anybody wouldn’t like him. He was one of those people who would shine the room on the dullest day with his cheery disposition. She felt comfortable around him and just able to be herself. She couldn’t even stay mad at him because he’d drugged Armand and lied to her in order to take his cousin’s place.
And besides, she wasn’t sure if she was ready give up her safe, semi-hermetic life to take a leap of faith with one of them into the new unknown. What would happen if the marriage didn’t work? Could she get a divorce from a fae?
Her reverie was interrupted by the loud chime of bell. Suddenly, she noticed a small bell on their table. She hadn’t seen it before.
“Food’s coming,” Hervé noted, taking his elbows off the table.
Belle instinctively followed suit. Moments later, a delicious feast appeared before their eyes. Plate upon plate of steaming food filled the table. From savoury-looking meats dishes to fish, noodles, soup and rice, to mouth-watering desserts waiting to be sampled. “Are you trying to feed an army here?” she asked with a
Similar Books
