Chapter 4
They sat at the roof, the Fae around them seemed more than nervous when they approached them.
"Do you know them?"
Lila looked up from the menus and shook her head.
"I do not. Though all common Fair Folk presumably know who I am. These are Seelie, they would know their Princess."
She twitched her hand, beckoning the Fae that stood a few feet away, he seemed to be waiting for her to give him an order.
"A glass of Doux Amour."
She turned to Max,
"What would you be having?"
"A glass of Ewige Eleganz, and an assortment of Fae, Warlock and Mundane food."
He tried to sound kind, to put this Fae at ease. The waiter turned to Lila. She looked up from her menu.
"That will be all. Don't let our food get cold."
He bowed to her,
"Anything for you Your Highness and your friend."
Max inwardly flinched, he had heard Mark talk about Kieran at court enough to know Lila wouldn't let that comment slip.
"He is my suitor. Not that I need to explain myself to you."
Max smirked behind his hand, the Fae's eyes widened and he mumbled a profuse apology before Lila tiredly waved him away.
Max laughed as soon as the waiter was out of earshot.
Lila gave him a strained smile.
"They are tiring. Though I wish I did not have to be so harsh. He was merely being curious."
Max shrugged leaned closer, he inwardly breathed of a sigh of relief. He loved Kieran but he didn't think he could handle another Royal with that much arrogance.
"Well no patron or waiter remembers what happens here, why don't you try being less harsh here and see how it goes?"
She placed her chin in her hand, tapping her chin, her eyes glazing over in contemplation. Her eyes snapped to focus as their drinks came.
"My apologies."
Their waiter's eyes widened for a moment. Finally he inclined his head.
"Your apology while unneeded is greatly appreciated Your Highness."
She beamed, sharing a smile with Max.
"What is your name?"
"Rowan Your Highness."
"Well thank you Rowan for bringing our drinks."
"Your welcome Your Highness."
He turned to leave, seemingly struggling with something. He finally turned back,
"May I be so bold and suggest that if you or your suitor needs any recommendations I would be happy to oblige Your Highness."
Lila gave Max a look. Max took a sip of his drink to hide his smirk. So it was true they would take the inch and make it a foot.
"While I thank you,"
Max gave her a look.
"I will call if either of us feel so inclined. Do not bother us unless we ask."
She made her voice firm. He inclined his head,
"Of course Your Highness."
He left them, their food appearing periodically, not too fast or slow. They made small talk. She asked about the Shadowhunters and the Mundanes what it was like to grow up among them.
He had asked her about court life, what the Queen was really like — apparently fairly attentive to her children, taking an interest even in Royal children of the Unseelie Court.
"What is the favorite thing about yourself Max?"
Her question made him pause.
"I know you have something. What is it?"
"It used to be my horns actually. I used to imagine if I ever got in a fight — this was before I could control magic. I used to imagine I could poke my opponent's eye out. Now I'd say my magic."
She giggled at that,
"They do look pretty sharp."
"What of you?"
"My hands, I play many instruments. It is my talent, something none of my sisters can claim, like they do my clothes. It is not something they can ruin like my hair."
He placed a hand over hers,
"Your sisters are jealous. May I ask a personal question?"
She sighed, though she gripped his hand.
"Why do I not say my eyes or hair?"
He nodded. His thumb running over knuckles.
"It is all anyone would comment on, any compliment was always on them. I've come to hate it. I am more than my looks."
"I get that, when my family and I used to visit Idris when I was younger I would hear the whispers. My parents and family tried to shield me but I still heard the words. How I was a freak, how I would never be anything but a filthy warlock."
She gripped his hand, her nails digging into his palm.
"They sound like the noble's at court. Act like they worship Mother, only to whisper blasphemy behind her back."
He shrugged,
"My point is you are more than what people say as am I."
He gave a dry chuckle, he was treading into foreign territory now, he didn't want to scare her but he needed to say it,
"Besides they'd all be dead before we turn 100."
She grinned,
"You're right. We can stamp out their influence. We have all the time at our fingertips."
They smiled at each other, Max heard the music and tugged at her hand. They both rose and took their place at the dance floor.
"I'd like to see your magic tonight if you allow me?"
Max blinked, he was still high on the fact that she was saw them together a hundred year in the future.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?"
She gave him an amused smile, she leaned up. Making him very aware of just which parts of their bodies weren't touching.
"I asked if you'd show me some of your magic tonight?"
He leaned his head down, his eyes holding her in place. They had stopped moving.
"I'm assuming you mean my warlock magic?"
"I do. Do you have other types of magic?"
She acted innocence.
His lips brushed her cheek. He'd never felt sparks like this.
"Oh darling you have no idea."
She didn't shy away this time.
"Show me."
So he did. He sent a silent thank you to Papa, Uncle Jace, and Aunt Izzy for helping understand flirting from a young age.
Her lips were so soft, sweet from the faerie wine. Her hands wound around his neck, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss.
Were all Faeries this good at kissing?
He put the thought of his head to pull her closer, his tongue coming to run over mouth. She opened it, their tongues danced. Her mouth tasted like sugar. She tugged on his bottom lip, her hands coming to fist in his hair.
He gasped, his hands roaming over her dress, down her arms, she shivered. He decided to take it a step further and let his magic create sparks up and down her arms, they were warm — little bursts of electricity.
She gasped, he inwardly smiled. He pulled away to wink at her before kissing down her jaw and her neck.
"Max."
He smiled into her skin. He moaned softly as she pulled onto his hair, pulling his face back up to kiss him hungrily.
Suddenly he felt the ground under him become uneven. He realized with a start he was loosing his balance, with a fair amount of concentration he righted them.
They pulled away from each other for a moment, staring at each other they burst out laughing.
"You're magic is as wonderful as I thought it would be. Though I did not foresee you would be saving me from harm quite so quickly in our courtship."
He beamed, his hand coming to grasp her chin so he could place a chaste kiss there. She looked slightly dazed he chalked up as a victory. He had dazed a faerie!
He took her hand, she laced them together. Her face flushed.
"What do you want to do now?"
She tilted her head.
"Might I get to meet the famous Magnus Bane?"
He rolled his eyes, his dads were going to love her.
"I guess. But you have to answer a question for me first."
She gazed at him an amused smile tugging at her lips.
"Are warlocks good kissers?"
She floated closer to him, looking up at him she murmured,
"The best."
Needless to say, by the time they left the restaurant it had gotten much later than they had anticipated.