Chapter 225

Sarah POV

The debate continued for hours, with all of one brief intermission, which I spent going to the human ladies room. I suppose I should have minded there was only one in the whole palace, but at the time I was just relieved I wouldn’t be running into any wolves while I was trying to pee. Melissa was hanging around suspiciously close to the door when I came out and walked back to the debate hall with me.

While little was actually resolved, the true purpose of the meeting emerged as everyone got to say their piece and make it clear what aspects of the Luna Temple truly concerned them. There was agreement that the temple should return to its earlier ways of not wearing hoods, not living apart from the community, and not being limited to omegas. There was no agreement as to how this would be accomplished.

Eventually, they did agree that different territories would need to approach the matter differently, and then they agreed, somewhat wearily, to meet again in two moons’ time.

Everyone was obviously getting ready to stand up and move to the dinner we had been promised when Alpha Colette stood and held up a hand. “I am pleased to announce we have a surprise waiting for us in the main dining hall,” she announced. “If you will follow me.”

I stayed seated with Melissa and Ambassador Torrin until Zane came over to us and took my hand to help me up. Considering my butt had gone numb from sitting so long, I appreciated it.

I had imagined the dining hall as something out of Harry Potter, with long, medieval-like tables. Instead, it reminded me of a charity dinner in an even larger room than the debate hall with round tables that sat eight people each and huge floral centerpieces. Zane led us to a table where Claude Torrin, Shotz, and six empty chairs were waiting for us.

At a table next to us sat Delia, Travis, Alicia, Whitfield, Lainey, and three betas I didn’t know. I assumed Ted had declined the invitation because she couldn’t bring her laptop.

Claude rose to greet his mother, and Shotz grabbed my hand in a shake that betrayed the depth of his anxiety.

“They really don’t like humans here,” he muttered to me as he looked at the seat next to him somewhat pleadingly.

I sat next to him with Zane on my other side. “Tell me about it.”

We all got settled as some musicians in a corner began to play quietly. The arrangement of the tables along with the music and roar of the hungry wolves gave a sense of privacy I appreciated after so long on display.

“Was that as tortuous for you as it looked?” Zane asked quietly in my ear.

“Worse, I promise you,” I said.

“Well, you acquitted yourself admirably,” he said, and when he leaned back I could see the pride in his eyes.

Very quickly, gammas swarmed our tables with wine, bread rolls, and salads loaded down with bacon and ground buffalo. I fell on my plate like a wolf myself, using my hands for the bacon and throwing a wink at Shotz as he didn’t really seem to know how to approach the mound of lettuce and meat on his plate. He watched me for a moment, picked up a fork, and alternated using the utensil and his free hand.

I nodded and smiled, and he laughed somewhat ruefully.

I leaned in. “Don’t finish it. There will be at least four more courses.”

“I’ll just follow your lead.”

Soon, Shotz could see as half-loaded plates were taken away. Instead of their being instantly replaced with more food, however, there was a pause in the conversation. I turned to where Alpha Colette was sitting with her family at the host’s table, which was raised on a dais. She stood and signaled for silence.

“Now, as for that surprise I promised. Before our next course, I am so pleased to be able to welcome Grace Cavendish to entertain us with a song.”

There was light applause and this little “aws” of appreciation as Grace walked into the room and up on the dais to stand before the diners. She wore a shimmering blue dress I hadn’t seen before but that suited her perfectly with its empire waist and full skirt. She looked like a mini-diva, and she nodded and smiled like one too.

The musicians in the corner began to play, this time not the innocuous dinner music of before, but long sweeping notes I instantly recognized from Richard Strauss’s “Beim Schlafengehen.” The music swelled, and I was impressed by how much sound they were able to get from just a few violins, a cello, and a few other pieces.

The Grace opened her mouth, and the blissful notes poured out

Nun der Tag mich müd gemacht,

Soll mein sehnliches Verlangen

Freundlich die gestirnte Nacht

Wie ein müdes Kind empfangen.

I was relieved she and Chloe had done such a great job picking such a completely apolitical aria. I translated them in my head just to double-check.

Now the day has wearied me,

Starry night, be mild:

Hold my fevers, bear with me,

Like a weary child.

Hands, desist from every deed

Brow, forget all thinking,

Into slumber atrophied

Senses all go sinking.

And my soul unwatched shall sleep,

Soaring free in flight,

Live a thousand lives in deep

Magic worlds of night.

Her voice soared, dipped, and soared again. Every note was a gift, and I watched proudly as the diners stopped eating or drinking and leaned forward, mesmerized. I could tell the opera lovers in the room from the way they turned to the lead violinist for the interlude between the second and third stanzas and then raised up a bit in their chairs for the final long, woven notes that Grace held seemingly effortlessly.

Toward the end, I heard her employ just a touch of The Voice, lifting us all gently to her magic conclusion. The musicians played the last notes ever so gently.

Then the hall was absolutely silent. Grace stood there confidently, and soon the applause washed over her. Smiling and blowing a kiss of gratitude at the musicians, she took her due and then bowed charmingly. When Zane turned look at me, there was a hint of tears in his eyes, and he mouthed, “Thank you.”

I just applauded harder.

Alpha Colette stood, and the room grew reluctantly quiet.

“Thank you, Grace,” she said. Grace nodded and left the dais. Chloe entered the room, and together they walked to the empty chairs at our table. Zane and I hugged them both before they sat down and the next course, trout almandine, was served.