The bitter aftertaste of the wine let Adham know what exactly Shar had done to him.  Poison.  Fortunately, Adham was somewhat resistant to the lethal substance, so when Shar offered the guard the antidote, he took a sip and placed the goblet back in her hand.  Grasping her wrist with all his might, turned to her, his eyes sharpened and his voice lowered and softened into a firm, lethal whisper.  Summoning the hand of ice, Adham chilled her wrist, speaking,<strong>"I have no idea why you would want to poison someone in the same court as you, unless...  Regardless, let this be a lesson to you, Shar.  Do you know what happens to appendages at this temperature?  The nerves freeze, leaving them numb, and the slightest added pressure causes them to shatter.  I'm not who you want to kill.  Try again and I'll leave you begging for mercy."</strong><br/><br/>Adham quickly walked away, remaining on the outside perimeter of the ballroom, keeping his eye on Aria, who seemed bent on flirting with anything that had legs.  Of course, Adham understood the reason for the ball.  Making alliances with different courts would be necessary for their kind to survive, but he never agreed with the manner by which the forging of these iron-clad agreements was made, especially the Unseelie style.<br/><br/>As Aria pressed herself against King Cernunnos, Adham felt a quick flare of rage engulf him, though keeping himself from expressing his emotions in any way physically.  Adham knew better.  If he showed his emotions in any way, someone would notice it and realize just how to twist and turn their words to control the guard's actions.<em>What is she doing, making a fool of herself?  Why the Slaugh King.  They did not have our pure bloodline.</em>Adham would not be surprised if he turned around to see her next to the Goblin King, promising him a night with the Princess of the Unseelie.<br/><br/>It was times like these that Adham wished he had joined the Unseelie army rather than the guard.  In the army, he would have spent his time in battle, emotionless.  Life would have been decent, but as a guard, there were higher climaxes and deeper ravines, all due to being near the one he truly loved, the same one who promised her love to him.  Princess Aria.  Times like these reminded him how politics and money would always outbid the heart.