“Well, let’s get you into your gown.” She grins as she clasps her hands. “You wouldn’t want to be late for your own party.”
Kirian
I feel her approaching before she enters the grand hall. Such an odd sensation. It’s like there’s a thousand water spiders darting about in my veins, and it’s both unnerving and thrilling. Quinn’s presence has always affected me, but not like this.
This is new.
The buzzing intensifies, and somehow I know she’s twenty feet from the entryway on the second floor. She’s passing by the hallway of portraits, probably looking at all the paintings of past and current royals.
Now she’s ten feet away, approaching the pearlescent double doors. They open to a platform with a balcony overlooking the ballroom. The curved staircase is unoccupied as it waits for our next guest.
My special guest.
Five feet.
She’s here.
The room goes quiet, then I hear gasps and whispers.
Who is that?
She smells like a human.
What’s wrong with her face?
“Silence.” My command bounces off the high ceiling as I stand from the throne.
Everyone freezes. You could hear a pin drop in here. Good.
I give a nod to the announcer standing at the balcony. His fingers are trembling, the paper crinkling in his hand as he reads what I ordered him to write.
“His Majesty presents to you, Quinn Prescott, his mate and future queen of Valora.”
The ballroom erupts. Everyone’s talking at once. There are some guffaws of outrage, and a few are reluctantly clapping while muttering behind their hands.
Really, though. What happened to her face?
Does it matter? He’s blind. He doesn’t have to look at it.
But what if she’s his fated mate? Once they consummate the bond, he’ll get his sight back. Then he’ll be stuck with that.
She’s not his soul mate. Destiny wouldn’t be that cruel.
Quinn can’t hear the rude murmurs, but I can.
“Enough!” The uproar dies down. “You will treat your future queen as you treat me—with the utmost respect. Anything less, and you’ll be banished to the Shadowlands.”
Several partygoers gulp.
I’m known as a kind and fair ruler. It’s been ages since I made such a threat against my own people, but I won’t tolerate less than the best for Quinn. I couldn’t protect her in her world, but sure as hell can do it here.
The Shadowlands isn’t a place anyone wants to end up. It’s unclaimed territory—a vast enchanted cavern in the mountains on the way to the Dream Realm—and it’s pitch black. Lights don’t work there. My cousin Damon and myself are the only ones who can navigate it without injury or death. After all, complete darkness is what we’re accustomed to.
The announcer clears his throat. “Next, I present, Her Majesty Queen Zella.”
Applause helps diffuse the tension in the air.
“Well, dear,” my mother whispers to Quinn as she comes to her side. “I haven’t seen an entrance like this since my own introduction to the Night Realm.”
“Really?” Quinn sounds hopeful.
“At least you won’t light the royal gardens on fire.”
“Huh?”
“Oh, nothing.” Mother laughs lightly. “Long story. Let’s just say I didn’t make any friends that night.”
They start descending the stairs together, and I’m glad Quinn has an ally. Their time together must’ve gone well.
Father stands next to me as we wait for our women.
“The curse is final, isn’t it?” he asks low, barely even a whisper.
I give him a curt nod.
I know Quinn holds out hope that I won’t be blind for eternity because of our kiss, but I’ve come to terms with it. I’ve chosen my fate.
“I’m happy for you,” Father tells me. “I’m actually… relieved.”
That surprises me. “Yeah?”
He lets out a long exhale. “Yes. It’s time for you to live.”
“Thank you.” I reach out and grasp his shoulder, feeling the midnight-blue velvet under my fingers. He’s wearing the same outfit I am. The suit is customary for special events, and I’m glad Quinn will get to see me in something formal for once.
As Quinn and my mother walk toward us, my father quietly gives me the rundown of what my bride-to-be looks like tonight. He’s used to being my eyes when I need a description, and from the sounds of it, Quinn is breathtaking.
When she gets close, I hold my hand out to her. “May I have this dance?”
“Of course.” I can hear the smile in her voice as she fits her fingers against mine, just like all the other times we’ve done this in her field. It’s familiar and comforting for us both.
Spinning her, I tuck her against my side, keeping our fingers intertwined as we make our way to the middle of the vacant dance floor. I flex my hand over hers, digging into the softness of her waist. I love the way her body feels pressed against mine, and nothing can stop me from touching her like this ever again.
“You look beautiful.” I lean down to murmur the compliment in her ear. “My father tells me so, and he doesn’t lie.”
“I don’t think everyone else shares his opinion.” Insecurity bleeds through her words as we come to a stop.
Unwilling to let go of her hand, I turn her again until she’s facing me. Like a proper king, I bow, though I have reasons other than manners. When I lower my head, I let the tips of our noses brush. Quinn sucks in a breath at my nearness, but she doesn’t move away.
While I’m down there, I slide my cheek against hers and whisper, “Ask me how much I care about what other people think?”
She sways slightly, and I don’t miss the way she sniffs my hair. “H-how much?”
“Frankly, they can all go fuck themselves.”
She loves it when I use the humans’ dirty language, and it makes her snicker. The puff of her warm breath against my jaw is almost too much to bear. I’ve gone my entire life—my very long life—without intimacy. Now that I’m getting a taste of it, I want more.
So much more.
Overwhelmed by the sexual tension crackling between us, I straighten and clear my throat.
I’m resisting the urge to
