He leaned down, his lips touching my ear. “I wasn’t joking.”
I hoped he didn’t notice the flush that spilled across my cheeks or hear my heart pounding wildly like the drum that now picked up the pace of the song. I needed to get away from him before he shattered the wall that had been built between us. I pulled back but he didn’t let me go. “You better go find your girlfriend. I know for sure she is the jealous type.” She’d been there when we all stepped through the portal so she was here somewhere.
“She’s not my girlfriend,” he said, all the playfulness in his voice gone. “She’s the daughter of a Hesstian Entari. A family friend.” Entari were men that helped govern over regions in his kingdom.
I pushed that small part of me that felt relief, down. “Funny how you knew right away who I was talking about, and if she’s not your girlfriend then why did she tell me to stay away from you?”
His jaw muscles feathered and his eyes flicked about the crowded room. “Probably because she wants to be my girlfriend but who wouldn’t? Aside from you.”
He spun me around and then that hand slid back to my waist. I wanted to leave and yet... and yet... I wanted to stay in arms dancing the night away, lost in those beautiful, cunning eyes that could melt and wound me at the same time. “At least you are smart enough to recognize that,” I said.
He chuckled. “How could I miss it? Subtlety isn’t exactly your forte.”
The song ended and all the men bowed to their women partners, including Zyacus. His crown glinted in the light, the small blue stones in the dark silver sparkled like the ocean in sunlight. I wanted to make a snide remark about him bowing before me but that girl, his not-girlfriend, came up and snaked her hand along his back. “There you are,” she said. “I’ve been waiting for a dance.”
His eyes lingered on me a second longer and when he looked away, I darted off to find my friends. Both Legacy and Lora flashed a mischievous grin, the kind that said, “give me the dirty details” and then Legacy held out a glass to me. “So that was interesting.”
I took the glass of pinkish sparkling liquid. “It was a dance. Nothing more.”
“Are you trying to convince us or yourself?” Legacy said, and I shot her a glare.
“You guys don’t know the prince like I do. He’s a sneaky bastard who will say anything to get what he wants. He may be gorgeous but behind that perfect face is a devious pretender.”
“And what does he want?” Lora asked.
I opened my mouth to fire back but then bit down on my tongue. He wanted to know about what I saw when Aric touched me. He wanted to know about my curse.
Chapter 15
After dancing with Taz, and a few others I hadn’t been previously introduced to, Father called me back to stand on the platform. He put one arm around me and the other held up a glass. “Thank you all for coming to celebrate the first day of fall with us and most importantly, the birth of my firstborn child, Visteal.” He looked down at me for a moment. “We appreciate all the gifts and the time you took to travel here. I propose a toast and blessing upon my daughter; may you always see the good in others, may you be strong in body and heart, and may your mind be sharp and your life long.” Magic interlaced with those words, swirling around me.
The clinking of glasses followed then applause and hundreds of eyes all on me. I smiled, and put my glass to my lips. Cheers to a long life. I hope.
I kept an eye on Aric as much as I possibly could. By what I saw in the vision I didn’t believe whatever was going to happen would occur here at the castle but I didn’t want to take any chances. He stuck by Legacy most of the evening, occasionally talking with Zyacus and a few others. The not-girlfriend clung to Zyacus’s side like a leech and even though it shouldn’t, it bothered me.
Just when I decided I’d get Aric to go on a castle tour with me, where I could attempt to see the vision again, Vyce tapped me on the shoulder. I tried not to look annoyed when I said, “Hey, how are you enjoying the party?”
“It’s been interesting.”
I arched an eyebrow. “Interesting? Is that good or bad?”
He looked around the room, his river rock-gray eyes stopping on nothing in particular. “It’s just so different from home. You look lovely, by the way. I’m sure you’ve heard that a lot tonight.”
“Thank you,” I replied. “You look nice as well.”
“It’s good that your mother was able to bring all the kingdoms together.” He watched her across the room and there was something about the way he said that statement that made me wonder if he really meant it. “I’m going to ask Lora to dance, see you around.”
“Bye,” I said and shook my head at the odd conversation.
Waiting for a few minutes, Aric headed off toward the drink table alone and I took my chance, removing my gloves on the way. I didn’t want Legacy to be there, she would know if I had a vision and what it meant, and she’d certainly go into a panic. “Aric,” I said brushing his sleeve with my fingertips. “How about that castle tour?”
“Sure,” he said. “Where to first?”
“The balcony overlooks the garden, then perhaps the throne room?”
We strolled side by side out through the ballroom toward the glass doors that lead to the balcony. Zyacus watched us and I gave him a serpentine smile, hoping to make him squirm a little. He wanted to know what happened with Aric and me back in his dorm and I loved that I could
