Finn leans forward and takes my hand, squeezing it gently. His green eyes stare deep into mine as he gives me a faint smile. “The prince is sure to notice you right away. You are beautiful, Ella. He will surely seek you out immediately. And once he does, after speaking with you, he will know what a beautiful mind you have, and he will become completely enraptured with you.”
Tears sting my eyes, but I blink them back. “Thank you, Finn.” I allow my gaze to travel over the rest of them. “All of you will be inside somewhere with me, right?”
They nod, and I do my best to give them a smile despite my nerves. “Give me some sort of sign so that I might see you, all right?”
“We will,” Nyx says.
Devon’s eyes are downcast, and his expression is stern. I reach across and place my hand atop his. He lifts his gaze to me, and something akin to sadness flickers behind his green cat eyes. “The dress is lovely, Devon. More beautiful than anything I’ve ever worn before. Thank you.”
A faint smile tilts his lips. “It is you who makes it so, not the material.”
I squeeze his hand. “Thank you.”
With that, I turn to Rina and her husband. He helps me out of the carriage. As I step onto the courtyard pavers, I notice my guards’ small shadows as they exit the carriage in their animal forms.
We line up at the door with everyone else. It feels like forever until we’re inside, and as my gaze travels over the grand ballroom, I stare at everything in wonder.
The high dome ceiling covered in silver and gold finishes reflects brilliantly in the light. Several crystal chandeliers hang overhead, the largest one with twelve rows of glittering lights that sparkle like gems.
Couples dance across the floor, the voluminous skirts of the elegant women swaying around them as they keep time with the music, whirling and spinning in a lovely display. But it’s the man across the way that catches my attention.
Standing at the top of a winding staircase, he gazes down at the dancers below. Dressed in a deep blue coat and pants, lined with a silver and gold hem, he appears somewhat detached from everything happening around him. The light reflects off his short-cropped hair, making it shine like fine spun gold. As soon as we’re announced, he lifts his head.
My name is changed, of course, so as not to alert my stepsisters I am here. I am introduced as Lady Rella, adding an R to my name to keep as close to the original spelling as possible.
His gaze seems to zero in on me as we move on and continue toward the long table full of sparkling goblets of champagne. The strange man starts down the stairs, his eyes locked on me.
“Rella?” Rina’s soft voice draws my attention. “Would you like a glass?”
I nod and accept it from her. I take a small sip of the bubbly drink. The sweet and citrus flavor rolls across my tongue, and I’ve never tasted anything so wonderfully delightful before.
I finish one glass and then drink another. My entire body flushes with warmth and suddenly, I’m no longer quite as nervous as I was before.
A hand on my shoulder draws my attention, and I turn to look up into deep blue eyes. They stare down at me with an almost predatory gaze as they rake over my form. He bows low, his expression stern and unreadable. “Good evening, my lady,” he says in a low, smooth voice. “I was wondering if you’d do me the honor of accompanying me during the next song.”
The entire room grows silent. Only the sound of stringed instruments from the orchestra fills the air. As his gaze holds mine, everything else falls away as he extends his arm out to me, offering his hand.
Cautiously, I reach for it, and he pulls me toward him. He stares down at me intensely, and my heart slams in my chest as he licks his full perfect lips then drags me even closer until I’m completely flush against his front.
I only have a moment to wonder who he is before hushed whispers sound around us. “The prince,” someone says. “He’s going to dance with that girl. Who is she?”
Several more voices speak in whispered tones asking similar questions.
“Are you the prince?” I ask because I want to be sure.
His mouth curves up into a devastatingly handsome smile. “Yes, I am. And you are Lady Rella, is that correct?”
I nod. “I... I go by Ella, your grace.”
“Ella, then,” he says.
His arms band tightly around my waist while his other hand grips mine firmly, entwining our fingers. Deep blue eyes stare down at me, and I blink up at him, unsure what to do.
As if sensing my nervousness, he grins. “Trust me and just follow my lead, Ella.”
“All—all right,” I stumble over my words.
Something about him makes me uncomfortable. With my guards, I knew instantly that I could trust them. But when the prince asked me the same, my first inclination was to pull away. Instead, I’m allowing him to lead me onto the ballroom floor.
If my guards had not told me of the prophecy, I would probably make an excuse to leave. There is something about the prince that unnerves me. But then again, perhaps it is merely anxiety from being this close to the man destined to become my husband.
He pulls me onto the floor, and we begin to dance and spin. He pushes me
