“You look absolutely beautiful.” The words are a low purr in his throat.
I murmur a “thank you” that garners a deep chuckle from him. Avoiding his gaze, I stare at the gold threading of his green jacket instead. It covers the lapels and cuffs of his sleeves, the embroidered design made to look like stars.
“I’m surprised Daxel left you alone out here.”
“I can take care of myself.” My voice wavers as I speak, an unfortunate thing to happen when paired with that statement. A laugh trickles from him again while his hand flexes, tightening a little more around my waist. The sound of the band begins to get drowned out by the heavy thumping of my heart.
“You know, I was curious when I first saw you on his lap in that tavern. He’s so clearly enamored by you that it’s honestly pathetic. Whatever you’ve done to him, I commend you for it.”
Embarrassment brightens my chest and neck when his gaze draws down my body and a lecherous smile curls his thin lips. “I haven’tdoneanything—”
Arin leans down until his cheek is pressed against my own. He holds me in place against him, ignoring the way my body struggles to get away. “He has a weakness now. I can’t wait to see how I can exploit it.”
I grit my teeth together against the onslaught of magic boiling beneath my skin. He quickly straightens and then releases me, making a mockery of a bow before he disappears into the crowd. Music comes rushing back in as sweat beads on the nape of my neck. Minutes tick by while I stand there, trying to calm my quickly beating heart.
“Rhea!” Cass calls out to me, motioning with his hand for me to come join him. I glance back to confirm that Elora is still dancing with Evren before making my way over to Cass, my hands shaking at my sides at the memory of Arin’s hands on my body and words in my ear.
“Wow,” he drawls, giving me a bright smile. “You look like a queen already. Congratulations, by the way.”
“Thank you. Look at you!”
Cass throws his arms out to his sides and spins in a circle, showcasing how handsome he looks. Dressed in a brocade-style overcoat in dark plum and silver, Cass’ stark blond hair—leftunbound and hanging just past his shoulders—shines brightly against it. Trousers of the same deep purple and black boots add to his lavish look.
“And—because I know you’re wondering—yes, there are several daggers hidden on my body,” he adds, winking at a nearby man who happens to overhear him. I cover my laugh with the back of my hand, my mood improving as Cass holds his own out to me. “I would be honored to dance with the future queen.”
Playfully rolling my eyes, I squeal when he whisks me into a surprise twirl, drawing several inquisitive looks from the people around us. “Thanks for that,” I grumble when I’m facing him again.
“If it’s any consolation, they are mostly staring atme.”
I laugh again, Cass leading us in a different waltz—one I can’t remember all the steps to. He makes up for my lack of refined dancing with smooth movements of his own.
“Did you know Nox was going to propose?” I ask, once more searching the crowd for him.
“I knew it was coming soon, but I didn’t know he was going to do it today,” he answers. “He’s still inside talking with the council.”
I can’t help my defeated sigh. “Theyhateme.”
“Maybe nothate.” At the look on my face, he snorts. “They’re all just paranoid about change, I think.” He shrugs, and it’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him where Nox and I had gone earlier and how that had the potential to change things even more, but I bite it back down.Tomorrow.
Daje and Haylee pass by us as they dance together, the former giving me a warm smile. A grin tips Haylee’s lips as well, her hair curled to frame her face while a sapphire gown made of thin silk adorns her body. She catches my gaze and holds it briefly before the dance moves them farther away.
The ending of the song builds, the string and percussion instruments growing louder as they reach the song’s peak. The thumping of my heart matches pace, Cass and I finding a rhythm that ends when he dips me in time to the song stopping. There’s a tug on my chest, a nudge of recognition, and when Cass pulls me back up, Nox is there, his hands behind his back and an easy smile carved on his perfect face.
“Can I cut in?” he asks, his voice a soothing balm that caresses my entire body.
Cass nods, but before he releases me, I pull him into a hug. I can’t say why, other than that I’m grateful for his presence and friendship. He wraps his arms around me, carefully placing his hands over the cape that runs down the back of my dress before squeezing me tightly. We separate, and he flags down one of the palace aides carrying a tray of drinks. Plucking up a glass flute, he gives Nox a two-fingered salute before spinning on his heel and walking farther into the crowd.
“I’m sorry I’ve been gone for so long,” Nox murmurs against my temple as I slide my hand into his.
“Trouble with the council?” I ask, letting him guide us into a slower dance.
“We were correct with our assumptions of how they would react. My parents are still speaking with them now.”
“Cass said that maybe they are afraid of change.” I let my insecurity bleed into my words, let Nox see the way I frown as I say them.
“If that’s the case, then they are fools. Fearing change will only lead to the inevitability of it.”
He turns me so that my back rests against his chest, our hips swaying in tandem to the slower pace of the current song. I tilt my head, looking up at the woven branches of the trees—the canopy thick enough in this spot that seeing the night sky isimpossible. I know it’s there though, the moon and stars calling to me just as the sun does.
