Tonight, I’m going to find Aric, and I’m going to tell him I love him, even if he doesn’t say it back.
“That’s our girl,” Lyra says, looping her arm through mine.
Her partner, Cairn, stands just behind her, looking uncomfortable in his formalwear, with his massive horns spiraling up on either side of his head. He and Lyra met us here, and I’ve not yet had a chance to speak with him, but I can see how delighted Lyra is to have him here with her. She was so happy when I told her she’d be able to bring him—though I’m somewhat surprised he decided to attend, seeing as this is an academy function and he used to be part of the faculty. But Lyra’s convincing that way, and she has the big minotaur wrapped completely around her finger.
Tonight, she’s wearing a rich emerald gown that makes her red hair look like fire, and fierce pride flickers in her expression as she looks at me. “You’ve got this, Pops. Just remember—you’re brilliant and beautiful, and any guy would be lucky to have you.”
“Especially my brother,” Maeve adds. Her dark purple eyes scan the ballroom as she steps up beside the rest of us, her long hair falling down her back in a sleek waterfall.
I take a moment to look at my friends, and moisture starts to gather in my eyes.
“Thank you all for coming,” I say softly. “And for helping me with this.” I gesture to the ballroom, where students are already twirling across the floor—some more gracefully than others. The buffet table along one wall swarms with activity, the little chocolate fountains especially popular. A few girls have taken interest in one of the knights posted in the ballroom for the event, and something they say makes his cheeks flush red.
Everything looks perfect.
Except . . . Aric isn’t beside me.
Alina shifts away from me to lean back against Raelan’s chest. “Have you seen Aric yet?” she asks.
Hearing her say his name aloud makes my heart skip a beat. I quickly shake my head, then allow some of my fears to bubble up. “What if he’s here with someone else? What if he’s moved on? What if he—”
“He hasn’t moved on,” Raelan interrupts gently. He’s dressed in formal attire that makes him look every inch the prince-to-be that he is, and his expression is kind but firm as he meets my eyes. “Trust me. I’ve been helping him prepare for tonight. He wants this as much as you do.”
My heart does a pitter-patter of excitement and curiosity, hope flickering to life. “Prepare for tonight?”
Alina and Raelan exchange a look, and Alina smiles. “You’ll see. But you need to stop overthinking this. Just be honest. Tell him how you feel. That’s all you can do.”
She’s right. I know she’s right. But the memory of our last conversation still stings—how I pulled away in the library, the words I said that I didn’t mean.Maybe we were just fooling ourselves.I can still see the hurt that flashed across hisface, still feel the horrible weight of each step as I walked away from him.
I start to nibble on my lower lip, still not finding him in the crowd.
“Hey.” Maeve gives my arm a gentle shake and arches a sharp brow at me. “Stop that. I can literally see you overthinking this. Whatever happened before, tonight’s a new start. Okay?”
I nod, swallowing against the tightness in my throat. “Okay.”
“Good. Now let’s go find your orc.” Maeve grins. “And if he’s stupid enough to let you go twice, I’ll personally kick his ass—and give him coal for Yule.”
Despite my nerves, I laugh. “Deal.”
The six of us descend the grand staircase together, and I’m careful not to trip on the long skirt of my gown.
The orchestra is positioned on a raised platform at the far end of the room, and they play a waltz that echoes through the domed space. Couples twirl across the dance floor, and the memory mist swirls around them in response.
It’s beautiful. All of it. And suddenly, I desperately want to dance with Aric, to feel his arms around me while we move to the music, to see what memories the mist might show us.
If he’ll even talk to me.
I scan the crowd, searching for a familiar topknot, for broad shoulders and green skin, for hazel eyes that make my heart stutter. For a moment, I wonder if Felex was wrong. Maybe Aric has no intention of coming tonight. Maybehe—
My heart catches.
I see him.
He’s standing near one of the bubbling fountains, and my breath lodges in my lungs at the sight of him.
He’s wearing formal attire—a deep navy jacket that fits him perfectly, highlighting the breadth of his shoulders, paired with charcoal trousers and a crisp white shirt. His dark hair is pulled back, and the hoops in his ears gleam in the candlelight. He looks devastatingly handsome.
But he’s not alone.
