I take a step back. “That would defeat the purpose, Mr. Raven. For isn’t the point of a glamoured ball to go unrecognized?”
“Does that mean I would know who you are if I saw you? Are you someone of renown?”
With a shrug, I turn away from him. Then, tossing a grin over my shoulder, I say, “I suppose you’ll never know.”
With that, I enter the hall, a giddy smile spreading over my face.
12
FRANCO
Istare after the girl in the blue ballgown as she strides down the hall, leaving me stunned after our delightful interaction. It was the most authentic exchange I’ve had with a stranger in a long time, if not ever. I suppose that’s one benefit of being so thoroughly disguised. There was no pretense, no need for her to put on airs, act nervous, or try to impress me. While she started off so timid, she turned a delicious shade of taunting by the time I said I wanted to know her name. She flirted with me—me, not as the prince but a fat raven. It couldn’t be attributed to her guessing my true identity, because the momentary disdain she revealed forthe princewas genuine. Regardless of how she tried to deny it, I could taste her abhorrence on my tongue like bitter lemons.
But that’s not how she treatedme.
And yet none of that is as surprising as the reason I snuck up on her to begin with—her song. That haunting, passionate tune. I could feel it long before I heard it. I’d been perfectly content stalking the dining room and delighting in the disgusted sneers at my costume before I felt that melody tugging at my bones, an odd mixture of peace and grief. The way it pulled me to her reminded me of a siren’s song. Is that what she is? Is my mystery guest a siren? Tonight’s ball hosts very few fae guests, considering it’s a human event, and her ears were most certainly rounded. Could she have been half fae? Or a siren glamoured as human? No sea fae were invited to the ball, aside from…
My eyes widen.
Could she somehow be…Princess Maisie? Selkies don’t have the power of a siren’s song, but based on what I’ve heard of her father’s—ahem—virility, her mother could be anyone. And after our less-than-stellar first meeting, it would make sense why she isn’t fond of my true identity. Then again, when we met earlier, she didn’t seem keen on coming to the ball. Or standing, for that matter. Could she have changed her mind? Augie did say he saw her visit Madame Flora…
And if she isn’t Maisie, then who is she?
My feet fly beneath me, propelling me into the hall after her, a buzzing excitement humming through my veins. Glamoured ball or no, I must know who she is. I’m too fascinated not to.
She slips into the throne room seconds before I get there. As I enter, the music, dancers, and chatting guests invade my senses. Streams of energy writhe about the room, overwhelming me. I try to reach out toward one specific signature, but I’d been so entranced by the mystery girl, I hadn’t been conscious enough of her energy to try and establish a baseline. I’d been more aware of…my own emotional response.
Stalking the perimeter, I look this way and that, but it seems the ball has already swallowed her whole. A challenge, then. With a grin, I move toward the dance floor.
“Very clever, Your Highness.”
I halt as Madame Flora approaches me. She’s in her towering seelie form with her black evening gown and porcelain mask. Her long hair has been pinned up in a formal style, but she appears to be without any noticeable glamour. I would have thought the fae glamourist would have the most spectacular glamour of anyone.
Not wanting to be rude, I shake my previous train of thought from my mind. “Madame Flora, my ambassador told me you’d come. I’m pleased you’re here.”
“I had to see what you’d chosen to do with my work, didn’t I? However, when I sold you two glamours, I didn’t expect I’d be an accomplice in helping you hide from your own party.”
“I’m not hiding,” I say. “I’m…spectating from the shadows.”
She chuckles. “Is that so? And what have you spectated thus far?”
I sigh, remembering the girl and her song. “A rather delightful mystery.”
“Does it have anything to do with your missing other half?”
I furrow my brow, wondering what she’s referring to. If she’s somehow gleaned my distraction over an unknown female, it’s strange she’d refer to her as myother half.
Noticing my confusion, she waves a gloved hand toward the dais. “He who wears the second glamour.”
I cast a glance at the throne and find it…empty. Only now do I realize the collective energy in the room has shifted since earlier in the night. Theirprinceis nowhere to be seen. “Damn it, Augie!” I mutter.
“Hmm,” she says, and her energy morphs into teasing. “So that isn’t what had you on the hunt after all.”
“It does now,” I say, looking about the room for any sign of the ambassador. “I must find him before he ruins everything.”
She nods but doesn’t curtsy, which I’m grateful for. My glamour is only effective so long as no one suspects who I really am. “Do what you must, my prince, but do try to have fun.”
I smirk. “That’s the point of this glamour. Well, I suppose I shall hunt down my unrulyother half. Thank you for coming tonight.”
