The lights were blinding, and hot, and I could feel my heart in my chest, thudding like thunder in the woods.
I half worried the entire student body could hear me. I leaned up to the mic, which of course screeched with feedback because I was too short.
Headmistress Blackthorn adjusted the microphone, and I searched the sea of students. There were so many, and some of them faded into darkness.
And then I sawhim.Standing against the doorway, the light of the glowing chandeliers making him look like he was truly on fire...
But part of that was his fiery aura that accompanied him everywhere, which no one else could see but me.
Because we’re mates. Forged in fate and destiny, bound by flame and desire.
And so, so much more.
My heart instantly settled and my blood warmed as I looked at him.
“I, uh... I’m not really good at speeches,” I said, and the student body chuckled, giggling as one entity.
“And as you know, things have been a little... chaotic, as of late.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the flash of tentacles and I tuned in their direction to see Norman and his tentacles wrapped around Wanda, who was shaking her head. I settled my gaze on her and she smirked at me.
While Bane may have griped about my refusal to ignore the Squid Squad, I couldn’t begrudge them entirely.
We may have gotten off on a fishy foot, but they’d come through for me when the cards were down, and it mattered the most.
And for me, that meant more than some typical, twenty-something academy drama about exes and oh’s.
Not to mention after ourverypublic display of affection, both Wanda and Norman took the hint.
Instead of propositioning me or trying to feed on my lust, they only offered kinship.
And I had to admit, it wasn’t half bad hanging out with a bunch of lust-wielding monsters.
It actually came in handy sometimes—such as when I needed help finding theperfectdress for tonight. Because tonight may have been a banquet, a celebration of the return of the Princess of Lir, but for me it was something more than that.
It was my first dance.
I’d never gone to any of my school’s dances. For starters, I didn’t wish to be around the students who made my existence a living hell, and it wasn’t like I had any boys to ask—even if I did, I likely wouldn’t have had the courage to speak to them, let alone ask them to a dance.
Though I didn’t have to ask Bane, I had.
And of course, he said yes, because why wouldn’t he?
Still, I’d wanted this night to be perfect, and Wanda and Delaney had been more than helpful in making that a reality.
Starting with the dress.
And maybe some friendly advice about how to tell your boyfriend, youranam cara,that you are totally in love with him.
I mean, how could one not be in love with a man who slayed dark faeries to save her and gave her her magic back?
I took a deep breath, before saying what I’d been practicing all afternoon.
“There’s no easy way to address the elephant in the room, so I’ll just come right out and say it. Surely you’ve heard the rumors about the Kingdom of Lir, about the queen, and about the lost princess...” I said as I gripped the podium to prevent myself from collapsing from nerves alone.
“My name is Violet McCreanor-Lir. I am the lost princess of Lir. Twenty years ago, I crossed the threshold from Lir into the mortal realm, where I was found by parents, the McCreanors. I’d lost my magic when I crossed over, or most of it. When I received my letter to Blackthorn Academy, I wasn’t sure what to expect, my magic had always been chaotic at best. But then I came here, and I soon discovered...”
My gaze found Bane, who was now standing in the aisle, only a few rows down. My heart swelled as I remembered that day I’d arrived at Blackthorn, when I’d crashed into Bane like a meteor.
