“And I need to attend to the large ballroom to assist with some final touches to the decorations,” Galen says, sighing heavily. “I must say, it’s a wonder they are able to organize these events without me when they’re in the city.”
I grin, a small flutter of excitement going through me, mixing with my apprehension. “Let me guess, it’s going to be unspeakably beautiful?”
He smiles back at me, brushing away a stray strand of hair from my cheek. “It will be, because you will be there, little shadow.” As he says it, shadows swirl around his palm, moving to the bed. When the shadows clear, there’s a long, rectangular black box with a large red-silk bow sitting on my mattress.
I give him a questioning look.
“A gift,” he explains. “Wear it tonight for me?”
“But what if I don’t like it?” I tease.
He smirks. We both know I’ll love it. Every garment Galen has ever made me has suited me perfectly, and I can only imagine what he’s conjured for a night like this. “Then wear whatever you wish,” he says, smiling before growing thoughtful. “But you must ensure it’s mostly red.”
“Let me guess…because it’s the color of blood?”
Kenzie perks up from where she’s been standing awkwardly, pretending not to listen this whole time.
Galen’s lips twitch. “Something like that.”
Personally, I feel more comfortable in black, but I nod, knowing full well that angering the queen over something as trivial as the color of a dress is not a good idea.
“Thank you,” I say, gesturing with my head to the box.
Galen answers me by leaning down and pulling me into an all-consuming kiss. It’s only when I’m dizzy for air that he finally pulls back, staring at me. His eyes are hooded with desire, and his gaze lingers on my lips before dragging up to my eyes. “We’ll need to be careful not to single you out during the dance, but one of us will collect you after the celebration. We get one more night together before the games, and I intend to cherish every second you’ll be in my arms before then.”
My heart pounds as he stares at me with longing, but he tilts his head again, his gaze growing distant, and he curses under his breath before he focuses on me again, not hiding his disappointment.
I grin, even though my heart squeezes. “It’s okay. Go help them. The last thing we need is to anger the queen before the dance has even started. I’ll wait for you after the celebration.”
“Hmmm… They will last a moment longer.” Smiling, he leans down, kissing me again. This time he kisses me like he’s trying to devour me, and despite what I said, I melt into him, desperate to keep him there. His lips make me forget about the dance, about the games, and about everything I’ve learned and everything I still haven’t discovered. It’s a while later when he groans, reluctantly pulling away.
“If I don’t leave, they’ll become suspicious,” he tells me. “After the dance, my mate. And remember, during the night, we’ll be able to send you shadow whispers, but otherwise, we’ll try to keep our distance, so the queen doesn’t suspect us. It’s lucky she’s used to us shadow whispering amongst ourselves so much. Do try not to upset anyone tonight, won’t you?”
“Me? Upset someone?” I give him a shocked expression. “I will simply be another insignificant student floating around the ballroom. The queen won’t even know I’m there.”
His lips quirk up, and his chest relaxes as he blows out a long breath. “Somehow, treasure, I doubt that very much.”
Chapter Thirty
~ Shade ~
“Ho-ly smokes, this place is incredible!” I whisper to Kenzie as we make our way into the giant ballroom on the fourth floor of the academy building, streaming in with a steady flow of students. My friend is wearing a red ballgown with a flowing tule skirt that reaches her ankles, and off-the-shoulder sleeves that drape lower on her arms making her look like a princess. An ornate mask is across her face, shaped into the image of her animali, with pointed ears and red and black fabric matching her dress. She spins, beaming at me as mist drifts across the polished, black floor, teasing around her red heels and swirling with the shadows that slither and writhe around our feet.
I release a long breath, forgetting for one moment what this night signifies, and completely in awe as I feel like I’ve stepped into some kind of fairytale. Thick stone columns line each side of the cavernous ballroom, black vines winding around the pillars and leading to a ceiling covered with red roses. Tiny glowingwhite crystals dot the rose petals, making the flowers sparkle overhead like glittering stars, and shadows coat the walls, depicting the different victorious battles the shadow warriors have fought over the years. Some of the scenes I remember from our teachings during our history classes and our tactics and warfare classes, but others are new, displaying scenes of death and blood in gruesome detail.
I turn away from the bloodshed to where a giant tower of crystal glasses sits on a table at the far end of the room, the liquid fizzing and bubbling inside each glass.I’ll be seeing you later.
In another corner of the room, a four-piece band plays a haunting tune with various wooden and stringed instruments, and people are already dancing across the floor, swaying to the music while others stand around talking and drinking, milling about the space.
The students are all wearing red garments made of cotton, silk, satin, and lace, their faces covered with masks that represent their animali creatures, similar to Kenzie’s, and it’s so different to the usual black leather and cotton I’m accustomed to seeing everyone wear.
I feel someone’s eyes on me, and my gaze goes to the far end of the room. On a long table made of black stone, the originals are seated, with the shadow queen positioned in the center on her throne. All of them, including the queen, are staring at…me.
My heart skitters, and I shuffle closer to Kenzie, leaning across to whisper to her while still keeping my eyes trained on the back of the room. “Please tell me they’re staring at you and not me.”
She sucks in a sharp breath, like she’s only just noticed them as well. “Maybe they’re looking at someone else?” She turns her head, peering behind us before looking forward again. “Nope, sorry girl, it’s definitely you.”
I cough as my cheeks flame. “Okay, great. That’s just…amazing.”
