“He’s still getting ready,” she said. “Oh, they are making the announcement.”
I took a breath, my heart racing. If only I’d known how crazy my life would be when I’d agreed to be the lead in the play.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, please take your seats. Our performance will begin shortly,” said Professor Elara from beyond the curtain.
My mind blanked as I stepped out of the dressing room to the commotion of the set. Everyone backstage was rushing around, finalizing the columns and flooring that made up the set for the first scene—the throne room of the Arynthian court. I had to quell the nervous excitement that was building in my chest. We’d been rehearsing for months and not at any point had I considered what it would be like to do this in front of a live audience. I slowly parted the heavy velvet curtain and peered into the dimly lit theater.
The audience was a sea of shadows, their faces obscured by the darkness. However, I could sense the anticipation in the air, buzzing like an electrical current flowing through the room. The theater’s wall sconces flickered with the soft glow of candlelight, casting dancing shadows on the ornate walls. Torches had been strategically placed around the stage. Before I was awakened,I never would’ve noticed how brightly and calmly they burned, projecting the right amount of light that seemed to move exactly where it needed to go. The stage had been transformed into another world. The light created an ethereal feeling that I knew was from the everi that powered it. Still, it felt like I was back in the Realm because of the intense energy. It wouldn’t be hard to imagine what it would’ve felt like to be in the court of ancient Arynthia.
I watched as the children that Professor Elara had invited to play the roles of Daodyn, Adara, and Aryus in the beginning scene giggled and rehearsed their lines between bouts of laughter. Finally, I saw Blake. He took hold of my waist, kissing my cheek gently.
“You look beautiful,” Blake said.
I peered up at him, seeing the dark eyeliner and makeup they used to make him look evil. I giggled at seeing him in makeup.
“And you look evil. You’ll pull off a king gone mad splendidly,” I said. “King Aryus.”
He smiled. “I think Ash should have stayed and played Aryus.”
“Why is that?”
“He is moody like Aryus,” Blake smirked.
“You can be quite moody yourself,” I said.
“Yes, but it is appealing when I do it.”
As I looked over his go-to King Aryus scowl of evil, I knew he had a point. He was sexy out of costume, and in it he struck a whole new level.
Isabella appeared at my side, a grin spreading across her face. “Oh my god! You won’t believe what we found in the artifact room! It’s a replica of Queen Adara’s amulet!”
She held up a necklace and stared at it. It was the same one I saw when I trained in that room with Caelan. The emerald stone glittered brilliantly in the candlelit chandelier high above.
Isabella started fastening the silver chain around my neck, a cool, strange feeling making my skin tingle but it quickly passed.
“I guess you could pass for a Queen.”
I glanced up and found Caelan admiring my costume.
He looked impressive too in a crimson tunic with a gold-stitched collar. Behind him, a long black cloak rippled like dark, flowing water and was pulled partially in front, covering only half of his front with a gold dragon stitched finely into the fabric.
“I see Isabella found the amulet,” he said. “I could not help but think of it when she was talking to Saryna about the costume pieces.”
I glanced at it. “Yeah, I didn’t realize it was a replica. Works perfectly!”
“Yeah,” he said, adjusting the gold crown atop his head. “I would have never known if Saryna had not been there. She recognized it right away.”
“Only a few more minutes, everyone,” Professor Elara called.
I tapped my fingers on my leg, trying not to descend into a nervous disaster.
Caelan smiled. “You are going to be great.”
I groaned. “Why did I agree to this again?”
Caelan made a pointed glance at Blake, and I blushed even as I sheepishly hid a guilty grin.
“Places!” Professor Elara called, shuffling through everyone and shooing people along.
