“We got worried after we didn’t hear you anymore,” she explained.
I groan. “You could hear me?”
She nods solemnly. “Want a hug?”
“No, I may burst back into tears.”
She wipes some of my smudged eye makeup off my face with her thumb. “We need to get you back to Ruby and Nora before you go to the reception.”
She escorts me back to my wing where Ruby and Nora are already waiting. Nora touches up my hair, plucking dirt and twigs from the waves and re-curling some of the pieces. Ruby sets to work on my face. Most of my face remained unaffected, but she re-does my eye makeup entirely. By the time they’re done, I look good as new.
Elle is waiting for me outside of my door. When she sees me, she smiles and says, “Gorgeous as ever!”
I return her smile, but in reality, I feel like I’m going to throw up.
It’s time to go meet the royal court.
And my future husband.
Chapter 10
Elle walks me through the castleand out onto the main terrace. It overlooks a large grassy area filled with dozens of people dressed in black and seated at various tables. A garden sits in the far corner, overflowing with shades of pinks, yellows, and whites. Tables filled with handheld appetizers and drinks are scattered throughout the terrace. I snag a drink and head toward the stairs, but Elle stops me.
“Woah there,” she says. “Do you want to go into this blind, or do you want me to point out the different Houses?”
“Actually, why don’t I just stay up here and hide?” I ask.
She chuckles. “I don’t think that’s…” She trails off, her gaze snagging on something behind me.
“Hello,” a deep voice rumbles.
Elle immediately forms a deep bow. Certainly deeper than any bow or curtsy she’s given me.
When I turn, the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen stands before me. His skin is pale, almost white, and his dark black hair is parted down the middle. A lock of his hair has fallen forward and draws attention to his eyes, which I cannot look away from. The centers of his eyes are onyx black, as dark as night. But his irises are the lightest shade of green, the color of a light green fern. Cutting through the middle of his iris is a thin band of silver that forms a ring around his onyx pupils. They’re…captivating.
He catches me staring and lifts one corner of his mouth before falling into a deep bow. I look at Elle to ask her what the hell I say to get him up but she’s still bowing. Oh, this is ridiculous.
“You may stand,” I say, praying to the Mother that I don’t sound too awkward.
He does so, smiling at me again before extending a hand. “Prince Asmo, Your Highness. Lovely to meet you.”
Holly was right, he might be the most beautiful male I’ve ever seen.
I take his hand in mine. It’s warm and rough, and I hate how good it feels. “Lovely to meet you, Prince Asmo.”
“Lovely might be an understatement,” he says, his eyes roving up and down my frame. Any positive feelings I had toward Asmo are now gone, replaced with irritation and an overwhelming desire to roll my eyes.
I’ve dealt with males like him before, the kind who think their good looks and charm alone will earn them sway with anyone they come across. Killan was one of them.
“Would you like me to bow, too? Maybe give you a better view?” I ask him, one eyebrow raised. I almost regret it the moment it comes out of my mouth. Almost.
That corner of his mouth inches further upward, and he says, “No, you don’t bow to me. You bow to no one, Princess.” His “s” sounds slithery, and if I didn’t know he was from House Serpent before, I would have after hearing that.
I take a sip of my champagne, refusing to break his eye contact. Feeling emboldened, I say, “I suppose not. But I wonder,Prince,how much you’d like to see me bow before you.”
At that, his smirk turns into a grin. “My, my. You certainly are not as you seem.”
“I suppose not. Lovely to meet you,” I say before turning on my heels and heading down the stairs.
