Feylin’s not going to recognize me.
“Thank you, Ophelia.”
She grins. “You’re welcome. Now come on. I know he’s waiting for you.”
I wanted to surprise Feylin with the dress and makeup, so I asked Ophelia to help get me ready in my old bedroom upstairs instead of the one across from his.
That way, he’d have no reason to pester me before the ball.
I take one last look in the mirror, admiring the violet dressthat I love so much. Daisy was right. Though I tried on dresses for two hours and loved every minute of it, none of them held a candle to this one. So Feylin had purchased it and several others for me.
“For the other ceremonies,” he’d told me casually.
I didn’t question it. I only accepted his generosity.
Ophelia opens the door, and I squeeze her shoulder as I pass. “Thank you.”
“Have a wonderful ball.”
“You too.”
In the Royal Court, servants join in the solstice ball. It’s a celebration for everyone, and I love that.
As I sweep past her and head toward the stairs, the murmuring of voices mingled with the music become louder, and heat from all the warm bodies washes over my arms.
My heartbeat flutters like a caged bird against my ribs as I near the stairs. Gods, please don’t let me trip.
I place one hand on the railing and turn with the curve of the guardrail to descend the first step.
That’s when I take in the scene below. Fae, witches and wizards alike fill the grand ballroom. Torches suspended in the air cast amber light over the crowd, and a string quartet plays in one corner, the music lifting up to the heavens, where the skylights illuminate a sea of stars.
But that isn’t what steals my breath. Feylin does. He’s standing at the foot of the stairs, waiting for me.
He’s not even enjoying his own party. He’s waiting to escort me into the room.
A smile breaks out over my face as he does the same. He extends his hand as he’s done so many other times, but this time feels different.
Maybe it’s the caged bird in my chest. Or maybe it’s all the people and the music. I don’t know what it is, I only know thateverything else becomes background noise as I slowly descend the stairs and take his hand.
Energy immediately throbs in my palm as my skin slides over his. His sapphire eyes warmly drink me in. “You look more beautiful than you did yesterday, and I didn’t think that was possible.”
I glance up shyly. “You look handsome as well.”
He wrinkles his brow. “Except for that one pesky curl that always gets in the way.”
It’s true. I brush it back to tame it, and it stays.
“For now,” he says as if reading my thoughts.
“For now,” I agree, laughing.
“So. Would you like to enjoy the party that you’ve spent weeks planning?”
I scrape my teeth across my bottom lip. “More than anything.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do.”
For the next hour, maybe two, we dance and laugh. Feylin introduces me to everyone and anyone, and when there’s time for me to take a breath, I seek out my family and catch up with them.
