The blaring of trumpets caused me to jolt, nearly spilling the glass held in my hand, the music and conversations instantly halting.
Butler Nott appeared in the entrance, his back straight and regal as he announced, "Make way for His Majesty, King Artius Soliel, by the grace of our Goddess Soli, King of Tavari!"
The crowd instantly fell into a wave of bowing and curtsying, like the rippling of water, and I followed suit, my attention fixed on the floor.
"Rise, my friends."
The voice was deep and steady, yet I felt as the hairs of my neck stood on end. Slowly I rose, my heart hammering in my chest.
Calm yourself, little shadow.
The shadows hissed, slithering through my mind, brushing against the fear that threatened to overwhelm me.
You are shadow-blessed.
A daughter of the Moon,
a King of Sun and Flame,
damned by all,
will bring no harm to you tonight.
A tight, shallow breath released as I made myself relax. The tension in my muscles eased ever so slightly as I truly took in the man before me.
And a man was all he was.
The King was tall and broad, his build that of a seasoned warrior. Where Prince Kairen was lean, this man was built like a bear. His dark hair and beard were peppered with grey. His upturned eyes were a pale golden color, not nearly as bright as his sons. He had a gruesome, jagged scar that marred his brown skin from the crown of his temple to the top of his full lip. His extravagant fur cloak was shimmering in the light as a matching golden, four-point crown rested atop his head.
What beast was slain for fur like that?
I caught sight of another man I did not recognize, only a step behind the King. He was the spitting image of his father, but with Prince Kairen's bright golden eyes. They were narrowed as he eyed those around the room with a calculating gaze, rather than warm and inviting. Thehairs on the back of my neck stood on end as those eyes met mine, lingering for a moment before moving on.
Leaning closer to Rena, my question was a murmur. “Is that the Crown Prince?"
She hesitated before shaking her head. “He will not be attending tonight. That is the second born, Prince Kassius." Rena's voice was tight with trepidation. "He might be family, but he's a brute and bully. Be careful around him, Syra."
I nodded once, throat tightening. Noted.
It wasn't until I caught a head of white hair entering the ballroom that I felt my body loosen slightly.Goddess,did he look divine. Dressed in a simple, collared black shirt unbuttoned at the throat and a fine jacket over it, paired with matching black pants.
He looked like a God of Death. One of the nine Demon Princes reborn into flesh and blood come to wreak havoc. A walking sin.
Prince Kairen walked side by side with Roan, their heads close together as they whispered something back and forth. An argument perhaps? Yet neither looked angry, just intense.
The prince was dressed similar to his older brother, wearing a fine satin tunic the color of glistening rubies, laid with intricate golden thread and matching flowing pants.
It was that silver and green gaze that found me first in the crowd, sending my heart hammering once more in my chest, a jolt that had me blinking rapidly to clear my mind as he drank me in. His eyes traveled from my hair, to my eyes, to my quivering, stained lips. My hands began fidgeting with the satin fabric as his gaze travelled to where my dress dipped and hugged my breasts, to the curve of my hips, and finally to the slit that showed off my tanned, toned leg.
I saw his eyes darken and hands clench before my gaze snapped back to King Artius as he spoke, his tone dripping with the authority that only a royal could muster. "I hope that this celebration will bring as much joy to you as the occasion for it has brought me," his head held high and proud as he spoke. "My third born son, Prince Kairen Artius Bruno Soliel, has been prophesied to liberate our kingdom from this sickness, this disease, that has been subjugated upon us for the use of dark magic within Tavari—Luanthianmagic."
I willed myself to relax as his lips curled around that word,Luanthian, as if it burned his lips as it passed between them.
"To my son, Prince Kairen, and his companions who l now bid to please to step forward." Prince Kairen moved to kneel before his father and I froze. My whole being locked and refused to budge even an inch. Bran gripped my arm as he moved us forward, leading me to kneel beside him as he took his own place beside the prince. I felt a presence kneel to my other side and I knew it was Roan. Without even looking, I couldfeelhim. He was just beside me as I kept my eyes glued firmly to the floor.
Had he been punished for those stolen Luanthians? Had he stayed behind that day of the second trial because of me?
The white robes of a Priestess of Soli stepped into the view of my lowered gaze and my throat felt horrifyingly tight, as if my airway was locked..
