The crowd cheered, though the applause was subdued and hesitant. A path was cleared as the contestants left the stage and made their way back to the carriages. I relaxed as the carriage doors closed behind Emma and I and began moving in the way of the palace.
Emma’s lip was trembling. She looked like she was going to cry. “I’m so sorry, Ethan. I should’ve told you before we got here.”
“Should’ve told me what? Don’t cry.” I reached over and wiped away a singular tear off her cheek. “I’m proud you kept it together in front of all those people.”
“Like I have a choice. Dammit, I’m ruining my makeup. Odette’s going to have a cow.” Emma fished in her clutch for a tissue and dotted at her eyes before she said, “I knew word would get out about me.”
“What do you mean? We don’t have a lot of time, so tell me quickly,” I said.
She took a deep breath. “I just found out recently, but my mother told me she was mated to your dad, the king. But she broke that mating bond, because she bonded with another shifter.”
“So that’s why you brought it up the other day. I didn’t know that could happen,” I said.
Emma’s voice was tight. “I didn’t either, but my mom swore it could. His name was Anastazy Ignacy. The Black Claw killed him. He was trying to protect me from being taken by them, so they could use my blood to raise Droga. They knew about me, even back then. Mom took me to America, to protect me.”
Emma shook her head. “But people don’t know all that. They probably think my mom screwed around with a human or something.”
“If you say that your mother bonded with two shifters, I believe you,” I said. “But you have to know this. I don’t care about anything they’re saying, Emma. We’re in this together, you and me.”
“But not everyone believes me. They don’t know my true bloodline. They consider me unfit to rule by your side. I’ve caused a scandal and embarrassed you,” she protested.
“There are always scandals in the royal court. It’s nothing new.” I rolled my eyes. “If anything, you’ve only made us more interesting.”
Emma let out a skeptical noise. “Yeah, well, people love drama.”
“That I agree with.” The palace came into view outside the window. “Look, Emma. We’re passing through the gates now.”
I parted the curtains in the carriage window, and Emma gasped. The palace came into view, lit up by spotlights made from illusions. She left her cloak behind on the seat as the carriage began to slow.
The carriage stopped before the grand staircase that led to the main entrance, and Emma held my hand tightly as we climbed them. The double doors were made of gold and over a hundred feet tall. They opened by magic as the contestants approached. The palace had been decorated for the King’s Ball, adorned in garlands, wreaths, and colored lights. Candles hovered in the air over the long hallway, and guests wearing their finest attire drank champagne as servants hurried this way and that.
“This is your house?” Emma gaped.
“Well, I live here, so yes,” I replied. “It’ll be your house too, once we win the Contest.”
“You know what? Marrying you will be worth it, just to live in a palace.” She grinned.
I laughed. The long hallway ended and opened up into the Imperial Ballroom. There was a fifty-foot tall Christmas tree in the center, decorated with silver and gold ornaments. Our reflections shone off the polished marble floor, and paintings of former kings and queens lined the embellished walls. A string quartet, accompanied by a pianist, played soft music in the corner. Tables with floor-length tablecloths and chairs adorned with ribbons made a circle around the room. An illusion made snowflakes fall from the ceiling, though they vanished before they reached the floor.
My mother, the queen, sat on a throne that was placed on a raised platform so she could observe the party. She caught my gaze, then her eyes flickered to Emma. She raised an eyebrow and turned her eyes away.
She hadn’t approved of my mating choice, but that was on her. It was too late to go back now.
“Is that your mom?” Emma hushed. She stared at the queen with wide eyes.
“Yes,” I replied. “We’ll meet her later. Right now, it’s time for the feast.”
Odette, Delmare, Kiara, Theo, Stefan, and Alexei were already at a table near the head of the room, waiting for us. Our friends had barely followed the dress code. Odette was wearing a ballgown that had a jeweled white top and a pastel rainbow skirt, along with a diamond headpiece that made it look like she had an alicorn horn nestled in her curls. Delmare looked like some sort of queen of spiders, with a long-sleeved black evening gown made entirely of lace. Her wore heavy eyeshadow and black lipstick, along with a ribbon choker. Kiara’s dress was— by the gods— low cut in the… erm, chest area… andcheetah print.
Theo had opted for a regular black tuxedo, though Odette had pressured him into wearing a rainbow tie. Stefan’s tux was wrinkled, and burned at the edges. Alexei had opted for a tan suit instead of a black tuxedo, and was totally out of place among all the other men here.
It was like none of them had gotten the attire requirements. We’d certainly attract attention. I helped Emma into her chair before taking a seat. I was trying to get over how odd it was to see Stefan in a tux.
“Thank the gods you showed up,” Stefan moaned. “I’m fucking starving.”
“Don’t swear here,” I snapped. “People will overhear you.”
“Let them!” Stefan smirked. “Bring on the ale! I want to be unable to walk before the night is over. You’ll have to carry me out, babe.”
