Page 27 of Her Ivory Flame

“What was that about?” Silas asked as he walked towards her, placing a kiss on the top of her head.

“He’s annoying.” She shrugged and continued to eat the dinner Raine had brought a few minutes ago.

“Well I guess I don’t have to worry about you getting too attached to him.” he chuckled and sat next to her to devour his own food.

“Never.” She smirked and leaned to rest her head on his shoulder.

They finished their food in silence, her mind racing from the events of the last couple of days. Between her training and realizingthere was nothing she could find out about the war easily, she felt lost.

“You still have that book you had on the way here, the one about fae history?” she asked quietly.

“Yeah, but I read the whole thing and there was nothing in it about the war.”

“How can there be no records in the castle?” she sighed.

“I’m sure there is something but I doubt the king wants it as common knowledge.” He wrapped his arm around her and rested his head on hers. “How is training going?”

“Nothing has really changed. I got sick again today and my power is still almost non-existent.”

His hand squeezed on her shoulder and she heard him let out a long breath. It was almost like he was frustrated with her answer but she must have taken it wrong, he probably just had a long day just like her.

“How are you feeling about the ball tomorrow?” he asked again.

It took her a minute to respond, her mind still trying to process what was going to happen tomorrow and what it all meant. Her only hope was she could hold it together long enough to do what was expected and leave.

If she panicked and got sick, it would be utterly embarrassing.

“I know after tomorrow, there is no going back and I’m not sure how to feel about it.” she admitted hesitantly.

“I’m sure once you get your power back, you will feel better.” He pressed another kiss to her head and got up from his seat, heading towards the bathroom.

She wasn’t sure what was going on but there was a shift in him tonight, she could feel it.

“Are you ok?” she asked as he stepped through the bathroom door.

“I’m just exhausted.” He smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ll come warm your bed soon.”

His face faltered some, but she brushed it off and just smiled as he shut the door. Everyone was allowed to have off days; there was no reason for her to worry.

She got up and made her way to the bed, changing into some cotton pajamas and crawling into the sheets. The sound of the bath running across the room helped her focus for a short time and when silence blanketed the surroundings she was so tired she passed out before Silas finished.

Chapter 12

“We are gonna be late!” Silas yelled from the main room.

Both males were waiting on her, Emris adamant both escort her to the ball for protection and she had no complaints about it. She had yet to see them in their formal attire, Raine helping her get ready around the corner from them.

“Ok, what do you think?” Raine spun her around on her feet, the mirror showing her whole body and she couldn’t help but stare.

The breastplate was made of silver painted leather, the top of her breasts carved with feather accents and the Nordic designs of her people spread around the rest of the open space.

It covered her breast and halfway down her stomach, leather shoulder pieces connecting it to the back and white chiffon fabric laid under it against her skin that could be seen around the edges.

Once Raine had cinched up the back corset, her cleavage peaked out from the top of the plate and she smirked at how Emris would balk at such a vulgar thing.

More white fabric hung from pins on the back of the shoulder plates, drooping between her shoulders and falling to the floor behind her. Her lower back could still be seen through the sheer fabric, her Vulknut tattoo at the base of her spine visible.

More leather hugged around her hips, the skirt again carved with more intricate details as it draped down her legs. It stopped at the middle of her thigh, the four sections sewn together in perfect form. One on each side of her hips and then one on the front and back.