5. Chapter Five
Chapter Five
“You look beautiful.” My mother greeted me in the throne room while Father talked with silver armored guards at the door.
She looked stunning herself. Rich brown eyes brightened over my outfit. Her long brown hair was pulled back at the sides into two braids, giving the six diamond spikes on top of her head room to shine.
I breathed in the scent of apples at the same moment she hugged me. My heart was in the embrace, but my stomach had eyes for the two Fae walking by carrying steaming piles of fried apple pastries on blue plates to the ballroom.
It’d been hours since I ate anything. Hopefully my future husband liked a woman who could eat a lot, because if he didn’t, then that special trip to the Hallowstags may come sooner than later.
“Prince Torin and his guards arrived an hour ago. We will enter first, settle our people, then introduce him. He’s been informed of your powers, as have you about his. If there is any trouble, find a guard,” she whispered against my ear before pulling back to face the king.
I wasn’t expecting trouble, but that doesn’t mean it won’t come. Two royal heirs in the same room? Maybe I should expect something bad to happen.
Father clapped his hands and rubbed them together. “There’s my little gem. Are the ladies ready?”
“Yes,” Mother answered for both and placed her hand on his arm. Guards opened the double doors, and the melodic sounds of my future surrounded us.
Nyx held out a hand for me and leaned in. “What was the prince’s power, so I know what to watch out for?”
I swore I told her, but perhaps in all the commotion I forgot. “Truth. He can feel if you’re lying and his core is turquoise.”
“Good thing I tell it like it is.” She laughed just as we walked into the ballroom.
Glowing orbs floated high in the air, flowers swayed above us, and the musicians had the guests dancing with big smiles.
“Princess Sapphira and handmaiden to her highness, Princess Nyx.” We were announced and I waved as we walked toward the wooden thrones an Oak Fae created earlier.
My father greeted everyone. I smiled accordingly, then saw a dark-haired man with three scars toward the back of the crowd.
I blinked, and he was gone.
Unless Rune’s family business was royal business, he wouldn’t be let into the palace. Most of these Fae were rich and noble. The common Fae, a term I wanted to rid of as soon as I became queen, weren’t invited.
My father raised his hands and the crowd parted. “Thank you for joining us on this special day. Let us not wait any longer as we welcome Prince Torin Wolfstrom from Regno De Lupi.”
Silver armored soldiers appeared first, looking much like Crysia’s own if it wasn’t for the ornated details chiseled into the edges of their chest plates. Regno De Lupi liked their luxury from what I remember reading.
Prince Torin walked through the door with a bright white smile on his face. The lack of pointed canines and elongated ears surprised me. I wasn’t told he was a demi-Fae. Likely got his human side from the mother’s line.
He greeted the people as he walked past them. His deep blue eyes were soft, kind even. Shimmers of honey-colored strands stood out in his medium wavy hair as he passed under the skylight in the middle of the ballroom.
My father greeted him, and the prince’s gaze darted to me before his head dropped and he bowed to the king with a triumphant smirk on his face.
“Prince Torin, we are happy to have you in Crysia,” Father said. “We hope that you find our kingdom as welcoming and beautiful as your own.”
“Thank you, Your Highness. Your kingdom and your daughters are beautiful.”
A mixture of laughs and gasps filled the room.
“How kind, young prince,” my mother commented, but I knew even without looking that she wanted to roll her eyes. What a little charmer Prince Torin was.
The prince rose and faced me fully. He closed the distance between us and held out his hand. I smirked and gave him what he wanted. My hand paused just before touching his skin, but he didn’t let me retreat.
He gently pressed a kiss to my knuckles. “I look forward to getting to know you better, Princess Sapphira,” he said, his breath against my skin sent shivers across my body. Warm tingles tickled my fingers, and they wiggled in his hands.
He had an energy about him. Not the dangerous type I’d felt with Rune earlier, but easier going. Calm. The energy I felt when I watched the sunrise with a cup of hot tea.
“Yes, it’ll be a pleasure to get to know you as well,” I said while he lifted his head then froze.
Shit… that wasn’t a whole truth and he knew it. He moved a second later and winked at me before my father set the party back into motion.
We stood silently for a moment, both of us watching the others join hands and sway.
“May I have this dance, Princess?” he asked, that flashy smile on his face.
“Of course.” I gave my parents a parting nod before the prince led me to a spot amidst the crowd.
At first glance, you’d think everyone was enamored by the music and joyous company.
But when you saw beyond that, they were watching us like we were a spectacle.
Perhaps there were bets or started rumors as we took our first steps as one.
The prince pulled me close and shook his head. “Never gets easy being on display.”
“It really doesn’t.” I had to watch what I said and I hated that. But the prince and I would have time to get to know each other. He was our guest for however long it took for us to get hitched. What happened after that, I had no clue.
Would we rule Crysia together? Travel back to his kingdom?
A weight dropped in my stomach.
“What’s wrong?” he asked while his hand spread against my lower back.
“Excuse me?”
“I noticed your mask fell for a moment and asked what’s wrong.” He whirled me around. My dress swirled behind my legs before he brought me against his chest. My heart didn’t race and my blood remained in normal temperature range. He tilted his head and a thick wave of hair moved over his eyebrow.
I reached up and moved it away from his face. He was handsome.
“I was thinking about your home and how I’d love to see it.”
“Liar,” he whispered close to my ear so the others wouldn’t hear. It wasn’t a complete lie. I do want to visit his kingdom one day. I’ve heard their cliffside views over the turquoise water were stunning.
“I’m not good at games.”
“I appreciate that.” He spun me around, and the song ended. He kissed my hand again, those deep blue eyes scanning my face.
“I—”
“Why—”
I shook my head and gestured for him to speak first.
“I was thinking we should get some air. You looked overwhelmed.”
“Actually, that sounds nice,” I said and the prince smiled.
Air did sound nice. I loved these gatherings as much as the next Fae, but I wasn’t much of a drinker, and Father would be disappointed if I spent the hours by the dessert table.
A brisk walk to the balcony behind the thrones was appropriate.
There were guards everywhere, and I could protect myself if needed.
“Lead the way.” He gestured and lifted our joined hands.
My parents watched as we strolled past them with soft smiles. Nyx winked then pointed to her chest, then mine with two thumbs up. My breasts looked great, got it.
The prince snorted but remained silent for the rest of the walk outside.
Clouds hid most of the stars and the light from the waning moon barely bounced off the stained glass to our left. Fire from the two torches on each column on the edges of the balcony cast the prince in a warm hue that only added to that sunrise feeling I had earlier.
He dropped my hand and leaned on the stone railing. “So, you don’t want to marry me then?”