Chapter 24
Chapter
Twenty-Four
The harsh curse of winter struck every time I stepped foot outside of the warmth of indoors. Snow was thickly layered over the sandy beaches, preventing me from enjoying the company of the waves until spring returned.
Caelestis Academy offered all students a winter break, the week off ending with a gala to commemorate a successful first semester.
Sebastian convinced the king into allowing me a break from our combat sessions as well, though we weren't able to get away with less wielding sessions.
Not that it really mattered—we only practiced every few days, anyway.
Our plan had been working out to my benefit, and I was incredibly thankful to Sebastian for devising it.
I was getting a better handle on harnessing my magic, and only having to wield every few days increased my stamina—in return preventing me from getting ill.
We did almost get caught once by a bookkeeper who arrived late in the archives, but I threw a simple command at Sebastian to throw them off.
Aside from wielding sessions, I spent most of my break in the comfort of my room, going over and over the words written in Blythe’s prophecy. I'd been racking my brain, trying to make sense of the ending, but had no success. Sebastian had done some research as well, but we were both at a loss.
After our second almost kiss in the hall last week, I was even more confused about what was going on between him and I.
Maybe Pia was right. For all I knew, I could be shipped off to Draemor or caught in the midst of a war any day now. It would really suck if I died before getting a chance to tell Sebastian how I felt.
Admitting my feelings to him used to seem unimaginable, but it was beginning to seem more crazy to live in denial of them. If I wanted to take back control of my life—whatever parts possible—I could start by telling him how I felt. When the time was right, of course.
Releasing a deep breath, I stretched my arms up and stood from my desk chair. I’d been sitting here for an hour, writing about all the bullshit that had been going on and my predictions about the prophecy, though none of them felt right.
I peered out the window in front of me, missing the view that my old room had.
This one didn't show the ocean at all, just some trees left bare from the cold.
I still hadn't fully processed all of the changes that had taken place lately.
Instead, I avoided the thoughts when they swelled in my brain.
Sometimes it was easier to just pretend everything was fine.
“Hey.”
A voice startled me, forcing my body to jump around and released a scream.
Pia stood in the middle of my room, her arms full of dresses. “Gods, Pia, what the hell?” I exclaimed, clutching a hand to my chest.
She threw the dresses down on my bed. “I knocked. You were too invested in your daydream about Seb to hear me.”
I rolled my eyes. “That’s not what I was doing.”
She waved me off. “Yeah, sure. Wipe the drool from your mouth and come look at these dresses.”
My duvet had been replaced by an array of taffeta and silk. All colors of the rainbow, drenched in lace and glitter that shimmered in the light of the chandelier.
“Which one should I wear tonight?” she asked, and before I could even respond, she picked up a lilac ball gown by its hanger. “You’re right, this one will go well with my eyes.”
Glancing at the clock and realizing what time it was, I turned to my wardrobe. I hadn't looked through my gowns since the first gala. Swiping through the hangers, my fingertips paused on a deep blue gown, so dark that it would appear black in the evening light.
Pia unbuttoned the dress for me while I stripped to my undergarments. I must have gained some muscle tone since I started the academy, because the gown was pretty snug around my curves. I wriggled my hips into the fabric, then Pia helped me with the buttons again.
The dress was jaw-dropping with beaded straps that laid off the shoulder, revealing the sharp lines of my collar bones.
The neckline dropped into a deep plunge that was more revealing than I was used to, but grew on me swiftly.
The gown hugged my waistline, then dropped into a dripping flow of fabric, cut with a slit on each side that ran up to the middle of my thigh.
The dress shimmered with glistening swirls of black and silver sequins.
“Nice ass,” Pia interrupted my admiration of the gown.
I snickered and turned my body to get a look at my behind. The back of the dress was completely open, the fabric not covering anything above the dimples on my back.
I felt beautiful, and for reasons I couldn't deny, I couldn't wait until Sebastian saw me.
Fighting back a smile, I combed through my hair, leaving it wavy aside from two small braids on the sides, connected in the back with a silver hair clip I borrowed from Pia. I covered my lips with a sparkling, pink gloss and finished off my look with a pair of silver heels.
“I'm not sure that I’m ready for this.” I shuddered a breath, trying to ignore the memory of the last time I wore a pretty dress.
Pia gave me a look of consolation. “I know the last gala didn't exactly go well, but try to have an open mind.”
“Easy for you to say.”
I let her apply a thin layer of hair glitter to my scalp and cheeks before we left. Though I was skeptical at first, the added sparkle really completed my look.
Since I now resided within the four walls of the castle, Sebastian gave me permission to escort myself through the castle as long as he knew where I was going.
Leaving the building was another story. There was extra security around all corners of the castle now, anyways.
I had more than just his eyes watching over me now.
I tried to disregard the way the guards glared at me while I walked by, but we all knew that I was the reason for their new orders.
Pia and I descended down the staircase just as Lucan was climbing up. He gave me a nod of greeting, but nothing more as we passed by each other.
“Why is he in the soldiers’ housing?” I whispered to Pia when we reached the ground floor.
“I dunno. Maybe he's seeing someone,” she snorted.
“That would be quite the age difference.” I laughed. The oldest soldiers that lived on the castle grounds were twelve years older than myself, and Lucan had at least twenty more years on them, if I had a guess.
My mouth fell limp upon my entrance to the great hall.
The room was unrecognizable with its exquisite decor that outdid the last gala by miles.
Drapes of sparkling cloth hung from the ceiling, accompanied by garland weaved of greenery and white roses.
Twinkling lights dripped from the side walls, resembling icicles so clearly that it was as if Caius himself put them there.
The gemstones of the gods were depicted throughout the room by clusters of colorful streamers and tinsel.
Light reflected onto the dance floor, twirling off of the satin gowns and suits of the galas attendees.
“This is incredible,” I exclaimed in awe, spinning in a tight circle to absorb the room in its entirety.
“Always is.” Pia grabbed my hand, dragging me to the nearest buffet station and selecting a goblet of rose-colored wine for each of us. We sipped on our drinks, waltzing through crowds of people who swayed to the whimsical tunes that saturated the room.
My thighs peeked through the slits in my gown with every step I took.
In my travels, I glanced around, searching for a certain soldier.
My breath caught at the sight of him, standing with his poised posture, his dark hair shining against the contrast of the tinsel and lights.
Sebastian was deep in conversation with Sawyer and Jocelyn, laughing and looking as though he was truly enjoying himself.
Good. He deserved some fun—most of his free time was consumed by looking after me.
Kohen joined the group, his hands full of liquor which he passed out amongst his friends.
Sebastian flashed his teeth in a thank you before sipping his drink.
He looked dashing in his charcoal uniform.
The jacket of his ensemble was unbuttoned, revealing the ivory dress shirt he wore underneath.
His boots were black, their silver laces matching the buttons that cuffed the sleeves tightly around his wrists.
As if he could sense my wandering gaze, Sebastian peered up from his glass and his cerulean eyes caught mine. I jerked my head away, praying that he didn't notice me staring. When I finally got the courage to glance over once more, his back was towards me.
I finished my drink in one swift gulp. “I have a feeling I'm going to be needing a lot of this tonight,” I said to Pia, just as she caught sight of Kohen. She grabbed my arm, pulling me across the dance floor to join him and the others.
My heart collided forcefully with the walls of my chest as my adrenaline-thickened blood pumped. “Wait. I'm gonna go get some more wine first,” I stammered.
“Oh come on,” she groaned, pausing her motion but not releasing my wrist.
“I am not nearly drunk enough to talk to Sebastian right now.”
“You talk to him every day. The only difference now is that your boobs are out.” Ignoring my plea, Pia tightened her grip and led me straight to the group of head soldiers.
She released me to throw her arms over Kohen. She kissed his cheek, who blushed from the contact. I smiled faintly to myself as I watched them. They seemed really happy together.
“Maeve! You look gorgeous!” Jocelyn addressed me, admiring my dress selection.
My head tilted down with my grin. “So do you,” I complimented her burgundy gown. My gaze avoided Sebastian, though I was unsure why I suddenly felt so nervous near him.
“You clean up nice, Willawood,” Sawyer said, pulling me into a one-armed hug. I suppose we could be considered friends now, which was a bit ironic all things considered.