Chapter 16
The sun had begun to set by the time we arrived outside the castle stables, transforming the sky into a dreamscape of blended butterscotch and blue. Mesmerized, I gawked at its sublime beauty.
“Alara?”
The sound of my name drew me out of my captivation. I blinked at the prince standing beside his horse, looking at me expectantly. “What was that?”
He chuckled. “I asked if you needed a hand getting down.”
“Oh. Please.”
His strong hands guided my body as I descended Saltswift, still lingering at my waist well after my feet touched the ground.
“What had you so deep in thought?”
The truth was, I had been thinking about what a good time I’d had.
Even our run in with Magnus ended on a high note, as we’d left shortly after his unfortunate accident.
Against all odds, I liked Tarben. Charming, funny and thoughtful, he was annoyingly hard to dislike.
I wasn’t sure what I had expected but it definitely wasn’t someone whose company I actually enjoyed.
Be that as it may, it changed nothing. I had a job to do, and I wouldn’t get distracted. Being genuinely attracted to him would only make my act all the more convincing.
“I was thinking that I had a really good day with you,” I said softly, holding his gaze.
He moved a fraction closer, his hands still lightly gripping my waist. “I aim to please, my lady,” he said, his voice deepening.
Over the caw of a distant bird, I could hear Tarben’s heart beating wildly in his chest. Slowly, he reached for a strand of hair that had fallen in my face and gently tucked it behind my ear. “I had a really good day with you, too.”
I stared up at him with a playful challenge in my eyes. Did he dare to make a move?
His gaze turned hungry as it dropped to my mouth. Come on, do it. That’s it. Just as he leaned in, I took a step backwards.
“Thank you for a wonderful day,” I said coyly.
Confusion wrinkling his brow, he scratched the back of his head. “You’re welcome.” The words sounded like a question.
“Have a pleasant evening,” I said, walking towards the castle. I looked over my shoulder and threw a parting smile his way. His brow was still furrowed as he squinted after me.
Grinning wickedly to myself, I strolled away. I’d reached the water trough when, “Wait!” Just as I’d anticipated, Tarben called out to me.
“Yes?” I asked, arranging my face into polite interest and turning to face him again.
He took a few steps towards me. “Did I do something to upset you?”
“No,” I said, raising my eyebrows in feigned surprise. “Why do you ask?”
“It’s just…” He scratched the back of his head once more and shuffled his weight from side to side. “Did I misread things?”
Holding in a giggle, I decided to put him out of his misery. “Because I didn’t kiss you?”
“Yes.”
I took a step towards him. “I meant it when I said I had a good time today, but I’m still getting to know you.
I don’t know what kind of woman you think I am, but I don’t just go around kissing anyone.
Besides, if I ever let you kiss me, it will not be in front of an old stable that smells like horse waste and hay.
” I gestured to the bales of hay outside the weathered stable doors for emphasis.
“Valid point,” he admitted, nodding. “For what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re that kind of woman at all. But give me a chance and you’ll come to find that I’m highly kissable. In fact, I would say it’s my best attribute.”
I laughed at his playful smirk. “That’s a bold claim, Your Highness.”
“I stand by what I said,” he laughed. “Say you’ll see me again? Tomorrow?”
I lightly touched my chin, making a show of thinking about it. “I suppose I can make myself available.”
“Good,” he said, taking my hand. His lips gently grazed the back of it. “I look forward to it.”
“Until then,” I said with a soft smile. Turning, I made my way up the stone pathway back to the castle.
“Until then,” he called after me.
Our exchange could not have gone better.
The prince would be used to females throwing themselves at him.
He’d most likely never had a woman reject his advances before.
Now that I had given him a taste of what it felt like, he would only want me more.
Males were simple creatures in that way.
He would dedicate time and effort into winning me over, not realizing that I was actually the one seducing him.
And when I did allow him to kiss me, I would make it intoxicating and leave him hungering for more.
Forget love, the prince would be obsessed with me by the full moon.
As I reached the oak front doors, I felt a prickle up my spine. I had the most eerie sensation that I was being watched, but, when I looked over my shoulder, I saw no one. Maybe I should have waited for Tarben to escort me.
Triumphant smile dimming slightly, I pushed open the heavy doors. Surely, I was just paranoid. Still, to be sure, I hurried back to the safety of my bedchamber.
***
In the days that followed, I fell into something of a routine.
Mornings were spent getting ready with Runa and listening as she chatted away about her life before she came to the castle. She certainly liked to gab, but I didn’t mind. After all, the more she spoke, the less I had to reveal about myself.
After she left, I would find myself with an expanse of free time which I usually spent roaming the library, perusing the shelves for anything that caught my attention.
Then I would be visited by Amalie, who had taken to having lunch with me every day. Like Runa, she liked to talk and was extremely forthcoming. I quickly learned that I only needed to ask the right question and the child would reveal all kinds of useful information, often about Tarben.
She was a curious child with plenty of questions for me about my homeland. I kept my answers vague and often distracted her by subtly changing topics or answering her questions with questions. Fortunately, she seemed none the wiser to my tactics.
To my amazement, I didn’t completely loathe spending time with the girl.
Talkative and overly-dramatic with a penchant for hyperbole and big words, Amalie turned out to be a funny little creature.
I was secretly quite smug to learn that she had been reading and enjoying the book I chose for her.
I listened to her speak at length about her favorite characters and scenes, and her speculation about how the story might end.
“I think the prince will come to the princess’s rescue, slaughtering the witch and freeing the princess from her wicked enchantment, and they’ll live happily ever after. ”
I only smirked knowingly and encouraged her to keep reading.
There was another constant in my daily routine—every morning I received a note from Tarben requesting that I meet him in the afternoon.
I looked forward to seeing him, despite the fact that he wanted to use the time to teach me how to ride a horse.
Acknowledging that it might be a useful skill, I agreed to let him show me how to properly mount and dismount, grip the reins, and control Amalie’s mare, Hazel.
He was a surprisingly patient instructor, with many helpful tips on how to use my body to communicate with the horse.
By my third lesson, I could comfortably canter short distances without feeling like I was going to be bucked off and trampled. Even more surprisingly, I came to enjoy riding, even if it did leave my muscles rigid and sore.
During this time, he spoke at length about his kingdom and his life, regaling me with tales from his childhood; my favorite became a story about how Hugo had once annoyed him so thoroughly that he retaliated by shaving his eyebrows off on the eve of a visit from a neighboring king.
The king’s consort had seen it and thought it was the height of fashion, prompting her to insist her own sons do the same.
We never broached the subject of war. Likewise, any mention of our almost-kiss was carefully avoided.
We continued to flirt, although Tarben didn’t try to kiss me again.
Not that it mattered—everything was going perfectly to plan.
He laughed at my jokes, found any excuse to touch me, and was already hinting at midwinter plans.
All signs pointed to him being smitten, which was exactly what I wanted in the lead-up to the ball.
The morning of the ball, I received a note from Tarben. This time, instead of the usual request to meet him after lunch, it said:
Alara,
I saw this and thought of you.
I look forward to a dance, if you can find me.
Tarben
Enclosed with the note was a silver filigree mask embellished with rhinestones and crystals to form the shape of a butterfly.
Its wings were intricately designed to envelop each side of my face, with perfectly circular holes for my eyes.
But what caught my breath was the centerpiece: a single oval diamond nestled at the butterfly’s body, while a smaller round diamond above it formed its head.
The mask was undeniably exquisite, especially considering I had been planning to wear a simple white domino mask. I’d never been one to resist lavish gifts from past lovers. Still, the thoughtful gesture stirred something in my chest.
The remainder of the day was spent preparing for the ball.
Runa ushered in a procession of servants with an array of gowns in a variety of fabrics and colors.
She was in her element, flitting about and saying things like, “Divine goddess, no”, and “That will never match”, and “Much too dowdy, this is a celebration!”
In the end, she selected a stunning silver gown embroidered with delicate metallic vines. It reminded me of a bell with its square neckline and full skirts that swished when I moved. Not that I had much freedom of movement with the bodice constricting my torso.
She styled my hair into soft waves, pulling one side back with two crystal-embellished hairpins.
She dressed my cheeks in a light dusting of pink powder and painted my lips with a matching stain.
I had to admit that her instincts for these things were flawless—I looked more glamorous than ever before.
“You look magical,” she declared, with no small amount of satisfaction. “Like a Velcarin.”
She was right, nothing about me appeared mortal tonight, from the glow of my tanned skin against the metallic colors of the gown to the way my hair shimmered in the candlelight.
Even my eyes, more gray than green, were clear and bright.
I only hoped I could attribute my ethereal appearance to Runa’s knack for styling.
As she completed her final touches, I couldn’t control the light fluttering of butterflies in my stomach. While the maid fussed with my hair, ensuring that not a single strand was out of place, I wished I could drown those butterflies.
I shouldn’t have been surprised by my nerves on such an important night. The ball presented the perfect opportunity for me to move Tarben along significantly on his path to falling in love with me. If all went to plan, tonight would be the night that I truly bewitched him.
I carefully placed the glittering mask onto my face and smirked at the stranger staring back at me. Tarben had no idea what was in store for him.
I loved masquerade balls. After all, weren’t they just opportunities to don our best disguises? To role play behind the safety of a mask? Guests could be whoever they wanted to be. And tonight, I would play my role well.
Mask firmly secured, I made my way down to the great hall.