Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
I swept across the threshold, and the huge ballroom spread out before me.
I was instantly transfixed. Floating trays that carried champagne and appetizers glided through the air as though carried by a breeze.
A full orchestra played beautiful melodies, and perfumed flowers climbed the walls.
Candles in wall sconces lit the space, keeping the atmosphere dim and magical.
And the Wood was everywhere. Trees sprouted through the floor.
Branches filled with colorful leaves wove across the ceiling and tangled through the architecture. Vibrant color was everywhere.
I’d seen this huge ballroom once before, during my wanderings through the palace with my map in hand, but now with the music, packed room, and flickering candlelight, an ambiance was created that had been lacking before.
Fae chatted in small groups and plucked the drinks and morsels off the serving trays as they flew slowly by. Nobody had noticed me yet, and I was grateful for a moment to take it all in.
I walked farther into the grand room, my heels clicking on the floor, and admired the beautiful glass-domed ceiling that stretched from wall to wall, covering the entire ballroom.
Since only candlelight lit the space, the night sky was evident through the tangled branches.
Stars shone, and the three moons were visible.
My celebratory ball was magnificent.
Breathtaking.
Never in my life had I ever attended a party this grand. And enough House leaders and their family members, along with dozens of other nobles, were already present that the ball was in full swing.
I took another step forward, and a male in formal wear rushed toward me and bowed.
He turned to the crowd, and using a magical amplifier at his throat, boomed, “May I present Princess Primelle, third daughter of the king and queen of Mistvale Kingdom and the star guest of our ball on this fine evening. We welcome their daughter home!”
The music continued, but the conversations stopped, and all eyes turned on me. At first, silence reigned, but then one fairy clapped, and then another. Soon, the entire room was applauding, although fear coated many of the nobles’ expressions.
I stood stiffly, searching for a friendly or even familiar face, but my introduction was quick, and everyone soon went back to their previous conversations, although almost everyone side-eyed me at one point or another.
Plastering a smile on my face, I made myself continue onward with Kole right behind me.
“You belong here,” he whispered into my ear. “Don’t forget that.”
His steady composure and firm reminder of my birthright had my shoulders squaring.
A tray floated to me, and I nabbed a flute of champagne.
I didn’t sip from it, knowing I needed to test it first, but I didn’t want the fact that someone was out to poison me to be entirely obvious, so I just held the glassware.
Walking slowly, I dipped my head at every noble that I passed while looking for my parents. The throne chairs perched on the dais at the far end of the room were empty, so I guessed they either weren’t here yet or were somewhere in the mix.
But instead of finding the king and queen, my gaze alighted on my sisters.
As though sensing that I’d found them, Koraline and Lillith’s attention swung my way.
They’d been standing with three young males, and all of them appeared to be under a hundred summers or close to it.
Considering one of the males stood closely to Koraline and occasionally ran a finger up her clothed arm, I could only guess that he was her betrothed, Neb Deerwood.
At my back, Kole stayed close, and I didn’t have to look at him to know that he was studying everything around us too, as though waiting for a threat to strike, even here of all places.
“Primelle!” My mother’s joyous call carried over the music, and several nobles parted to allow the queen to hurry to my side.
“You’re early. We were hoping to be waiting for you at the doors when you entered, but we got pulled into several conversations.
I’m so sorry, my darling, but you handled it so well.
” She took both of my hands, then kissed my cheeks.
“Oh, look at you. You’re absolutely beautiful! ”
“That she is.” My father sauntered up behind her and leaned down to press a kiss to my cheek.
Like me, they were dressed in finery. My mother was bedecked in an opulent crimson gown, while my father wore a regal dark-purple jacket with full lapels. Crowns adorned both of their heads.
It struck me again how bizarre this situation was. My magic recognized them as Aunt Opalin and Uncle Roosep, yet before me stood Queen Oleander and King Russem.
The king gave me a wry smile. “Stunning, my love. You look absolutely stunning, and as your mother said, we’ve already failed on our first night of official parenting. We should have been at the door to greet you.”
“Nonsense.” I swished a hand. “I’m fully grown. I can certainly enter a ballroom by myself.”
“And what an entrance indeed.” My mother beamed.
I smiled tentatively, and the new reality of my life hit me all over again. The king and queen of Mistvale Kingdom were my parents, and they were making a show of my arrival and how happy they were to see me, and amazingly, it seemed genuine despite all of the heartache my magic had brought them.
I couldn’t help but wonder what the past thirty summers had been like for them, in which they’d had to pretend that their youngest child was dead while visiting her in secret, cloaked as commoner fae. It must have been very difficult never to proclaim their love for me as my mother and father.
“Have you seen your sisters yet?” my mother asked.
My smile faltered. “I’ve seen them.”
Her eyes dimmed, and I guessed she knew what I meant—seen them, yes, but spoken with them, no.
“No matter.” Her cheerful grin returned, and it struck me who I’d likely inherited my optimism from.
“They’re probably busy, but you have other relatives coming tonight that we’ll introduce you to.
Your father’s two brothers should be arriving any minute, and my sister is coming as well.
All of them had to travel from their home cities and weren’t able to leave until today, but they’ll be here soon enough. ”
My heartbeat kicked up. “I have an aunt and two uncles?” Funny how I’d never thought to ask of any extended family. I’d been so consumed with learning the ten House families that I’d forgotten to learn my own.
“Cousins as well,” my mother replied. She and my father shared a guilty look.
“We wondered if you knew,” my father replied.
I twisted my hands together. “I probably heard of your relatives at some point in my life.”
Another huge smile streaked across my mother’s face. “Well, no need to worry about that. Your father and I would have mentioned them sooner, but we thought perhaps it was too much to come to terms with at once. I know the past few days have been quite an adjustment for you.”
“And you,” I offered.
My mother patted my hand. “Don’t worry about us, darling. Tonight is about your arrival home.”
I kept my smile in place, but it was hard. More relatives meant more potential judgment. I could only hope that they didn’t view me as harshly as my sisters did. I glanced over my shoulder at Kole, but he was surveying everyone around us.
To cover up my nervousness, I swirled my skirt. “Do you approve of the dress Betsee and I chose?” I turned slightly, both ways, letting the candlelight refract off the skirt’s gems while the satiny bow sleeves rubbed along my skin. “We thought this color an interesting choice.”
“Absolutely. It looks magnificent on you,” my mother gushed.
“I have to say I agree,” a male replied, coming up behind my father.
Kole’s aura shifted, his attention focusing on the male joining us. The newcomer was young and looked similar to Kole. He had black hair and tanned skin, but instead of blue eyes, he had brown.
From his clothes, it was obvious the young male was wealthy, and given his complexion, I had a feeling he enjoyed the outdoors and spent frequent time in the sun.
He smirked as he neared, and the playful glint in his eyes reminded me of Felix, the Faewood fairy I’d met during my hunt for the Stone.
“Ah, Nathaniel, so lovely of you to join us.” My mother ushered him forward. “Prim, do you remember Lordling Ryderdim? You and he used to play when you were younger, although it was so long ago it would be a miracle if you could recall it.”
I lifted my shoulders. “I’m sorry, but I don’t.”
Nathaniel shrugged, then grasped my hand and brought the back of it to his lips. I jolted at the feel of him kissing me, and at my back, Kole’s aura grew hot.
“I don’t either,” Nathaniel replied, “which is something since I doubt I would ever forget someone as lovely as you.” He assessed me head to toe, his approval obvious.
My father cleared his throat, but my mother laughed. “Ah, Nathaniel, you’re as flirtatious as your father.”
Nathaniel released my hand and took a sip from his drink. He smiled at me over the rim. “My likeness to my father is why my mother loves me so much.”
My parents both chuckled, and my tensed shoulders loosened. Any concern I had over Lady Ryderdim’s grandson also being wary of me melted away. A cheeky smile graced the young noble’s lips, and it seemed to be his expression of choice.
He took another sip of his champagne and angled his head. “I hear that at one point in our lives, you had me walking on top of the stone wall encircling the palace.”
My eyes bulged, and I brought a hand to my mouth. “Oh dear, did I?”
He laughed. “So my grandmother tells me, even though I can’t remember it. But all seems to be forgiven. She told me that I should reintroduce myself to you, which has to mean that she’s no longer holding a grudge.”