26. CHAPTER 26 #2
“I am. If you’ll excuse me for a moment—” I told her, turning from her and making for the double doors that would lead me out into the corridor.
As I staggered across the dance floor, whispers filled the ballroom and heads were turning toward the grand entrance.
It only took me a moment to determine why.
On the threshold stood Aveline. Her shoulders were back, chin tucked down as she met each and every stare that turned in her direction.
Word had spread this last week about Prince Kallias Ashbourne’s mistress and her presence at court, despite my best efforts to quell the rumors.
She had chosen my favorite of the dresses tonight, midnight blue hugging her so closely it appeared painted on.
The delicate beading at the chest dipped low enough to accentuate her generous cleavage, her breasts straining against the corset with each and every breath.
Her pale arms were crossed behind her back, the flowing indigo skirt pooling on the floor.
The slit met her hip so that her milky white leg could be seen beneath, a black strappy heel on her foot.
Her raven-colored hair was pinned behind her head, falling down her back in silken ringlets that I ached to touch. Her mask was an intricate design of swirling ebony filigree, glittering onyx flowers embellishing the sides.
My heart caught in my chest.
She was breathtaking.
Her beauty was utterly devastating. She was single-handedly the most beautiful creature I had ever set eyes on.
Her ears were dripping in diamonds that I was sure had to have been gifted to her by Kallias. The thought had anger and jealousy roiling in my gut. Her hot pulse fluttered at her neck, and my stomach bottomed out.
I had forgotten to send for a feeder.
It had been too long since I had last fed; my mouth went dry at the thought. No wonder my wound was causing me pain—no wound could heal without blood.
All eyes remained trained on Aveline as she strode forward, wearing a confidence upon her skin that couldn’t be learned. My own eyes couldn’t be drawn away, even as Emrys reached my side and cleared his throat loudly.
I needed to speak with her desperately.
If anyone found out that she was my fated, she would be in danger. She would become a target simply for being mine. As a human, she was even more vulnerable. She would become a mark to be used against me.
Nobody could find out. Not until I had claimed her publicly.
No one would dare come after her once the entire kingdom knew who she was to me.
I reluctantly drew my gaze from her to meet Emrys’s knowing glare.
He cleared his throat. “Brother?”
I straightened to my full height, running a hand down my ebony tunic. I said nothing in return as I strode forward, toward Aveline. I stopped before her, Enora’s wide gaze locking on me from over her shoulder. I hadn’t even realized she was here, too. Thoughts of Aveline eclipsed all else.
“I need to speak with you.” My voice was strained as Aveline turned her gaze on me.
“What an odd greeting from a prince. Where are your manners?” A smile lifted the corner of her mouth in jest. “It’s nice to see you, too.”
I shouldn’t have been surprised that she would be difficult.
“Please,” I begged.
She opened her mouth to speak, then shut it again. Finally, she said, “but I’ve only just arrived.”
“I wouldn’t insist if it wasn’t truly important,” I pleaded.
The wound at my side pulsed with pain once more, and I doubled over, hand pressing against my tunic only to come away bloody. I met Enora’s gaze over Aveline’s shoulder, her brows drawn together in concern.
“Are you all right?” Aveline’s hand flitted to my shoulder, a surge of heat running through me despite the fact that I couldn’t feel her skin against mine.
“Quite,” I replied softly.
But the wound didn’t agree, and pain lanced through me. I squeezed my eyes shut, the ballroom tilting before me. Without blood to heal me, I was weakening rapidly.
Emrys was at my side in an instant, his hot breath urgent in my ear as he realized what was happening. “We need to get you out of here now. Where is Rensford?”
I shook my head. I hadn’t the slightest clue. I hadn’t seen him all night. Emrys grasped my arm as if he was going to haul me out of here himself, but I shook my head.
“We can’t both leave. Not with this many royal dignitaries at court.”
Emrys cursed under his breath. He knew I was right. With Valerian missing, there needed to be at least one Blackwater prince standing by the king’s side.
“I will take him,” Aveline offered.
Emrys’s gaze finally landed on her, and he cocked his head to the side in both confusion and amusement. “And you are?”
“My indenture,” I spat out.
“Ah, I did not recognize you beneath all this finery. And your indenture is attending the royal ball in honor of your impending nuptials because…” Emrys started, but I pinned him with a glare that had him rethinking opening his mouth in the first place. He nodded once. “Quickly, then.”
Aveline grasped my hand as she turned, leading me from the ballroom. With this many eyes on us, I needed to walk out on my own. I couldn’t show even a hint of weakness before the court. Enora remained, her gaze trailing after us as she worried at her lower lip.
The last thing I saw before exiting the ballroom and collapsing against Aveline was King Mavros, his knowing gaze trained on me as I disappeared behind the archway.