Chapter 16 A Momentous Occasion #2
As I stared at the orb, into that cold, pulsing light, I felt some of my uncertainty melt away.
Caelan was from Verenestra, the Realm of the Goddess Elinle.
My Fae Prince. He always seemed so reserved and aristocratic, but he had a playful side to him as well.
He wasn't opposed to gently teasing me from time to time or to being sweet and caring, either.
Perhaps this was his idea of being romantic, of asking me to choose only him as my companion for tonight.
I had a feeling all three of my mates could be devious when they needed to be.
I wouldn't put it past any of them to do something like this to move me to favor them above the other two.
As I watched, the orb started floating away.
"Wait, I don't know what you want from me."
The orb moved closer again and then zipped away in the same direction as before. Was it just my imagination, or did it want me to follow?
My feet started moving then, and I was following the orb through the gardens. It felt like I was tethered to it by some kind of invisible string, like it was leading me along, like I had no choice but to follow.
I followed it through a rose garden with a small cobbled path, past fountains and statues, past balconies that looked out over the mountains.
We met no other students on our way, and I should have stopped to wonder why.
How this strange messenger from my Fae Prince knew the path it wanted to lead me down so well, if it was indeed from Caelan.
Down a few steps in the darkness, with only the cold, white light from the orb to illuminate my way, and we were standing in front of a large hedge wall.
The orb suddenly disappeared. Worried that I had lost it, I ran forward and saw there was an entrance through an archway, a door through the hedge.
The walls were so dense and overgrown that I had to turn a corner before I saw the light from the orb again.
It turned right suddenly, and I followed, twisting and turning left and right.
It zipped down different pathways, and I didn't even realize I was walking into a maze, down deserted pathways in a part of the castle grounds that were surely off-limits.
It was only when I ran out of breath and had to stop because of a stitch in my side that I lost the orb again and was shaken from the daze I'd been in. I thought whatever the strange orb of light was leading me to, it couldn't be that far ahead. Was it around the next corner, lying in wait?
I heard something moving stealthily in the darkness, and a lance of ice-cold fear pierced through my brain, making me hold my breath.
Had I really been following a strange object through a section in the castle I didn't know? What was I thinking?
That's just it, I told myself. You weren't thinking. Had that weird orb been hypnotizing me?
I suddenly felt like crying. I tried to remember the way we'd come. How many lefts had I taken? How many rights? If I just went back, would whatever waited for me in the darkness just leave me alone? Or would it chase after me?
"Miss! Hey... Miss Wood!" I started out of my thoughts when I heard a squeaky voice calling my name.
I looked around, but didn't see anyone.
"Down here! Come, you must follow me if you want to get out of here!"
I peered at the hedge and noticed a sharp little face with large eyes staring out at me.
"What... Who are you?"
He looked alarmed as he put one crooked, long-nailed finger in front of his lips. "Not so loud! Someone's trying to play a nasty trick on you, Miss. Come on, I'll lead you back to the dance where you'll be safe."
I walked up to the hedge, and saw the Imp—for that was what this strange little guy was—pull the hedge back like a curtain.
I shook my head at this creature's strange brand of magic that he seemed able to perform so effortlessly.
I knew who he was and who he was associated with.
Only one person I knew had an Imp dressed in a butler's uniform for a mate.
Seraphina Ashworth. But why would Seraphina send her mate to help me, even if it was true, and someone was trying to play a prank on me?
I realized I didn't have a choice but to follow the Imp through the shortcut he made in the maze. With him pulling the hedges back to clear a path for us, it didn't take very long. Eventually, we were outside the maze, back where I had first entered.
Seraphina was there, waiting anxiously. She was dressed in a beautiful sea-green ballgown that accentuated her blonde good looks.
"Oh, thank goodness!" she said as she saw me.
"I'm so glad Brambles managed to get you out of there.
I saw you walking in, and I thought you might be in danger.
Uhm, from someone playing a mean joke on you, I mean. "
Her explanation seemed strange. "Who would want to play a trick on me?" I looked at Seraphina earnestly, hoping she wouldn't try to lie. "This is the second time that you saved me. What's going on?"
"Honestly, I can't be certain, and to just accuse someone without proof..."
"Tell me, please. Just tell me."
She sighed, "Fine. I think it's Ines and her friends.
You publicly snubbed her, and she didn't like that at all.
Because you're more powerful than she is, she won't challenge you head-on.
Being sneaky, trying to humiliate you and showing everyone you're not invincible, she's trying to increase her status within the school. "
I nodded and turned away from Seraphina, wondering if I should confront Ines.
Seraphina grabbed my arm. "Please, you cannot accuse her without proof.
I don't know for a fact that she was even involved.
I just saw you following that weird orb, and I knew I had to help you.
Because Ines is cruel. And you're not. Why did you just follow that thing into the maze?
Even if it wasn't Ines, you should never follow a Will-o'-the-Wisp. Everyone knows that."
"Yes, I was pretty stupid for going in there, I guess. Thanks for getting me out." I turned to the imp. "And thank you, Brambles."
The Imp bowed so low that his large, pointy nose almost touched the ground. "It is my pleasure, my cruel mistress."
I blushed scarlet, and Seraphina rolled her eyes. "That's enough. Take a decent shape that's not meant to embarrass me, you fool."
Brambles's shape shimmered and seemed to stretch out until a man stood where the Imp used to be. Gone was the butler's uniform; he was dressed in a fancy dinner jacket and proper evening attire.
"As you wish, mistress." In his human form, the Imp was surprisingly good-looking.
"Shall we return to the ballroom for the last dance?" He asked and held his arm out for Seraphina to take.
She obliged with a gentle smile. Could it be that Seraphina was growing fond of her Imp mate after all?
I realized I was gawking and snapped my mouth shut. Then I registered Bramble's words about the last dance. I still hadn't summoned any of my own mates.
I summoned Vaerath, and he appeared, dressed in formal attire that accentuated his good looks. He did, in fact, look dashing, like every prince my little-girl heart had ever dreamed of.
The way he looked at me, as if he was drinking in every detail of my body in the dress, made me blush. "Ah, there's those magnificent hips again," he growled.
I laughed nervously. "Shall we? Go to the dance, I mean?"
He sighed. "I would much rather be alone with you, to sample the delicacies a dress like that promises, but..." He bent over and kissed my hand with a gentleness that I didn't know he had. "A Gentleman never refuses a Lady's invitation to a ball."
"A Gentleman," I snorted, teasing him. "You?"
He gave me a crooked smile, one that was sexy and quite roguish. "Yes, well. For the purposes of tonight, I shall pretend that I am one."
Then he hooked his arm through mine, and we made our way up the stone steps, through the doors, and into the ballroom.
Once inside, among the slowly swaying couples, Vaerath twirled me around, brought me close, and placed his hand around my waist. He placed his other hand in mine and led me around, mimicking the other dancers.
This was a modern dance, and I didn't think he'd know it, but my Dragon was a quick study and moved like his feet had been blessed by angels.
Dancing with Vaerath, I wished I could freeze the moment, just suspend time and make it last forever, but no moment ever does, and all too soon it was time for him to go. I could feel my hold on him slipping, and it broke my heart.
He must have sensed the shift in my mood, because he brought my face up with his finger under my chin. "Do not be sad, my love. We will see each other again soon. Summon me, and I will come, every time."
I nodded, and he bent forward and kissed me. For once, I didn't hold back. I placed my hands behind his head and claimed his lips with mine, drinking him in, hoping to put a thousand memories inside that one kiss.
Vaerath disappeared back to the Hestawyn Realm as soon as we broke apart. It was a little like letting go of a part of myself.
The music was still playing as a few of the stronger summoners maintained their mates for longer.
Oliver was still dancing with Naja. For once, she was in her human form.
The Lamia wore a shockingly short dress that showcased her beautifully sculpted legs.
He didn't notice me looking at them at all, so lost was he in his Princess' gaze.
I stepped outside and found Amber standing on the balcony.
She hooked her arm through mine and lay her head down on my shoulder.
As we stood there, wordlessly, each of us thinking of our mates, I guess, the world exploded in a symphony of colors.
Fireworks, the most impressive I'd ever seen, lit up the dark skies and made a rainbow pattern on the gardens beneath.
People spilled out of the double doors and crowded onto the steps. The light show marked the real end of the term, and we cheered. That was how the ball ended.
Amber yawned widely. "Shall we go get out of these dresses? They're pretty, but not very comfortable, and I'm looking forward to getting to bed. I don't think I've ever been this tired in my life."
It was only later, after the two of us were putting on our nightgowns and brushing our teeth, that I remembered I had never asked Seraphina if Ines had anything to do with what had happened to me on the horse riding trail.