Chapter 34
The ballroom at the Citrine Court was unlike anything I had ever seen.
The ceilings were covered in swooping lavender drapes that all flowed to the centre, where two large citrine chandeliers hung, bathing the ballroom in a warm golden glow.
Dripping down from the lavender drapes were twinkling lights shaped like icicles.
Large arched windows lined three sides of the room.
Each window was adorned with evergreen boughs sprinkled with tiny silver lights.
Between the windows were small golden sconces, each holding a handful of golden candles.
Where the fourth wall should have been was an open space that backed onto the royal garden.
As the last of the guests arrived, snow began to fall from the ceiling.
Before it could land on anyone, it dissolved and disappeared.
“This is incredible,” I whispered to myself.
Thea sighed. “It’s all right. Compared to some of the parties I’ve seen Queen Oriana throw, this is a bit pedestrian.”
I looked at Thea incredulously. “I’m not as fortunate as you to have been to many parties, never mind ones that involve arcana. To me, this is mind-blowing.”
Thea laughed and then smiled at me. “I apologize. You’re right. It is incredible. Now, let’s go get us a drink.”
It didn’t take long for me to notice how annoyed the revellers became as Thea and I passed. The sneers and snide comments about me were even harder to ignore.
“Who let her in here?”
“I heard that she is Prince Sterling’s human whore.”
“What happened to her face?”
“The least she could do is fix herself up before coming here. What an embarrassment.”
By the time we reached the bar, I had already had my fill of this court’s pretentious nonsense.
“Maybe you were right about the whole staying-in thing tonight, Thea,” I said, defeated by the unfair criticisms.
Thea asked the bartender for two glasses of berry wine before she turned her attention to me.
“No, you were right. They need to see you. If that makes them uncomfortable, that’s their problem.
” She grabbed the two glasses of wine from the bartender and handed one to me.
“Here, let’s make a toast.” Thea raised her glass to mine. “To an unforgettable night.”
I raised my glass to meet hers. Our glasses clinked together in the mutual hope of a pleasant evening.
Enchanting music played overhead as guests began dancing finely coordinated numbers on the dance floor. Thea and I promptly made our way to the side of the ballroom that exited into the royal garden in an effort to get out of everyone’s way.
“Would you like to join in?” Thea asked as we finally reached the edge of the dance floor, where a row of plush seats was arranged.
“No. I’m not much of a dancer. Besides, I don’t think I could keep up or look nearly as graceful if I tried.” I took a sip of the sweet-smelling wine and nearly choked on it. “Oh my goodness, that is strong.”
Thea laughed as I coughed and struggled to keep it together. She leaned in while patting me on the back. “The first sip is always a bit rough. It’ll go down much easier now, I promise.”
I cautiously took a second sip from the crystal wineglass. As usual, Thea was correct. This time, it tasted much smoother and went down easily.
“What exactly is going to happen tonight?” I asked. “I’ve never been to one of these. I’m not sure what to expect.”
Thea played with her skirt as she responded.
“You’re looking at it. At some point, Prince Sterling will arrive, and they will announce him.
The king will most likely give some pretentious speech about how great he is, how wonderful Prince Sterling is, and how mighty the Citrine Court is.
Then everyone will get really drunk, dance, and partake in varying forms of debauchery into the early hours.
I would recommend leaving before it gets to that point, though, as it can get a bit …
weird.” Thea chuckled to herself as if she had remembered a specific incident from a prior party.
I held up my hand in protest. “What if I’m into weird?”
Thea raised an eyebrow at me. “Are you saying you want to stay?”
I shook my head. “Tonight is probably not the best night for it. But definitely some other time.”
Thea squealed with delight at the promise of future debauchery. I couldn’t help the painful, awkward smile that formed on my broken lips.
Thea frowned at me as she noticed me wincing. “I really wish you would let me take care of the swollen lip for you, so you could at least laugh and smile without being in pain.”
I wagged my finger at her in response and raised my empty wineglass. “A few more of these, and I won’t feel anything.”
Looking out onto the dance floor, I lost myself watching the beautiful, fluid movements of all the court members.
In the far corner, I caught sight of Everett dancing with a familiar-looking woman.
She was several inches smaller than the fae who surrounded her, and she had her telltale rounded ears on full display with her hair tied up into a tightly bound bun.
Unable to take my eyes off her, I was trying to figure out where I knew her from.
It was apparent she had come from the human quarter—but from where specifically?
“Thea, do you see the woman Everett is dancing with? Does she look familiar to you?”
Thea stepped closer to me, as if to see the pair better. “I don’t think I caught her name, but she is definitely one of the assistants from the healer’s shop.”
I looked at Thea, confused. “Why would Everett bring her as his date? The fae barely tolerate me here, and I saved the prince’s life. I don’t imagine she is being received well at all.”
Thea shrugged, unsure of what to say. “It’s a bold move. That’s for sure. I can’t see King Julian being very pleased with it.”
Trumpets cut through the air, silencing the music. All subjects stopped what they were doing and turned their attention to the main entryway into the ballroom. A loud voice boomed over the now silent ballroom. “Their Majesties King Julian and Queen Oriana, and His Highness Prince Sterling!”
All the guests bowed. King Julian entered first, his usual golden attire swapped for an icy-blue pant-and-doublet ensemble, with a citrine-emerald-and-sapphire Citrine Court crest across the chest. Queen Oriana followed shortly after, in a stunning full-length opal gown.
The bodice and skirts were encrusted with millions of tiny diamonds.
Her hair had been twisted into an elaborate updo consisting of curls and braids, accented with delicate glittering white ribbons.
The queen shone like a winter star as the lights from the ballroom reflected off the facets of the jewelled masterpiece.
My heart skipped a beat as Sterling made his appearance.
He was dressed in dark emerald pants with a matching short jacket.
Delicate golden piping details lined the lapels and cuffs.
Underneath the dress jacket was a white tunic that had several buttons undone, showing off his muscular chest. I bit my lip as I took him in, refusing to acknowledge the feelings stirring within me at the sight.
Thea cleared her throat beside me and lightly nudged me. I looked at her, annoyed, and realized she was trying to clue me in to bowing. Rolling my eyes, I turned to face the royals and made the most pathetic excuse for a bow.
“They aren’t my king and queen,” I hissed at Thea.
“An uneventful evening, Aurelia. That’s what we want,” Thea replied snarkily.
King Julian and Queen Oriana ascended the dais, where three large throne chairs were situated, while Prince Sterling headed straight for the bar. A flicker of annoyance shot across the king’s face, but he quickly returned to his stoic, unmoving mask.
“Thank you all for coming here this evening to celebrate the return of our beloved son, Prince Sterling. Please, drink, dance, and be merry. It’s truly a day to celebrate.”
With that, the king took his seat on the central throne, next to Queen Oriana. Irritation flashed across his face as he glanced at the empty throne to his other side. He turned his attention back toward the dance floor, watching his subjects return to their dancing and drinking.
King Julian diligently scanned the crowd.
It was obvious that he was not going to enjoy himself while here until he found what he was looking for.
A sinking feeling in my gut knew what he was looking for, or more specifically, who.
Our eyes locked as a muscle in his jaw ticked.
King Julian’s lips moved slightly as he continued to maintain eye contact with me.
As uncomfortable as the stare-down was, I was not going to let him intimidate me or make me back down.
Just then Thalos approached the dais, grabbing my attention away from King Julian. Before I had a moment to respond consciously, my body went into survival mode. My pulse pounded, and arcana pumped through me as I tried to hold on to my emotions.
“Settle down,” Thea calmly whispered as she grabbed my hand, rubbing soothing circles with her thumb in the spot between my thumb and forefinger.
Unable to look away, I met Thalos’s piercing gaze—a decision I immediately regretted.
All at once King Julian, Queen Oriana, and Thalos were staring in my direction, having a private conversation.
Unfortunately, I lacked the fae ability for sensitive hearing, but I didn’t need that to know that they were talking about me—most likely about the events that had happened in the human quarter earlier in the day.
King Julian looked me up and down and smirked. Whatever he was assessing, he was clearly pleased with it. I turned away, unsettled and unable to handle any more of it. Looking ahead, I caught sight of Sterling heading straight toward Thea and me.
“Incoming,” Thea teased as she noticed Sterling charging through the crowded ballroom.