Chapter 16 The Ball
The Ball
As if time were a fleeting companion, the day of the ball arrived, bringing the deadline to transform with it.
She had been nervously pacing her room when Clyde walked in.
As much as she hated herself for it, Clyde was a light in the dark storm that had become her life—a dull, untrustworthy light, but a comfort nonetheless.
She sat down on the edge of her bed, where he joined her, their legs nearly touching.
The last time they had been this close was the night he’d helped her out of her dress.
With a smirk, he leaned in and lightly brushed his lips against the side of her head. She didn’t push him away. What was the harm in accepting a bit of comfort, especially when doom loomed on the horizon? Resting her head gently on his shoulder, he tucked his arm around her, pulling her close.
“Today’s the day,” he announced as if she didn’t know. Happiness seemed to radiate from his pores—the complete opposite of how she felt.
“Why are you so excited?”
“Because we are a team, Luna. If your rank improves, so does mine.”
Her face twisted. She had been willing to give up her rank in society for him only a few weeks ago, surely he knew she didn’t care about such meaningless things?
“I don’t think my rank is actually going to improve.
” She smoothed her long copper skirt, knowing she’d made the decision not to transform . . . though he didn’t know that yet.
“Luna love, you are too humble. After you shift, King Hendrix will announce you as the new saviour, and I’ll no longer be the guard of just a noblewoman.
” He rolled his shoulders back, looking like a peacock fluffing its feathers.
“I’ll be the guard of the unicorn who keeps us safe.
The only role above that is guarding the royal family. ”
Luna soured at the thought. Everyone would know her as a unicorn, not a human. A beast. Her nose wrinkled in disgust.
He tilted his head, confusion knitting his brows together. “I know I scared you before, but I had no choice but to follow the rules set by the crown.” He reached for her hand, intertwining their fingers. “You, of anyone, should understand that.”
Their hands fit together like two pieces of a puzzle; a puzzle she wished to burn.
As if he could sense her internally withdrawing from him, he gripped her hand tighter. “I truly do love you. Tell me you feel the same.”
Did she? Maybe before. But how did she feel now? Words escaped her, but she didn’t end up needing them.
Many footsteps sounded outside her door, and Clyde hastily moved to a more socially acceptable distance just before a flood of handmaidens burst into her room with her gown. Clyde was ushered out, leaving Luna alone in the care of her attendants.
They helped her into her gown, which featured a sweetheart neckline with a captivating brooch at the center of her chest and sleeves that draped over her shoulders in a romantic cascade. The upper half was crafted with a stiff fabric, embracing her figure, accentuating her chest with a subtle lift.
Luna ran her hands down the gown, revelling in its intricate beadwork.
The skirt unfolded into five layers, each an interplay of white and shades of the palest blues, resembling the soft glow of shimmering moonlight.
Gazing into the mirror, the intention behind the dress became clear.
She looked magical. This was how the king, and soon everyone else, would see her; a being to provide magic.
She slammed her hand against the mirror, startling the ladies. Pain followed, though the mirror remained unharmed. That was a stupid choice. She cradled her palm to her chest; it stung like a thousand needles had been shoved into her skin.
Breaking a mirror wouldn’t change her fate, she needed to use her brain . . . to think of a way to get out of this before she was left with no choice but to do what the king wanted.
The ball took place in a grand building made of white stone adjacent to the palace.
One wall was open to the outside, allowing the setting sun to stream in between the pillars that framed the view.
A string quartet could be heard from outside, the sound pleasant to the ears.
King Hendrix and Prince Kieran entered the ballroom, and Luna trailed behind them with William and Clyde walking beside her—one on each side.
The guests swayed with the beat of the music; some danced with partners, and others danced as individuals, but everyone was smiling and filled with happiness.
The ladies’ dresses fluttered and swished as they moved; to Luna, they looked like flowers swaying in the wind.
Several guests stood huddled together by tables at the edge of the room, drinks in their hands and catching up with each other.
A few pointed and giggled about the latest gossip or love interests.
The music halted abruptly, and the crowd instinctively turned to welcome the royal family, dipping into bows and curtsies. Yet, as they rose, their attention drifted past the royals, settling on Luna.
The candlelight from the chandeliers high above made her dress shimmer as if she were standing in a spotlight.
Terror gripped her and she kept her gaze fixed on the floor, carefully watching each step, praying to the high skies she wouldn’t trip.
She hated the weight of their stares; if only she could melt into the walls and disappear.
When the king and prince reached their thrones on the elevated platform, King Hendrix grabbed a goblet of wine and raised it high in the air.
“Our kingdom has suffered a great loss with Nina’s death—may she rise to the skies above—and with her loss, I know many of you have been concerned about the protective barrier failing and the arrival of enemy unicorns.
It gives me great pleasure to announce we have taken one prisoner and his sins will be punished.
With this, we have demonstrated the strength of our kingdom and its people, teaching a lesson our enemies will not soon forget.
Let us celebrate this victory with wine and dance! ”
The crowd cheered as the music resumed, and Luna was swept into the throng. Slowly, she began to relax. She thought the king would announce her as a party trick, forcing her to transform. But when he hadn’t, she’d been surprised.
Servants moved throughout the ball, dodging dancing couples as they served drinks; one of them walked over to Luna and gave her a goblet as well.
But, to Luna’s surprise and deep disappointment, the goblet had been prepared just for her and only contained water.
She cursed and turned to where the prince still sat, glaring at him, but he paid her no mind.
Why would he joke with her on a night like this?
Regardless of whether he was responsible for it or not, she would now have no way of taking the edge off.
The prince stood and disappeared into the crowd—probably off to find Emily—and before Luna could also disappear, a servant approached her, explaining the king had summoned her.
Her heart thundered in her chest. The king had told her she would be expected to transform at tonight’s ball, but would he make her do so this early in the evening? Inhaling as deep of a breath as her garments would allow, she tried to still her frantic nerves as she made her way over to the king.
Standing in front of him now, she felt like a fly caught in a spider’s web. He looked down at her; his eyes were cold, his heart unmoving towards the situation he had put her in. “I have been a generous and, may I say, a patient king. Do you not agree?”
Though the statement was poised as a question, Luna knew he wasn’t really asking. “Yes, Your Majesty, you have.”
“And yet, you disappoint me.” He shook his head.
Luna had to suppress a laugh—if only he knew just how much she would truly disappoint him. But, she kept her expression neutral. She had far more chances to escape as a pampered captive than if she were locked in the dungeons.
“Consider this your last chance to earn my favour,” he continued. “Otherwise, before the night is over, I will have to take extreme measures to prove your usefulness. May you find the motivation you need sooner rather than later, Luna.”
“I have plenty of motivation already, Your Majesty.”
“Good, then I shall make the announcement.” He reached for his goblet of wine.
“Announcement?! What happened to keeping my identity a secret?”
“In my infinite wisdom, I deemed it unwise to grant anonymity. Secrets, as you should well know, breed nothing but distrust. The people of my kingdom deserve to know who stands between them and danger. Surely, even you can understand that.”
She bowed her head. “Of course.” Though his logic made sense, it pissed her off.
King Hendrix rose from his throne and raised his glass; the crowd immediately went silent, their attention focused solely on him. He then gestured to Luna, and all eyes fell on her. Bile rose to her throat, but she swallowed it down.
“Tonight, we have another reason for celebration. May I present to you a new member of my court. She was once thought of as sick, though in reality, her symptoms were caused by her dormant magic.” The crowd gasped; the words the king hadn’t said were apparent on everyone’s faces.
Murmurs grew in the crowd . . . a tide of disbelief and fear.
Their whispers darted in the air like a thousand stinging insects, each one carrying its own unique venom.
“Foul beast,” someone hissed.
“She’s been here all along, hiding in plain sight,” another voice answered. “What else has she been hiding?”