Chapter 15
Ellie
The crowd fades away as my eyes meet Caeo’s gray ones, and the light shining from their blue speckles fills me with a radiant glow.
He’s as handsome as ever, the waves of his black hair effortlessly framing his eyes.
Despite the occasion, he still wears his Academy uniform, but it doesn’t matter.
I couldn’t imagine him in a more formal suit.
He pulls me close. “I found you.”
He did.
Caeo smiles through the kiss he plants on my lips, and it unravels all the nerves twisting tight within me.
When we break apart, he brings his hand up between us, perpendicular to our faces.
I do the same, laughter slipping out as we say, “Good Fortune,” while wiggling our fingers as if pulling invisible marionette strings.
The words are important: without them, people often use the gesture to wish bad luck upon others.
It all ties back to the monarchy, favored by Fortune to rule.
Our hands drop, and Caeo takes in all of me. “You look beautiful.”
Goosebumps spread across my skin as he traces his hand along my bare back.
“I like the dress.”
A rush of heat, straight to my core. “I’m glad.”
His eyes catch my every curve, his fingers grazing my skin. My entire body must be blushing at this point. I exhale, hoping to cool the desire burning within me. We’ll get to that later, after the ball.
“We don’t need to worry about getting separated,” he says. “I won’t be able to keep my hands off you.”
I curl my lips into what I hope is a playful smile. “We shouldn’t leave that to chance.”
Clasping his hand tight, I run through a quick incantation in my mind. Vines twist from my shoulder down to my wrist, where they drop about a foot before looping back up to wind around Caeo.
He’s bound to me, with two feet of leeway in case either of us loses our grip.
But I don’t plan to.
Caeo eyes my creation before entwining our fingers. “A bold choice.”
I lean in, kissing his lips. “You’re mine. Everyone should know.”
He kisses me back, and a warm smile graces his lips as we pull apart. He squeezes my hand, then leads me beyond the massive, propped-open doors of the Great Hall.
While the third-year students handled the gardens outside, the faculty decorated the hall.
Shimmering light fills the cavernous space from flames floating above our heads, with glistening ice sculptures decorating every table, reflecting the golden hues.
Between the windows, waterfalls pour out of the air itself, fading into nothing instead of splattering against the floor.
Flowers blanket every inch of the walls with a rainbow of color.
My breath hitches at the sight, and my next inhale fills my lungs with the bright, floral scent wafting through the air.
Who’d have thought this once-hollow cavern could teem with so much life?
It’s practically bursting with the buzz of excited voices alongside the crisp, soaring notes of the string quintet, set up on a small stage beyond the dance floor.
My gaze lands on Theodore, frowning at us. Shame spikes within me, and I quickly turn back to Caeo.
A boyish grin lights up his face.
“What?” I ask, my voice barely carrying over the hum of the hall.
He leans close. “Your face. I’ve never seen anyone so enraptured.”
My cheeks burn with my smile, and Caeo brings his lips to my ear.
“Dance with me.”
I glance toward the center of the room, where couples spin in rhythm with one another, following the music with perfectly timed motions.
“I wouldn’t have thought you’d know the steps.”
Caeo frowns. “The steps?”
“It’s the Grace.” I raise my voice even though he’s inches away. “One of the most popular dances in high society.” Father always joked that it was named after Mom.
“Ah.” He glances at the dancers. “Well, I don’t know that, but my mother taught me to dance. I think we’ll be fine.”
With that, he sweeps me onto the dance floor.
He keeps my vine-bound hand clasped in his and slides the other around my waist, his fingers pressing against the small of my back. He glides smoothly between steps, not once looking at our feet. His eyes stay locked on mine.
My heart swells as our bodies sway in time to the music—I never imagined he’d be such a wonderful dancer. While I’d attended the occasional formal party with my parents, learning all the required dances, I’ve never been so comfortable with anyone else. It hardly matters that I don’t know the steps.
I’m practically yelling so he can hear. “What’s this called?”
Caeo winces, then shrugs. “No idea. She never told me the name.”
It’s similar enough to the Grace that we don’t conflict with the couples dancing around us, though he keeps surprising me with a sudden shift in the pattern. I give in, letting him lead me where he will, my eyes only leaving his when he spins me around, laughter tumbling from my lips.
A few songs later, sweat is condensing on my skin, especially where Caeo’s hands press against me. When the music fades beneath the murmur of the crowd, I lift myself to my toes, close to his ear.
“Let’s take a break.”
Caeo sneaks in a kiss before I pull away, then guides me off the dance floor. But as we approach the refreshment tables, an uncomfortable weight hovers over my shoulders.
I peek at the crowd. Multiple sets of eyes are fixed on us, none of them friendly. Narrowed, burning glares. Judgmental brows tilting up with whispered words.
My grip on Caeo’s hand tightens.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
“Why’s everyone staring?” From everything I’ve heard about tonight, we haven’t done anything they should consider improper.
Caeo scans the room. Almost all the offenders are women, many with dates of their own, seeking their attention.
He sighs, running his hand through his hair. “Ignore them. They’re just jealous.”
I glance between them and Caeo. As handsome as he is, no one’s good-looking enough to merit this kind of vitriol. It doesn’t make any sense.
But he sees only me. He barely touches any of the food, only taking a few sips of lemonade as he watches me eat, his eyes devouring my every bite. The tips of his fingers, cold from holding his icy beverage, tickle my side as they trace along the edge of my dress.
He really doesn’t care about anyone else.
Unfortunately, I can’t ignore them as easily. The weight of their stares presses against me, as if I’m at the edge of a cliff.
I ground myself, focusing on Caeo’s touch. “Should we dance again?”
He pulls me closer. “Whatever you want.”
What is that, really? Do I want to dance, or move on to something else? Something with only us.
I bite my lip as my pulse quickens, outpacing the tapping of dancing feet. “I want…”
Deep breath.
“I want you to take me to my room.”
Caeo dips his head, his eyes fixed on mine. “You’re sure?”
I answer with a kiss, wrapping my unbound hand around his neck and gliding my fingers through his soft, raven locks.
“Absolutely.”
With a grin, he pulls me to the doors, weaving through the crowd. Seconds later, we burst out of the Great Hall and into the chilly night air. He envelops me with another kiss, smothering me with his warmth.
I gasp as I break for air. “There’s still people around.”
He doesn’t spare a glance at our fellow students lingering nearby. “I don’t care.”
I press my fingers to his lips as he comes in for another kiss. “But I do.”
His mouth twists beneath my touch, then he steps back. “Fine. But be warned—I’m gonna have you coming so loudly that the entire dorm will know what I’ve done to you.”
My lungs forget to breathe as blood rushes to my core.
“I…”
I have no words. No response. Just a thundering in my chest as an ache curls between my thighs.
“Is that what you want?” Caeo’s gaze pierces through my uncertainty.
Yes, my body says. Desperately.
My chin dips, then trembles into the smallest of nods.
A mischievous smile races across Caeo’s face, then he interlaces his fingers with mine, pulling me down the steps, across the campus, and toward the dorms.
* * *
My hands shake as I fumble with my key, failing to slide it into the keyhole. Caeo wraps his fingers around mine, warm and steady, and guides it in.
The lock clicks open, and he takes both my hands, gently pulling me inside. Dark shadows blanket our sitting room, lit only by moonlight trickling in through the window.
“You’re nervous,” Caeo says. “You sure you’re ready?”
I swallow as doubts creep up, but I banish them all—except one.
“Alexis said I couldn’t get pregnant on Academy grounds?”
Caeo shuts the door behind me, then steps closer. “As far as I know, that’s true.” He cups my cheek with his hand, his face only a breath away from mine. “If you’re sure… I’ll go slow. Just tell me what you like.”
I nod, my nerves twisting my throat so tight I can’t speak.
But I want this. I feel safe with him. Seen. So I squeeze his hand and lead him into my room.
With a quick incantation, I ignite the candles on my desk, filling the darkness with a warm, gentle glow as Caeo takes me in his arms. My hands come to rest against his chest, and the vines that bind us unravel, crumbling to dust.
The candlelight dances in his stormy eyes, reflecting a hunger so intense it burns into me, sending my heart simmering with anticipation. He brushes his lips against mine, teasing them open with his tongue. I let him in, melting against his heat.
His hands twist against me as he fumbles with his buttons.
Our kiss breaks when he shrugs off his jacket, and I pull open his shirt, revealing the toned muscles of his chest, bare save for his corded necklace.
I’d seen some of it before, in the clock tower, but now…
his pale skin glows in the moonlight pouring through the window, and I want nothing more than to touch every inch of it.
He shivers as I trace my fingers along his firm abdomen. My other hand toys with the necklace; it seems to be an embroidered pouch, sewn shut, with something inside it. Perhaps dried leaves?
“Do you always wear this?”