Page 7 of Glass Hearts

The enormous ballroom shines with gold and red decor.

Red roses touch every surface, from the centerpieces to the walls.

Their fresh fragrance is a calming balm to my nerves.

An exorbitant display of wealth surrounds me.

Ladies in their best dresses, men donned in all their finery.

It’s disgusting as much as it is beautiful.

The councilman makes a flowery speech, though I don’t pay attention as I watch my partners in crime from the corner of my eye.

Kip and Bert pickpocket distracted patrons.

People clap, and drinks and mini appetizers continue to make their rounds.

A server walks by as I grab a glass of champagne and continue my perusal of which mark I plan to hit.

So many possibilities.

The band plays an upbeat song as the couples sway in a choreographed manner with their partners.

That is when I feel eyes upon me. I turn to find myself looking at the four princes of the evening, mask-less. I knew they were the most eligible bachelors in Velora, but I can’t help losing my breath seeing them.

Their crowns shine with jewels and sparkle in the ballroom light.

On the far left stands the tallest and most muscular prince.

Based on his crown of green jewels, I believe him to be the Earth Prince, Sylas Stone.

His chocolate brown hair is in an unkempt bun, as if he rolled out of bed and put it up just to get his hair out of his face.

He wears royal garb that matches the other princes but with green highlights.

I can’t miss his stern green eyes, looking at me with pure curiosity.

Which differ greatly from the amber eyes that watch me hungrily, as if trying to undress me from across the room.

The black-haired beauty is dangerous, the Prince of Fire, Grayer Wixx.

His confidence exudes from across the room; everyone knows he is the unhinged prince of the four.

He is the only one who hasn’t bothered to wear a cravat, the top buttons of his shirt unbuttoned, exposing some of his many tattoos.

Next to him is his half-brother, Koi Wixx.

They could be twins if it weren’t for Prince Koi’s more muscular form, golden blond hair, and blue eyes.

The water prince has a panty-melting smile as he looks me up and down.

It’s known that Grayer is quite the womanizer, but something tells me his brother is just as much of one.

Then there is the striking and elusive Wind Prince, Archer Everhart. He is beautiful, a figure of stark elegance with sharp cutting facial features, white hair, and captivating grey eyes. Of all the princes, he is the only one I couldn’t find a ton of information on.

Stealing their jeweled crowns would be impossible and ridiculously noticeable.

Prince Koi and Prince Grayer wear their shirts buttoned down, exposing their chests, and a glint of something shiny beckons me like a siren.

I smirk, realizing they also each most likely wear the same super shiny pendants.

Bingo. If I can see the sparkle from afar, it must be worth quite a few gold coins.

It may be risky stealing from the princes, but if they are all looking at me the way they are, Lo’s dress was a success. Making it all the easier for them to come to me and steal their jewels. So I turn to walk away. Men love the chase, or so the romance novels I read say.

I mentally fill in Kip he wears his lust on his sleeve, and you found an easy mark. But you feel like trouble. I know all the lording lands. Yet why, my darling, have I never heard of the Hinterlands?” He cocks his head to the side as if he has caught his prey.

“We don’t want any slippery females; we need future queens, and I can assure you, you would make an unsavory wife, let alone queen. ”

Ouch.

“Seems you may have missed a few lands in your research, I suppose.” I point my finger at his chest and close the distance between us as I catch my accomplices completing their end of the mission.

I try not to let his cruel words affect me.

“Maybe I am trouble or unsavoury, my Prince. But the hardness in your pants and the feel of your eyes taking in my body say otherwise. Don’t put me on your roster for the next round.

I don’t want to be a wife, even to attractive, uptight princes.

Perhaps you shouldn’t assume my intentions.

You are coming to me, cornering me. Can’t a girl enjoy an event without an ulterior motive? ”

I can tell he wants to say more, to stop me from leaving.

But I pull away all the same. Grabbing a glass of champagne from the server walking by, I continue to make my escape as a gaggle of potential brides swarm him to grab his attention.

He expertly evades them and disappears, looking angrier than in his original attempt to confront me.