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thirty-six

O ne week later, a silky voice murmured into my ear, “Good morning, beautiful.” Galen was already dressed in his royal grey uniform that made his green eyes glitter.

He was slowly moving in, leaving clothes in my room, and the intimate step felt sweet…

exhilarating. Overall, things felt almost… stable.

“I have a meeting with the Elders today. How would you like me to proceed… in regards to the prophecy? Personally, I’d like to inform them that we’ve been chosen to unite the realms, so the path is clear for us to be together—so I can stop courting Isla.

They can’t deny the will of the six almighty gods. Even they are not that full of hubris.”

It boggled my mind that he still thought them capable of doing the right thing.

They wanted to control the narrative and they wouldn’t let a little blasphemy stop them.

Even if they chose to honor the prophecy, they wouldn’t simply hand over their precious power, they’d twist the Oracle’s words until it fit their agenda.

I held back from lashing out and instead politely smiled.

“Can we keep it between us for now? I’m afraid your mother will see it as a threat to her current reign. ”

“As you wish. You’re the brains of this operation, after all.

” He grinned. “Enjoy your dance lesson. Tell Rafael that if he touches you inappropriately, I’ll melt the flesh from his bones.

” He gave me a soul shaking kiss before he departed, ensuring I’d be covered in his scent while I danced with his brother.

Louis was supposed to be my dance partner for the festival that was now only a few weeks away; however, his current mission had taken precedent and I'd been assigned to a new Prince—a broodier one. The Queen thought Louis was traveling north, crossing through the mountains to Lavinia, but he was actually heading west to Tarragona. And now Raf was being forced to escort me to the dance. I wasn’t sure who was more upset, him or Sylvia.

They had a long-standing mutual understanding that he didn’t attend royal gatherings.

He had no interest and she didn’t want him there.

But this festival was different, because Sylvia felt obligated to announce me properly.

Publicly , nothing less than a royal escort would do for a guest of honor, even if privately , she hated us both.

A united front, for appearances sake, was important in times of turmoil.

Sylvia and the Elders weren’t going to miss an opportunity to show off their shiny new world walker at the biggest event of the year.

Meanwhile, Raf had successfully avoided every courtship festival over the last century.

But now, thanks to me, he had to go—or at least that’s what he said.

It wasn’t like I had a choice either… I’d dodged one dance just to end up at another—and if I didn’t learn how to shift soon, this party would end even worse than my debut.

I’d never seen the Great Hall in the midday sun; the white marble and stained glass ceiling shimmered in the sunshine.

As I approached, I spotted Rafael and a well-dressed gentleman, who I could only assume was our dance instructor.

A rather short man, for faerie standards, introduced himself as Archibald—Archie for short.

He looked dapper in a well-tailored black jacket with a white vest and black breeches to match.

He would’ve fit in at any upper-crest circle in Erador.

“Impeccable style, sir.” I smiled. He was balding with thin tufts of slicked back silver hair. He looked old enough to be a grandfather, which meant he must’ve been ancient.

“Thank you, darling. I have a passion for fashion . I have since I was a boy. I’ve seen many trends come and go over the last six hundred years, but if I’ve learned one thing, it’s that a well-tailored black suit never goes out of style.”

I liked him immediately. He turned to Raf, wearing all black as usual, and said, “It seems you agree, Your Highness. A dashing Prince and an enchanting Princess. You shall make quite a pair on the dance floor.” I tried not to laugh as Raf looked increasingly uncomfortable.

“I’m not a Princess, actually,” I said, correcting the instructor.

He gave me a quizzical look. “I’ve lived this long by not questioning the Kings and Queens I’ve worked under. If Prince Galen says you’re a Princess, then you’re a Princess.” He bowed for emphasis, making me blush.

“Are either of you familiar with the Hyacinth Waltz?” Archie asked. We both shook our heads and his smile dropped.

“What a shame, considering I invented it. It’s the dance to know at the Hyacinth Festival, naturally.

It tells the story of blossoming love— the tumultuous courtship dance of faeries.

It’s rarely a smooth transition from acquaintance to blood-bonded mates amongst our people.

And why should it be? Any love worth having deserves a little dramatic flare . ”

Rafael and I exchanged looks; this man was very passionate about his craft. I couldn’t help but grin… and to my surprise, Raf wasn’t able to hide his smile either.

“If you didn’t know, Hyacinth flowers are a symbol of young love. Princess Marigold, you’ll be the petals. Prince Rafael, the stem. There is no better way to honor the love affair than through the art of dance. Don’t you agree?”

This is where he lost me. “I should tell you now, Archie, before you get too invested. Raf is a perpetual spoilsport and I have an extreme fear of crowds… and dancing too, actually. We may not be your star pupils. You can just tell us the basics—we don’t want to waste your time.

” I tried to be polite, but he needed to know that it would be a miracle if we showed up at all.

Rafael flashed me a rogue smile. “The only spoilsport here is you, Princess. I happen to like dancing. It seems you’ll have to do your best to keep up.”

What was he up to ?

That’s the spirit!” Archie cheered. “Let’s begin.”

He arranged Raf and I together, hand in hand…

my hips pressed against his. One step at a time, he guided us through the moves.

I wasn’t completely hopeless; I grew up in a castle after all, but this dance was different than anything I’d ever learned.

It was much more intimate compared to the upbeat, intricate dances of Aurelius.

Rafael picked it up surprisingly fast and I suspected he already knew the steps as I stumbled through each transition…

as if he didn’t see me embarrass myself enough at training.

“This next part, Princess… you must wrap your leg around the Prince, just so. Yes—that’s it! You want to be the petals—yes!”

I was mortified as I hooked my leg around Raf and let him lean me back. It was taking all my concentration to not notice his hands. They were everywhere : My lower back, my ribs, my hips… my thighs.

If we were in Erador, he would’ve had to marry me after this dance, because my virtue would’ve been considered thoroughly ruined.

I was burning up, trying not to respond to his touch.

He was enjoying this, watching me perspire under his piercing gaze.

The ice in my veins felt hot , like it had melted into boiling liquid and turned to steam.

My temples were dewy. I felt feverish. Maybe I was getting sick.

“You’re doing great.” His dimples were prominent as he grinned down at me.

I glared at him. “You’re a liar . I know you already know this dance.

Can’t you just prance me around the floor on the day of the festival and let this be over with.

What have I done to deserve this form of cruel and unusual punishment?

” I was irrationally angry as the instructor played his fiddle, counting out the beats.

“Is it really torture , dancing with me?” His eyes were lit with unabashed amusement.

“Of course not… but it would be for Galen if he saw us right now.” I said it quietly, avoiding his gaze. I knew bringing up his brother would weigh down his mood. Raf had to accept my choice. I hadn’t told him of my plan to take Galen with us to Erador, but he’d learn soon enough.

“Well then… good thing he’s not here,” Rafael said, dipping me low to the ground, our noses almost touching.

I was trying not to breathe in the heady scent of cedar and rain, but it was impossible when we were this close to each other.

It was clinging to me, making me dizzy, almost nauseous.

I’d need to take a long, long bath before I saw Galen tonight.

“Has anyone ever told you that you wear too much cologne?” I snapped irritably.

He laughed, quirking a brow at me. “Do I look like the kind of male who wears cologne?” I tripped over my feet and he caught me, leaning me down into another dip with an indecent smile on his lips .

What? How could anyone smell like that… naturally ? I was too embarrassed to ask. It would reveal more than I wanted him to know. So I kept my mouth shut and held my breath.

My heart hammered through the rest of our lesson as I denied the attraction I was feeling.

I’d never truly admitted it to myself, but there it was…

a gut wrenching thought I couldn’t ignore any longer— if Galen hadn’t swept me off my feet so quickly, would Raf and I have grown into something?

Was this why he was willing to dance with me?

Was he trying to make me acknowledge feelings that I’d been fighting since I met him? Would he be so bold?

He was Rafael; of course he would.

As Archibald wrapped up the lesson, I hardly listened as he talked, lost in thought.

I’d already made my choice; the prophecy had spoken to confirm it.

Galen and I were fated . That should’ve been enough to settle my pounding heart.

And yet… as Raf let go of my hand and said goodbye, I held back tears.

Galen and I had finally gotten to a good place and I seemed hell bent on screwing it up.

In the time it took to me to hike upstairs, I’d convinced myself that my feelings were a simple side effect of being forced into close proximity with Raf.

Galen had told me that faeries were promiscuous beings…

This was just part of who I was. Lust was natural.

It wasn’t love —I could easily choose to ignore it.

I asked Lusha to run me a bath when I made it back to my room. She made quick work of it, adding bubbles and oils, before leaving me alone with my treacherous thoughts.

Due to the council meeting, I’d be eating dinner in my room tonight, which suited me just fine. I enjoyed Galen’s company, but sometimes I just wanted time to myself. He was insatiable when it came to his carnal desires, and between blood loss and lack of sleep, I was chronically exhausted.

I laid back, submerging my body, while I reflected on my time in Nymera.

I’d gone from prisoner to savior, human to hybrid, and now it was apparently my destiny to unite the realms, the worlds.

I wanted none of it. I wanted Galen, but I didn’t want the royal titles, the advisors, the backwards rules.

I was bound to my duty; and yet, I grew ill thinking of sitting on either throne.

Both Kingdoms were built from bloodshed and exploitation.

If my fate was to be Queen, then I’d have to find a way to break the societal chains that had been placed on so many.

Wealthy men in Erador and purist faeries in Nymera had both decided that amassing power required stripping it from someone else.

Their supremacy was gods’ will—passed down through blood, they told themselves, as they let greed consume their souls.

If I rose to power, I’d take care of everyone , not just the ones born into fortunate circumstances.

I’d demand equality, even if it meant going to war against those who threatened it.

This responsibility had landed on my shoulders, and I was finally beginning to accept that no one could bear it for me.

I had to let go of the notion that I could escape the life I’d been given.

My mother and Ophelia had raised me to fight for what was right.

It rested on me, and it was heavy, but I wouldn’t let it break me.

I’d claim my gods-given gift, and then the Princes and I would break the curse.

Failure was not an option. I didn’t feel like a heroine, but regardless, I’d been given power and position and I planned to use them for good.

I’d find a way to overcome my fears that held me back.

I wouldn’t be alone; I’d built friendships…

I’d found love. Together , we’d pave a path that was wide enough to accommodate everyone.

I groaned and dunked my head under the soapy suds that smelled of lavender and chamomile.

Perhaps my attraction to Raf represented my desire for escape.

He certainly fit the mold with his rebellious nature and bedroom eyes.

I’d rise above those feelings too. I took another deep sigh before hearing a bedroom door click. Galen was back.