Page 46 of Journey to the Elderoak (Daughter of the Earth #2)

T he music sounded, violins playing a slow dance, as the royalty in attendance took their places at the center of the floor. Plush brown and gold couches sat in the corners of the ballroom to allow for casual conversation and the lights were dimmed for a more intimate ambiance.

“It’s customary for the royalty to dance the first dance,” said Thorne, leading Ava to join the other dancers.

“I don’t know the steps,” she whispered.

Taking her hand in his, he placed his other on her waist as she laid her remaining hand on his shoulder. “Follow my lead,” he said as he led them in a waltz.

The other royalty danced around them. Orion with Seraphina, Soren with Astrid, Aelerion with Thalia. Jareth had found some attendee, a high fae woman whose breasts were practically pouring from her tight red dress, and he sneered at Ava as they moved past.

She ignored him and focused on learning the steps.

“Well, they definitely don’t like me,” she said to her brother.

“They don’t like anyone but themselves. Don’t worry about it. ”

“Why did they come then?”

“Good question,” he replied. “I think they wanted to meet you and they take pleasure in insulting others. It makes them feel powerful, the morons.”

“Do you think they’ll join us in this war?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “Dinner didn’t help with that.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to, it just came out,” she lamented.

“Don’t be sorry. I was on the edge of losing it as well, you just did it quicker than I.” After a moment he added, “You remind me so much of Mother.”

She tilted her head as they moved across the dance floor. “How so?”

“She was like you. Kind, caring, warm to all the creatures and citizens of town. But insult her loved ones and she would turn into a formidable opponent. The Kingdom loved her. She was a fair and kind ruler,” he said sadly. “Unlike father.”

“I’m sorry you had to deal with him,” Ava said. “And that I wasn’t here with you.”

“You’re here now. That’s all that matters.”

The dance came to an end. Ava scanned the crowd, when she noticed a man standing in the back, staring at her. Something about him seemed familiar…but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

“What is it?” Thorne asked, noticing the direction of her stare.

She looked at him, then back to where the man was standing. He was gone. Shaking her head, she replied, “Nothing. I thought I saw someone. It was nothing.”

But she couldn’t shake the strange feeling that she knew this person.

The royalty split apart, the rest of the guests now taking their places for the next song. Ava parted from Thorne and made her way to a group of couches where Remy sat with his brothers. She yearned to know how he’d truly been these last few months.

“Princess!” he exclaimed. “Come sit. Sit sit sit.”

She lowered onto the velvet couch next to him. “How have you been, Remy?”

“Oh, just wonderful.” He rocked in his seat as his brothers watched her with curiosity. “I’ve been enjoying my home. So happy to be reunited with my family, yes.”

“I’m so happy to see you,” she said.

“And you’re the Princess! I knew there was something special about you. Yes yes yes.”

They visited for a bit, exchanging stories from the last few months.

Remy had gone back to his exploration of the forest, sticking closer to home, not wanting to draw the attention of the daemon army again.

Ava told him about living in Mosshaven, her training and the Elderoak journey.

The ease of which they fell into conversation was a comfort Ava hadn’t realized she needed.

The first friendly face upon her arrival to Eorhan.

“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Casimir’s voice sounded. Ava turned to find him standing before them. “May I borrow the princess, Remy?”

“Of course, general!” Remy bounced in his seat. “You found love, Miss Ava. Yes, you did. Love love love. Someone who understands your big heart,” he whispered loudly with a wide grin.

Her face warmed as she smiled at Remy.

Casimir extended his hand. “Dance with me.”

She took it and he pulled her to stand. She waved to Remy over her shoulder as Casimir led her to the dance floor. With a tug, he yanked her close and rested his hand low on her back as he led them into another waltz.

“Thank you for standing up for me at dinner,” he said, intensity in his eyes .

“I’ll always stand up for you. No one gets to call you a brute but me.”

He chuckled and pulled her flush against him. “You can call me anything you want,” he said, voice low. They continued their dance, making their way through the crowd, spinning and twirling. “I can’t wait for this night to be over,” he said.

“Me too. This is exhausting. Would it insult everyone if we left now?”

“Unfortunately, yes. Especially since this is your first ball. Don’t worry, only a couple more hours and we can escape to the suite.”

“Hours?” she whined.

He leaned in and whispered in her ear, “Why are you so eager to get back to our rooms, princess?”

“To finish what we keep trying to do every time we get interrupted.”

He gave her a subtle kiss on the neck and pulled back. “Not much for fancy balls?”

“It’s fun to get dressed up every once and a while,” she said. “But honestly, I’d rather be curled up next to the fire, reading a book and sipping tea.”

“Me too.”

Casimir twirled her out and back in again, dipping her along with all the other guests.

His lips met her collarbone as he pulled her closer and continued leading them between the guests.

His hand trailed lower, resting atop the curve of her behind and she shivered at the unspoken promises in his eyes as he lowered his gaze to her lips.

She moved her hand from his shoulder to rest on his neck and swirled her thumb along his throat.

Casimir dipped his head, brushing his lips against the shell of her ear. “You’re making it extremely difficult for me to get through the rest of this ball, love. ”

Ava scanned his face, her eyes half-lidded with lust, unable to look away as they continued the rest of their dance in silence.

The dance ended and Ava glanced around as Casimir slowed. There he was again. The man. In a different spot this time.

She froze.

Noticing her alarm, Casimir gripped her chin and turned her face to him. “What is it?”

She looked back but he was gone yet again.

“I—I don’t know…I thought I saw someone,” she replied.

He was instantly on alert. “What do you mean you thought you saw someone? Who?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know. I think it’s someone I’ve seen before in town. He looks familiar. It’s nothing.”

His eyes were full of concern.

“It’s nothing. I haven’t slept well in days, and I just completed the journey yesterday. I’m exhausted and imagining things.”

He left it alone, but she could tell he didn’t believe her.

“To be sure, I’ll alert the guards to be extra watchful of anything suspicious. Go find Thorne,” he said as he walked off.

Ava sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. Who was this man? Was she hallucinating? She spotted her brother in a corner speaking enthusiastically with Aelerion and Thalia. Leaving the dance floor, she joined them.

Their words were muddled, conversation not registering as her mind still raced about the stranger. But she feigned interest and tried to participate when possible.

“Ava, are you alright?” Thalia asked, noticing her silence.

“I’m fine. Actually, I think I’m going to go get some air. I’m quite tired.”

“Would you like company?” Thorne asked.

“No. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

She headed toward the gardens, passing through an archway, and wandered along a path framed by purple flowering trees. There were guests mingling about, but it was much less crowded than the ballroom.

The steady trill of insects hummed in the bushes as the stars sprinkled the night sky with their diamond lights. Ava continued further, passing a fountain, the flow of water soothing in the quiet space. Reaching the other end of the garden, she found a bench hidden behind a row of shrubs.

Relieved at the privacy, she took a seat and closed her eyes, thinking over what had occurred tonight and readied herself to face the rest of the evening when someone cleared their throat behind her. Startled, she stood and turned around—face to face with the mysterious man.

“I’m sorry I startled you, Your Highness,” he bowed, holding two goblets of wine in his hands.

“It’s alright,” she said. “Do I know you?”

“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I just wanted to say thank you in person.”

“Thank me for what?”

“I was on the ship that day,” he explained. “May I?” he asked, gesturing to the bench.

“Oh, sure.” She reclaimed her seat and he sat beside her, holding out a goblet. “You seem stressed, I brought you some wine.”

She took the glass and thanked him, but something told her not to take a sip, so she held it in her hand, remaining alert.

“You were one of the sailors?” she asked with hesitation.

“Yes…you saved our lives that day. And I never got a chance to thank you.” He gave her a warm smile, dark eyes admiring her.

“You’re welcome,” she said. “That was a horrible day.”

“It was. How are you handling all the attention tonight?” he asked.

“It’s a lot to take in. ”

He sipped his own libations. “I can only imagine the stress you must be under.”

She sat with the stranger and continued speaking with him for a few minutes, but something felt off and she looked for a way to end the conversation and leave. No one could see her behind these shrubs and her instincts were screaming at her to get away.

“I’m so sorry, but I must get back. My brother is probably looking for me.”

“Of course, of course.” He rose from the bench. “I’ll walk you.”

“That won’t be necessary,” she said with feigned kindness.

Get away from him, she urged herself.

She rose and tried to move around the man, but he stepped in front of her, blocking the only way out from behind the shrubs. He pinned her with a hard stare, something vile dancing in the depths of his eyes.

“You should have drunk the wine.”

“What?” she asked, backing away a step.

“Luna,” Ava spoke to her companion.

What is it?

“Something’s wrong. Alert the others. I’m in the garden with a strange man. I think he means to harm me.”

Okay, I’m telling them now. Try to get away.

“Please move,” Ava said, trying to keep her voice steady.

He continued closer, sizing her up. Ava backed away and stepped around him, but he grabbed her arm at the last second and shoved her against the stone wall, the goblet in her hand falling to the ground.

He pressed in close and as she was about to scream for help, something hot burned in her stomach, and she gulped a sharp breath. A choking sound left her lips.

What happened? Why couldn’t she breathe?

“Deidamia sends her regards,” he leaned in and whispered in her ear as he twisted his hand and her abdomen burned even hotter, a yelp leaving her lips at the pain.

He backed up, yanked his hand away, a bloody dagger clutched in his fist, and vanished into the shadows.

Ava looked at her stomach, hands moving to the white hot pain. Within seconds, bright red blood spread from a puncture in her dress. She’d been stabbed.

She pressed her hands against the wound as it hit her. She knew why she’d recognized him. He’d been one of the soldiers at Deidamia’s camp when she was a prisoner. And he was here, in her home, in her castle.

A wave of dizziness almost overcame her as she stumbled through the gardens. Help. She needed help. Her stomach was on fire, and she struggled to breathe steadily as something coursed through her body. Was the dagger poisoned?

She leaned against a tree to steady herself, her vision beginning to waver.