Page 44

Chapter

Forty-Three

The ballroom had thrummed with life—an orchestra of laughter, clinking glasses, and the soaring notes of Strayers’ Seventh Symphony.

The strings had swelled, their melodies wrapping around the guests like silk, drawing them into the rhythm of the night.

My pulse had matched the tempo, a silent drum under my skin, as I watched the dancers whirl like fireflies.

Light, graceful, elegant.

And then—nothing.

The music had ebbed like a wave retreating from the shore, leaving only the ghost of its sound behind.

A shiver ran through the crowd, heads turning as one toward the doorway.

There they stood.

The king and his queen entered with deliberate slowness as if each step they took pushed aside the air itself.

The sea of guests parted like a veil, revealing the royal family as they crossed the floor with a grace that commanded reverence.

And behind them, the Princes of Azmeer followed, shadows in their wake.

Alvar walked ahead, alone, his expression carved from stone.

Rai trailed him, a softer contrast with Lil on his arm, her dress a waterfall of silver under the chandeliers.

But it was Dainan who stole the breath from my lungs.

Night cloaked in human form, fury etched across his features, his steps more predatory than royal.

His eyes were dark, turbulent—wholly focused elsewhere.

My heart faltered, ice spreading in my veins as I followed his gaze to Iona, whose victorious smirk made bile rise to my throat.

They reached the center of the room, and the king spoke, his voice cracked and worn, echoing the weight of years.

“Good evening.” His eyes, pale and tired, swept over the room, collecting every soul within it.

“On behalf of my sons and my soon-to-be daughters-in-law,” he bowed his heads towards Lil and Iona, the words crawling through my skin, “I thank you for making the journey to Azmeer for our little…get-together.”

A wave of relief sloshed through me.

Thank the Gods he didn’t call it a party.

“Azmeer is lovely this time of year, is it not?” He smiled at his wife, his fingers grazing hers—a touch so gentle it hurt to witness.

It was the smile of a man making peace with his goodbyes.

“We are in a time of great change.” he said, pausing as if weighing each word, “In addition to the marriages of my sons, I wish to make an announcement.”

My heart clenched.

Not now, not here.

“It was made known in these past weeks that I will be succeeded by my son, Alvar.”

Alvar’s skin blanched, the shock rippling through him as though someone had yanked the ground from beneath his feet.

I knew from our late-night talks that, despite their tempestuous relationship, Alvar was already mourning his father.

The man who was more king to him than kin.

The man whose crown he would one day inherit.

“I have no doubt,” the king said, his voice steady and deliberate, “that he will guide you into a peaceful transition.” His gaze lingered on Alvar, a silent summons for him to step forward.

Applause erupted like a tidal wave, crashing against the walls and swallowing the room whole as Alvar moved into the spotlight.

His composure teetered, a thread pulled taut, but he held firm.

He cleared his throat, his hands clasped tightly in front of him.

“I…hadn’t planned on giving a speech this evening, as tonight is not about me.”

Ha, I thought.

It never was with Alvar.

Lil had warned me about the princes, but she couldn’t have been more wrong about him.

He was kind, funny, and unfailingly selfless.

A rare blend of humility and strength.

He will make a phenomenal king.

The faces in the crowd were painted with respect and awe, their gazes fixed on him like he’d already earned their trust.

“But I am honored,” he continued, his voice carrying the weight of the kingdom on his shoulders.

“Though this will be a time of great sadness, I hope to usher in a period of peace and stability.” His eyes darted to his father, and the briefest flicker of vulnerability passed between them.

“As for tonight,” he gestured to the band, “I ask that they play Vilmer’s Tenth Symphony for the king and queen’s first dance.”

The conductor lifted his baton, and the soft, rumbling chords of the symphony began to fill the room.

I watched the king turn to the queen, staring at her as if she were the only thing tethering him to this life.

They moved into the waltz, their bodies becoming one, swaying to the rhythm in a final, bittersweet dance.

Rai and Lil followed next, their movements precise, rehearsed, almost too perfect.

Then Dainan and Iona joined the floor, their dance stilted, an uneasy clash of grace and tension.

And then, suddenly, Alvar was in front of me.

His smirk was disarming, the gleam in his eye far too mischievous for the occasion.

“That was a fine speech.” I said.

“You owe me a dance,” he replied with a smirk.

I blinked, thrown by the abruptness.

“Now? You cannot be serious.”

“Oh, but I am.” His hand was already outstretched.

“You helped plan this ball , Brida. It’s only right.”

I glanced at the floor, the couples moving in seamless synchrony.

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

“I…”

“I won’t take no for an answer.”

With a sigh, I took his hand.

“I hate you for this.”

His laugh was rich, rolling over me like thunder.

As he led me onto the floor, I caught sight of Oz and Kadian in the distance, their smug expressions making me wish the floor would swallow me whole.

My skin prickled under their amused stares.

And then there was Dainan.

His gaze, fierce and unyielding, sliced through the crowd like a blade, locking onto mine with an intensity that made my stomach twist. Next to him, Iona’s eyes burned with pure, undiluted hatred.

“Turn and face me,” Alvar said, snapping me out of my spiraling thoughts.

He positioned me, one hand on my waist, the other clasping mine.

His touch was firm but gentle.

“Ready?”

Before I could answer, he guided me into the dance, spinning us into the flow of the music.

Everyone’s watching.

My breath hitched, my heart thudding painfully against my ribs.

“Look at me,” Alvar whispered, his voice pulling my attention back to him.

His eyes were warm, grounding me in the storm of my nerves.

“Keep your eyes on me, and you’ll forget they’re even there.”

I tried.

Gods, I tried. But the weight of the stares, the burn of Dainan’s eyes, the icy venom from Iona—it all pressed down on me, suffocating me.

“I can’t believe you’re making me do this,” I muttered as we spun once more, the room blurring around us.

Alvar grinned, leaning in to whisper, “I’ve just done you the biggest favor of your life.”

I raised an eyebrow.

He twirled me gracefully, his next words slipping into my ear like a secret.

“Every court will want you now.”

“Huh.” The word slipped out before I could stop it, a fleeting glimpse into my emotions.

I hated this—hated the attention, hated the charade.

But beneath that frustration, I couldn’t deny the cleverness of it all.

I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction, but it escaped anyway.

“Well, as much as it pains me to say it…thank you.”

His laugh rumbled, low and amused.

“You’re very welcome.” There was an ease to him, a confidence in the way he guided me, even as the weight of everyone's stares pressed down on us.

“You’re good at this,” I muttered as we continued our journey across the floor.

“I did tell you that I loved to dance, Brida. I may be many things, but a liar has never been one of them.”

“Will Asana be offended that you asked me for the first dance?” I blurted out, desperate for anything to distract from the tightening knot in my chest.

Alvar’s eyes glittered with mischief. “I informed her yesterday. I know better than to play with fire.” His tone was light, teasing, but there was a sharpness in his gaze, a flicker of something I couldn’t quite place. “Everything turned out wonderfully, Brida. You did a spectacular job. Even if the color of the tablecloth is incorrect.”

“I ordered the correct color,” I muttered, my voice tight as he dipped me low, “It’s not my fault they sent the wrong one. And we did a wonderful job.”

His chuckle sent a wave of warmth through me, but it did little to ease the nervous flutter in my arms and legs. I glanced around the room, my gaze catching on the sea of faces, all watching us. My heart stuttered. Too many eyes. Too much focus.

“Please…distract me.” The words tumbled out, a whispered plea as I gripped his hand a little tighter.

“I’m not sure what more I can do than continue to whirl you around this ballroom, Brida.” His voice vibrated through me, steady, grounding. But my mind was elsewhere, drifting.

“Pick a subject, something, please.” I begged.

I searched for an anchor, something, anything to pull me back to solid ground. Lil’s face flashed as Rai spun her, her lips pressed into a thin line, eyes narrowed with disapproval. My heart sank. She was furious.

Kadian, oblivious as ever, stood in the crowd, grinning like a fool. How could he not see what this was doing to her?

“You promised we’d finish our conversation about the Primals,” I said, clinging to the one thread of familiarity I could find. “Mates. Vasenia and Ollo.”

Alvar’s expression softened, his smirk fading into something more thoughtful. “The Court of Shadows believe that neither wanted the bond because Ollo had been in a relationship with Giaxia.”

I nodded, my mind latching onto his words, letting them drown out the noise around us. Anything to escape the prying eyes.

“Giaxia hoped the bond would have snapped into place for her and Ollo, but it never did. When she got word that it did for Ollo and Vasenia, she went mad.”

We spun, the movement dizzying, but his voice remained steady, drawing me back from the brink. “The story the Eternal Court tells, about Giaxia being assaulted by another Primal and thus sparking a war, is not one we adhere to. It is our belief that Giaxia kidnapped Vasenia, as retribution against Ollo spiting her, and that’s what led Ollo to war.”

I blinked, the weight of the story sinking into me. “She kidnapped Vasenia?”

“Indeed. The Primals chose sides. Some believed Giaxia and Ollo were true mates, that Vasenia had bewitched him. Others knew the truth.”

The world around us faded as his words wrapped around me, pulling me deeper into the tale. “What about Giaxia establishing the courts?” I asked, my voice just above a whisper as he twirled me again.

A dark glint crossed his face, his lips curving into a grim smile. “Another myth. The Pool of Vitality…it demands blood for any request. Life for life.” His gaze locked with mine, his words heavy with meaning. “We believe Giaxia offered Vasenia’s blood to the pool. She offered the bond between Ollo and Vasenia, not her own. Giaxia didn’t have one.”

A chill crept over me despite the heat of the room. “Wouldn’t the Pool of Vitality know it wasn’t Vasenia offering her own blood?”

His expression was all the answer I needed. “The pool isn’t sentient in that way. It understands the nature of its magic, not the identity of the one making the offering. It took Vasenia’s blood, broke the bond…and that magic is what formed the Courts.”

I swallowed hard, the weight of the revelation pressing down on my chest. “What happened to Vasenia?”

My eyes flicked toward Dainan, dancing across the room with Iona. Something in his posture, the tension in his shoulders…he looked enraged.

“Many believe Ollo never recovered from the bond’s breaking. When word reached Giaxia that Ollo had died, it was said she killed Vasenia in revenge. But no one knows for sure. Some think Vasenia’s spirit waits to be reborn in a descendant. Others believe she’s still alive, hidden somewhere.”

Alvar’s grip tightened, pulling me close. His breath brushed against my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. Was he…sniffing me? My heart pounded in my chest as I pulled back, creating distance between us just as the final notes of the song were played. The applause erupted around us, but I barely heard it.

“Brida,” Alvar started, his brow furrowing. His voice was hesitant, questioning. “Why do you smell like?—”

The crowd’s cheers drowned him out, and he froze, his words lost to the noise.

I didn’t wait to hear what he had to say. “Thank you for the dance and the story, Alvar.” My voice was clipped, rushed, as I released his hand and hurried off the dance floor.

My feet moved of their own accord, weaving through the crowd as the stares followed me. Alvar’s plan had worked. Too well.

I didn’t stop until I found Kadian and Oz by the food table, their smirks greeting me like old friends.

“Don’t say a word,” I warned, my voice tight, teeth clenched.

Kadian grinned, tossing a canapé into his mouth. “Way to lay low, Bri.”

I shot him a glare. “Where’s Tamra? I need support, not your nonsense.”

He feigned hurt, pressing a hand to his chest. “I’ve been asleep for a month, and you already prefer Tamra over me? I’m wounded.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips. “Don’t make me regret missing you.” I reached for a glass of champagne and downed it in two gulps.

His arm slid around my shoulders, pulling me close as he whispered, “You looked like the Goddess of Night out there.” Warmth flooded my cheeks at his words.

“Please.” I nudged him with my hip, but his laughter was contagious.

“I mean it. But you know what I noticed more? Iona trying to get Dainan’s attention while all he did was watch you.”

Oz nodded, a knowing look on his face.

I forced a laugh, brushing off the comment as Kadian extended his hand. “Come on. Dance with me.”

With a sigh, I placed my hand in Kadian’s, letting him lead me back onto the floor.

“You’re going to have to let me lead this time, Brida. I can’t lose face in front of everyone here,” he teased.

We’d taken a dance elective back at school—Kadian had insisted we do something “less academic and actually fucking fun” for a change. Though we both had a knack for it, I always enjoyed switching roles, leading him around the dance floor with playful defiance.

Kadian spun me around for what felt like seven songs, and with each twirl, the fog in my mind began to clear. His easy laughter broke through the tension that had been coiling in my chest, grounding me in the moment. Sensing the turmoil beneath my smile, he said, “I’m here if you want to talk about it.”

“You’re showing off now, Kadian.” We finished our last dance with a dramatic dip, one that had taken us hours of practicing to finesse.

His booming laugh filled the room, and as he pulled me up, he kissed me on the cheek.

“I’m flushed from all this attention,” I said, adding a bit of humor to my voice.

“Go cool off, then. I’ll catch you in a bit,” he replied, already making his way toward Oz, who was surrounded by a group of Fae women. I chuckled, turning my steps toward the balcony, eager for a moment of quiet air.

The night air embraced me as I stepped outside, away from the heat of the dance floor. A familiar breeze seemed to swirl around me, like an old friend waiting for me to confide in it. The calm was broken by Marsh's voice.

“I was wondering if I'd find you here again,” he said, his presence warm and grounding as he joined me on the balcony.

“It's stifling in there,” I muttered, continuing to gaze out at the city down below.

“That's what happens when you're packed in with a bunch of Court of Shadows members.” He leaned against the railing beside me, exhaling heavily.

I turned to face him, intrigued. “What do you mean?”

He ran a hand through his hair, a smirk playing on his lips. “Members of the Court of Shadows run hotter than the rest of us. Being around them…it raises your temperature. Great tactic to get people to cave to their wishes—overheat them until they give in.”

“Anything else they do that makes you feel warm?” I teased.

His eyes darkened for a moment, his response far more serious than I expected. “Yes,” he said quietly, “but that’s a conversation for another time. I was promised a dance.”

I sighed, playfully exasperated. “Always keeping secrets, Marsh.”

He grinned. “That’s what keeps me interesting.” He extended his hand, leading me back inside.

As we moved back to the dance floor, Marsh launched into a story about how his father had once made him stay up late for a ball at the Court of Whispers. His storytelling was easy, natural, and I found myself sinking into the rhythm of it until Tamra appeared beside us.

“I’m supposed to tell you that if you want one of the eclairs Alvar insisted on saving, you better find him now. Otherwise, he’s going to eat them all and, I quote, ‘won’t feel guilty at all.’”

I laughed. “Did Asana make you bring me that message?”

“Yes,” Tamra said, rolling her eyes. “And I was in the middle of dancing with Amera, who has since disappeared into this mess of people.”

“Go find her,” I urged. “We’re good here.”

She smiled, disappearing back into the crowd as Marsh turned to me, his violet eyes sparkling with mischief. “Ready?” he asked.

We slipped into the next song effortlessly, our natural rhythm returning as if it had never left. His stories of childhood and court life wove around us as we danced, the songs melting away. I didn’t keep count of how many times we’d spun around the floor, but each new song felt like an extension of the last.

“And that’s when I decided I could never eat peas again,” Marsh finished, making me laugh just as a strange, unplaceable feeling surged within me, subtle at first but growing stronger.

As we turned into the next movement, I caught sight of Dainan and Iona rejoining the dance floor. I forced myself to stay focused, following Marsh’s lead, but my eyes kept wandering back to Dainan. He moved with a grace that was almost unnerving—fluid, controlled, beautiful. I found myself thinking of when we’d danced before, of how it had felt to be pressed close to him.

Focus. I reminded myself, but Marsh’s words were drifting away as my shadows stirred.

They slid up my back like serpents, resting on my neck, whispering. “Lady,” they hissed, their sound like a low breeze. I tried to ignore them, focusing instead on Marsh's story about the Redarian Sea, but the whispers persisted.

“Lady,” they called again, louder this time.

I glanced back, wondering if my shadows were speaking to me, truly speaking. Until now, their sounds had never been anything more than a hiss. But this sounded like words, actual words. “Turn around,” they demanded.

On instinct, I spun with the next step of the dance, and my gaze locked with Dainan’s across the room. A tremor shot through me, sudden and terrifying. My body began to tremble uncontrollably.

“Brida?” Marsh’s voice cut through the noise, concern in his eyes as he slowed his movements.

A fire, hot and relentless, tore through me. I could feel it burning beneath my skin, spreading from my fingertips to my chest like molten lava. My breath hitched, and I clutched at my chest, gasping for air as the pain deepened.

“Brida!” Marsh’s voice seemed distant, muffled by the thundering pulse in my ears. I couldn’t respond.

A sharp, tearing sensation ripped through me, and I felt something deep inside snap. It was as if my very essence had been split apart. The air around me grew thick, the taste of smoke, citrus, and salt filling my mouth as I gasped desperately for breath.

I heard Marsh call my name again, but before I could reach for him, a scream split the air. It seemed far away, yet everything felt far away now. My body trembled, too weak to hold itself up. Without an anchor, I collapsed.