Duke Galen was an excellent dancer—almost as good as Prince Aidoneus. Unfortunately for me, he knew woefully little about what went on in the palace. Or even about his cousin. Apparently, aside from balls such as this one, the prince and the duke rarely spoke.
“He’s busy running a kingdom.” Galen wrinkled his nose as if he smelled something foul. “No one can blame him for that.”
“Of course not. You’re mostly here for the ball, then?”
“Oh, no. My estate is in the forest, so when it became clear that those nightmares live in the woods, my cousin sent his best knights to extract my household.”
“I’m guessing you don’t like being at court?” He didn’t sound at all grateful.
“On the contrary, I love it. I revel in the decadence of it all. I even stole the court chef for my own.” He looked smug at the thought of taking the chef. “It’s simply difficult to go from being the head of your house to someone who garners little notice.”
“That makes sense,” I replied, even though I wasn’t sure I completely agreed with his assessment. Nor did the fact that he’d stolen a castle chef sit right with me.
Fae had been watching us dance, their gazes landing on Galen nearly as often as me. I suspected the duke received plenty of ‘notice,’ though I could understand feeling smaller than he wanted to. Prince Aidoneus cast a large shadow.
Content with my half-hearted sympathy, Galen changed the subject and continued to jabber on about his estate. I’d just learned about the recent feast his chef had whipped up when a hand landed on my shoulder.
“Might I cut in?”
Shivers dashed down my spine. I knew who I’d find standing behind me even before I turned; Galen’s next words only confirmed my suspicions.
“Of course, cousin.” The duke released me and took a step back, his nose wrinkling ever so slightly again.
These two definitely had issues. Then again, what family didn’t? If such a family existed, I’d never met them.
“It was a delight speaking with you, Lady Kora,” Galen bowed slightly. “I wish I’d learned more about your magic. Perhaps later?”
A laugh nearly burst from my lips. In all our time together, the duke had talked only of himself. As I’d wanted information, that had been fine, but I never would have guessed he was really interested in anything about me.
“That would be great. Thank you for the dance, Duke Galen.”
The duke whisked away, and I exhaled a breath, thankful to be free of him.
“Galen has always been like a brother to me, but he’s a lot, isn’t he?” Amusement laced the prince’s tone.
I faced Aidoneus. “You don’t say. Thanks for saving me. We don’t have to dance, though.”
The last time we’d spoken, it had been . . . tense. And what I’d learned since then had planted a million more questions and hesitations about the prince in my mind.
“I wish to dance.” He held out his hand.
I took it, ignoring the spark that ignited when our skin touched. Kieran had insinuated there was something more to this relationship, but until I figured out what that was, and learned why Prince Aidoneus had been talking to that monster, I’d keep my walls up high.
Aidoneus led me in a dance. “You were quite able when you danced with Prince Kieran. It seems I’m a good teacher.”
My lips twitched. “And so humble.”
“I always missed those days in prince training.” He gave me a slightly sheepish look that cracked the wall I’d built up a bit.
A chuckle slipped out of me. “You’re right that you’re a good teacher. Even the duke commented on how well I danced. Actually, that was one of the only things about me that got his attention.”
He laughed. “As I had no siblings, my cousin is like a brother to me, but I’m the first to say he is a bit self-absorbed. However, you might actually be free from him for the night. Look.” He gestured to the far right.
The duke was surrounded by fae, who, judging by the way they stole glances at Aidoneus and me, were probably gossiping about the witch from the human world. What would he say? He didn’t have a lot to go on.
Let them talk. I’m only in Isila for a little while.
Strangely, the thought of leaving this place was sort of sad. Mom was still my priority, and always would be, but the magic of the Spring Court had been wiggling its way into my heart. I supposed that balls, even ones I thought should not be thrown, had the ability to do that to a girl.
“Can I be honest with you, Kora?”
I blinked and met Aidoneus’s gaze. “I wouldn’t want anything else.”
“I didn’t like you dancing with my cousin. Nor Kieran.”
I pulled back slightly, but he didn’t let go. Actually, his hand pressed tighter against the small of my back.
“Have you thought about what I said in the library?” he murmured.
I’d tried not to, but whenever I’d considered anything related to Aidoneus, it became difficult to eliminate the smoldering images of him and think clearly. It was like they were seared into my brain. More than that, my body didn’t seem to want to forget. Not even now. At his mention of the library, goosebumps had erupted on my arms.
“Yes, I thought about it. I’ve learned a bit about you too.”
Now it was his turn to look shocked. I took satisfaction in that.
“What have you learned about me?”
“Your wolf is a piece of your soul. One that found me.”
For a moment, annoyance rippled across his face. “Kieran told you that, didn’t he?”
“Was it a secret?”
“I should have been able to control it, but it left here and went to your world.”
He had not answered my question, but the new information was more enticing, so I brushed it off. “I’ll be honest, I didn’t know souls could do that. Is it common among suborders of the fae?”
“Only the most powerful of fae can split their soul into what you’d call a familiar.”
“What do you call it?”
“A spirit guide. Or, in the language of the high fae, a haila.”
More questions tipped my tongue, but at that moment, he spun me around. My breath caught. Kieran had spun and dipped me, showing me off to everyone in the ballroom, but I hadn’t felt the same thrill.
As if to add to the magic of the moment, the music changed, shifting into a lively tune that reminded me of the pub in Ireland.
Ugh, this ball was making it so hard for me to keep my guard up around the prince.
Aidoneus grabbed my hands and pulled me close. “Shall we jig? Show them a bit of your world?”
A laugh escaped me, and in it, I was shocked to hear pure delight. Although the fae prince had made questionable choices, it seemed I couldn’t stay mad at him for long. My heart didn’t want to—and if I was being honest, neither did I. Not really.
“I’d like that.”
Our tempo picked up, and we separated. Our legs became livelier as we danced around each other as though we’d been doing it all our lives. All I could see was Aidoneus’s eyes, locked with mine.
The song was nearing a crescendo, when the prince reached out with his hands. I took them, electricity ripping up my arms, straight to my heart. He began to spin, and my pulse thrummed with the energy of the brilliant, blazing night.
I threw my head back, hair flying behind me. My chin tipped to the ceiling, and as I took in the lit lanterns above, I smiled.
I hated to admit it, because it felt like a slight against Mom, but I was glad I had stayed, glad to experience this type of magic. Though I was trapped in an unfamiliar kingdom, my heart had never felt so light or free.
Was it the prince? Or was it being here, in a different world? Or was it something else entirely?
A sense of dizziness overtook me as the swelling music slowed. Our twirling stopped, and as the band switched to something slower, Aidoneus did not hesitate to pull me into him.
I sighed, powerless to say no and not really wanting to, anyway. As if they belonged there, my arms wrapped around his neck. Heart thumping, I breathed in his scent, totally taken in by the moment. Pressed against him, heat wicked off of us. Second by second, our pulses slowed, even as the color in our cheeks remained bright.
Only then did I notice the extent to which others were watching us. They weren’t stealing glances, like they had when I’d danced with Kieran and the duke. Oh, no. Others, even those on the dance floor, had stopped moving entirely to watch us.
In the corner, Vanya, dressed in a burnt orange gown that I imagined represented her court’s colors, scowled at me. The other princess, dressed in deep gold, looked intrigued.
My stomach swooped. That dance had effectively told everyone in here that I was interested in Aidoneus as more than someone who was under his protection. That dance, how we’d moved, how we held each other now, looked like courting.
My heart skipped a beat, and heat filled my cheeks. He was hiding something, so why was I allowing myself to slowly fall for him? Not only that, but he was courting others. I was a smart woman, but it seemed I couldn’t stop myself. Still, I couldn’t help but think I was being a complete fool.
“So many thoughts,” he said softly. “I can see them flickering across your face.”
“I didn’t realize we had an audience. Again.”
“I didn’t either until we stopped. If you’d like to go, I’m sure other gentlefae would be happy to dance with you. Though I can’t say I would be very pleased.”
My throat tightened. Something inside me screamed to lay it all on the line.
“Aidoneus, I don’t understand what’s going on. I can become so incredibly infuriated with you, and then it all washes away. For a fire witch, that’s a big deal! We hold grudges!” His lips twitched like he wanted to say something but I plowed on. “I don’t know what’s happening in your court, and yet sometimes, in your presence, I don’t care that there’s danger. It makes no sense, and it’s not really me.”
His eyes lit up, like maybe he understood.
“Are you feeling that too?” The moment I asked, I felt stupid, so when he nodded, my lips parted in shock. “Really?”
“A piece of my soul went and found you for a reason, Kora. I know it might be because you can break the curse, but I can’t help but believe something more brought you here.”
More? My skin tingled as anticipation rose inside me. But I needed to be sure we agreed. I was about to flat out ask, when the music stopped, and a voice rang across the ballroom.
“The time has come for a speech! Prince Aidoneus?”
I looked up at the stage. A man dressed in the leaf green of Aidoneus’s house stood smiling down at us.
A fresh wave of heat ran through my face, and I knew my cheeks must be as red as my dress.
“We’ll talk later,” Prince Aidoneus assured me. “This is tradition.”
I watched him, the royal fae I had been instantly attracted to in Ireland, swagger to the front of the ballroom. When he reached the dais that the thrones stood on, he turned, and his gaze found mine.
A smile graced his lips, and even from where I stood, I could see his dimples pop. My heart skipped a beat.
I’m not even sure I can trust him, but damn, do I have it bad.
All around me, others were murmuring—about me, no doubt.
I’d decided to make my way off the dance floor and closer to the edge of the room, where I’d be less conspicuous, when fingers wrapped around my wrist.
“What are you doing?” a cold voice hissed. “You’re no princess. You’re not even a fae. Let alone high fae!”
I twisted to find Vanya scowling at me. Obviously, she was pissed that Aidoneus and I had a connection. I wouldn’t insult her intelligence or emotions by denying it.
“I don’t know what I’m doing. And I don’t think he does either. Frankly, though, it’s none of your business.” I ripped my wrist out of her grasp. “And don’t touch me again. If you do, you won’t like what happens.”
The princess’s lips parted in shock. I doubted people talked to her like that often. Her violet eyes narrowed, and I could tell she was about to lay into me, when Aidoneus began his speech.
I took a few steps away and faced forward, confident that she would not want to disturb the prince’s speech. She had her sights set on becoming the future Queen of the Spring Court, and that would look bad, disrespectful of the court and her potential future mate.
I listened to Aidoneus talk about how the courting season was already a marvelous one, and how he hoped many young fae of mating age had found their other half.
He didn’t mention the monsters lurking outside, and while I thought that was strange, I also sort of understood. People were smiling and having fun. For a few brief hours, they were able to forget the distressing reality that lay outside the castle walls.
I’d been so dismissive about the ball before, but now I felt differently. We had to seize joy while we could.
The prince lifted a glass that a servant supplied him. “Drink deep, and be well. For tonight, the stars shine brightly upon all courts, and the love that might come to us this spring.”
People burst into applause, and I couldn’t help but join them. He truly wished the best for his people, and it was so endearing. How he commanded the crowd was masterful.
The applause died down, and Aidoneus had begun descending the steps when an ear-piercing scream cut through the ballroom.
Another followed, then another. Not far away, a dwarf fell, and blood spewed all around him.
My heart leapt into my throat. What was happening?
The answer came a moment later, when a silphia dove from the ceiling, straight toward a goblin.
The devils had infiltrated the castle yet again.
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