“That is because of your leading skills, not me.” I have absolutely no doubt that if it was anyone else I was dancing with, one of us would already be on the floor.
In reality, it’s because when Amir and I are together like this I can switch off, trusting that I am safe with him. So much of my focus in life has been simply to survive to the next day, taking up so much space in my mind. When that part of me is gone, it allows for room to grow, to expand my horizons. To dream.
Ignoring my previous comment his eyes scan my face, his smile becoming full of awe. “You look stunning tonight, like a true princess.”
What little girl didn’t want to grow up as royalty and have a handsome prince call her beautiful? Everything he’s saying makes me forget who I am, my heart becoming dangerously attached to him. That’s a dangerous thought, I need to get a grip on this before I do something stupid.
Shaking my head, I clear my throat, choosing to deliberately misunderstand his comment. “You should thank whoever had this dress made. The craftsmanship is like nothing else I have ever seen.”
“The dress is lovely,” he agrees with a nod, amusement flickering across his face, “but I was referring to you.” Expression changing, he stares at me intently. “You are radiant.”
How in the gods name do I reply to that? No one has ever spoken about me like this before, especially not a prince. My first instinct is to push the compliment away and dismiss it as polite conversation. Amir will have seen many beautiful women over the course of his life and I am sure many of them more so than me. However, I get the feeling he’s not just complimenting my looks, but who I am, the fragile soul within me.
I don’t know how to feel. My first instinct is to run, to cut my losses and separate myself from this man who makes me want to change. A warring part of me wants to bask in his praise, to take this further and see what could happen between us…
This man is going to get me into trouble. I will probably regret it later, but for now I allow myself to fall into his gaze, completely awestruck. The song comes to an end and I am abruptly reminded of where we are. Perhaps this was a sign from the gods that this is a terrible idea. While I am sad our dance has come to an end, I might have just been saved from myself.
Holding back a sigh, I take a step back and begin my curtsy, knowing that it’s my duty to dance with whoever asks thanks to the explanations given to me in my earlier lesson. Tonight, I shall be passed around like a shiny new toy, and although this ball is meant to honour me, really it gives the men in the room a chance to see the new woman on the market. That is exactly how they are watching me, as something to barter for. It makes me want to vomit.
Amir’s hand lands on my arm, catching my hand and stopping me in my tracks.
“Your highness?” I ask questioningly. What is he doing? Everyone is watching us and we are only adding fuel to the fire.
He smiles and pulls me back into his hold. Landing with a thud against his chest, a gasp quietly, staring up at him in shock. “Dance with me again, Lady.”
I want to do exactly that, and maybe that’s why he’s doing this, but this is going against what the Madame taught me. What would Caleb think? Surprisingly, knowing that my friend would disapprove doesn’t stop me from wanting this. Upsetting everyone else at the ball as my first appearance as ‘Lady Kiara’ does not seem like a good idea though. I lean in closer and lower my voice. “I was told that-”
“Yes, I’m breaking the rules here, but I’m the prince, I can do what I like.” He grins at me, nodding toward the musicians to begin playing the next song. It soon fills the room and Amir pulls me into another dance. Fitting against him as though I was made to be there, my legs begin following his steps without me realising what I am doing. “Plus,” he continues, “it saves you from the pack of wolves baying to get their hands on you.”
His description of the lords is so apt that I chuckle, dipping my head slightly to hide my rosy cheeks. “That’s very kind of you.”
“It’s a selfish motivation I’m afraid,” he teases. “I find that I don’t want anyone else dancing with you but me.”
My heart flutters in my chest. He’s just saying it, there is no true meaning behind his words. Is there? Even so, I return his grin. “I don’t think even the prince could manage that.”
Our feet seem to float above the floor as we dance, around and around, the songs slowly morphing into one another. Honestly, we aren’t really listening to the music, just using it as a because to keep dancing. The audience watching us have broken up now, having gotten bored, some of whom have joined us on the dance floor with their own partners. We have broken protocol and many of the guests will probably think us rude, yet no one dares interrupt due to who we are.
How long will Amir keep me dancing for? As much as I would like to, we cannot ignore everyone for the entire night. Our conversation has ebbed and flowed naturally and we are dancing in comfortable silence, holding each other closely. I am going to have to say something to him, as I think he is perfectly happy to continue annoying the nobility.
Lifting my head from his shoulder, I meet his curious gaze and whet my lips. However, a shadow falls over us, bringing us to an abrupt stop.
“May I cut in?”
The mark on my back burns and a familiar tingling sensation covers my body from head to toe. Although his voice has been altered somehow, I immediately know who is asking to dance with me.
Kit.
A demon has attended the ball.
Twenty-Three
Kit is here.
The demon I sold my soul too and the only being alive that knows the truth about me. The fantasy around me suddenly feels very fragile. He could destroy everything that has been built here, simply by revealing who he is and how he knows me, and that is terrifying. I have been lying to myself that I don’t want this life, that I am only here to keep Ella safe. Yes, it may have started that way when I was focused on simply surviving, yet somehow in the short time I’ve been here the prince has wound his way into my heart. The beautiful dresses, clean water and safe bedroom are all amazing, but I can live without those. I have changed so much in such a short space of time. The palace felt like a prison to me, and it still is, but Amir’s presence in my life has turned it into a place that I can see myself living.
This is bigger than me now, and it took Kit appearing in the middle of it to make me realise that.
My hands quiver and I can’t seem to catch my breath, my body breaking out into a cold sweat as I stare at the demon. There is something different about him, and I have to scan his face several times to realise what it is. Somehow, he has managed to dull some of his demonic traits, his ears roundedinstead of pointed, his teeth straight and lacking fangs. Not to mention his horns and talon-like nails have gone. He must be using magic to disguise himself as a human. In fact, I can feel the power rippling from him, a prickling sensation that picks at my skin.
