Thea wrapped her arm around mine. “Yes, let’s. And then you can tell me what it was that darling Prince Sterling needed to discuss with you.”
I forced a smile and nodded. I knew I could trust Thea. She had proven herself to me as a friend and confidant. But I couldn’t ignore the protectiveness in my gut that didn’t want me sharing that moment between Sterling and me. I couldn’t make sense of it. I felt possessive almost. That it wasn’t for anyone else but us.
As we entered the ballroom, there was a palpable shift in the mood. Thea and I both straightened up as we crossed the threshold. A faint buzzing sensation crawled along my skin, and the hair on the back of my neck stood at attention.
A dreadful feeling came over me as I looked over at Thea for confirmation.
She was staring at the entrance to the royal garden, her eyes unblinking. “It’s happening,” she whispered.
Chapter 35
Breaking out of her trance, Thea turned to me and tilted her head in the direction of the dance floor. “Let’s go enjoy the festivities, as we’ve been commanded to.”
We made our way back to our previous spot at the edge of the dance floor, with the royal garden once again situated at our backs. I looked over my shoulder at the darkened gardens. They felt off. Everything in this room had felt different since our return. The air was heavy. As if everyone present was holding their breath, waiting for the weight of anticipation to be lifted off them. My arcana and nerves were on edge, and my body was tense—like a large box of tinder, ready to ignite at the smallest hint of provocation.
I turned to Thea. “Is everything all right with you? What happened when we entered the ballroom? You looked like you were somewhere else entirely.” Something was off with Thea, and I couldn’t shake the overwhelming sense that it was connected to what I was currently feeling.
She turned to me, face devoid of emotion. “Are you going to share what happened in the powder room?” She raised her eyebrows at me. “Trust me. It was nothing. We’re going to be fine.”
“What does that—” My interrogation of Thea was interrupted by the growing volume of gossip and commotion.
We both turned our attention to Sterling as he made his way toward the dais, shoving angrily through the crowd of dancers and revellers. He made it to the top in three large steps and stalkedtoward Thalos. A sickening thud echoed throughout the ballroom as Sterling hit the captain of the royal guardians with a thunderous right hook in front of the now silent, awestruck court.
Thea looked at me, her eyebrows almost touching the top of her small forehead. “Do you think he did that for you?” she asked excitedly.
“I… maybe. I don’t know. I didn’t ask him to,” I responded.
Thalos remained stationary on the dais, dutifully taking the verbal lashing he was receiving from Sterling. King Julian stood up to intervene on Thalos’s behalf. Before Sterling could storm off the dais, King Julian grabbed his arm and whispered something in his ear. The prince sat down on his throne reluctantly, keeping his eye on Thalos the entire time.
“May I have your attention?” King Julian called out, interrupting the festivities.
The music cut out, and like before, all eyes were on the king.
“I wanted to take a moment to share my gratitude for my son’s safe return to us from the most unlikely of sources. For years the Obsidian Court has tried to drag us down and break us, but despite it all, we have persevered. Their latest attempt was the callous abduction of my son, your prince, Sterling.”
Shocked gasps rang out among the crowd as the truth about what had happened to Sterling had finally been spoken out loud.
“Thanks to the bravery of one human-woman, our beloved prince was saved and returned to us. I would like you all to raise a glass to Aurelia. Come, dear. Come here and let everyone cheer for you,” King Julian called out, waving me to come forward.
The dance floor parted as everyone in attendance looked back to catch a glimpse of the prince’s saviour.
Thea gently nudged me forward. “You do not want him to ask you twice. Just go.”
I groaned at Thea as I slowly made my way toward the dais.Looks of shock, disgust, and confusion were planted on the many faces I passed. Cautiously taking the steps up the dais, I could feel Sterling’s fiery gaze on me. I smiled painfully at the king and queen and turned to face the crowd.
“Everyone, raise your glass and give thanks to the heroics of this incredible human-woman.”
As ordered, the guests raised their glasses and gave various uninspired mumblings of thanks.
“Aurelia, if you could step aside, I’d like to bring out a gift for our dear Sterling.” The king smiled at me intently.
I stepped down off the dais and stood on the bottom step, uneasiness crawling through me as we waited on the arrival of Sterling’s gift.
“Captain Evergreen, if you could,” the king gently ordered.
Thalos, still rubbing his jaw from Sterling’s show of discipline, nodded and exited the ballroom. He returned moments later, accompanied by the sound of chains clinking together. I turned toward the door and watched in horror as Thalos brought in three women, battered and bound in chains—Maria and two of her helpers. I turned to the crowd, trying to find Thea. I scanned the back, where the dance floor exited into the royal garden, and couldn’t see her. Panicking, I tried to pick her face out of the crowd and couldn’t. My heart was in my throat. Something bad was about to happen, and I didn’t know what to do.
Finally finding a familiar face in the crowd, I locked eyes with Everett, who for the first time tonight seemed to notice me. The shock at my appearance was evident on his face. He was trying to mouth something to me, but I was unable to sort out what he was saying. I looked to his side and saw his date standing steadfastly at his side, unblinking. How was she not freaking out right now? Her friends were chained and beaten up. Why was she so calm about this?
