Page 123 of Under Restless Skies

He whispers, “You said you’d have no problem with me if we didn’t have to hide, isn’t that so?”

I want to tell him that ifs are pointless, but I realize we’re the center of the ball, and don’t want to start an argument. “I said that, yes.”

“Are we hiding now?”

“No…” But something still doesn’t feel right. “Except that tomorrow you’ll ignore me again, and say that a dance was nothing…”

He places a finger over my lips. “It won’t be like that, no. I gave it some thought, and I want everyone to know you’re mine. I want to announce it to the entire kingdom. Will you be mine then?”

Something still doesn’t sound quite right. “What about you? Will you be mine?”

“My heart’s all yours, Mayara.” He kisses the corner of my lips, then asks, “Will you marry me?”

Is he truly asking that? I try to find the trick, the deceit, and then I realize the problem, and say, “Not in secret.”

He pulls my body flush to his. “Let me rephrase, then. Will you be my very public betrothed?”

“Are you willing to risk your crown?” I whisper.

“I get everything I want, and, from now on, I decided I’ll get everything I want the way I want. No more compromises. And I want you.”

He runs the back of a finger over my face, and I close my eyes, still unsure about his words, unsure if he’s trying to deceive me.

Then his touch is gone.

“Attention, everyone!” His voice booms throughout the hall, loud and clear and commanding. “I’d like you all to witness this moment.” He kneels before me, then, still in a loud voice, asks, “Will you marry me?”

Is this happening? It’s like a weird vision, so strange. I close my eyes and see the dark dragon, licking me, as if trying to pull me to another reality.

But that’s my past. I look around me and notice all the faces turned to us, waiting for my reaction. Isn’t this everything I wanted? A public display of affection. A betrothal! Here’s this handsome prince, asking me to marry him, like in a surreal, hazy dream. There’s only one possible answer in this dream.

I look at him and smile.

“Yes.” The word comes out with ease, untangling the knots that had constricted my heart in the last few days.

Alayel gets up, kisses my lips, and smiles, then turns to the room, holding my hand. In a powerful, clear voice, he says, “May I introduce you to my betrothed, Mayara of the Earth.”

Applause echoes through the hall, while I feel that the ground is moving beneath me, my mind spinning, still in disbelief.

We dance, and then more people join the center and dance with us.

When the song ends, he takes me to the reserved royal area, my heart beating louder and louder as we approach it.

He bows before the king. “Father, let me introduce you to Mayara, my future wife.”

Future wife. The words still sound like some strange hallucination. I bow as well. “Enchanted to meet Your Majesty.”

The king eyes me up and down, his nose wrinkled as if smelling something putrid. “Well met.”

Perhaps I should be disappointed at the king’s reaction, but it’s what I expected, and I’m too stunned by the idea of being Alayel’s future wife to care.

Alayel then takes me to Princess Ledeia, who has a genuine smile on her face. “How lovely to meet you.”

Of course she’s thrilled, as this might mean her relationship with Marcus won’t be as scandalous anymore. Maybe that’s a good thing for them. Oddly, it makes me happy.

I bow. “Enchanted to meet Your Highness.”

The rest of the ball is a blur. A happy blur, even if I’m still bewildered, stunned.