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At this point in the evening, the ballroom is full with Elves from all corners of the ancient forest. Flutes hum in a familiar pattern of notes that I haven’t heard in years. As much as I despised living in the Forest Tribe, there was always something so magical about the way the notes respond to one another like a story rather than a song. I make a mental note to share more elven songs with Akemi when we return to the Watch. Fire monkeys swing past in blurs of reds and oranges, lighting certain areas of the forest beyond at random.

The music stops suddenly, replaced with a few horns that signal the arrival of the Lord of the Forest.

Father dearest.

From between two arching branches as thick as regular tree trunks, my father appears. His robes are a creamy mesh material, layered multiple times in a way that looks organic to the nature around him and not so transparent as my clothing.

The crowd parts as he strides to the center of the room. “What a lovely evening to welcome home the Heir to the Forest!” He raises his goblet of wine.

In a flurry of motion, the room follows suit, raising their glasses and toasting to their beloved prince. Me.

It takes all of me not to jump off the edge of this terrace and take my chances on the forest floor below. It’s not that I don’t know them in return. Hels, I even love them as my own.

But loving your community doesn’t mean you stay.

Yet here I am, returning to them. The lost prince, back once more to reclaim his position.

My father continues his speech. “Tonight, we will honor my son’s return with the formal homecoming ritual. Leaf? Where are you, Son?” He makes a show of looking around the crowd, though we both know full well an Elf that old and powerful knows exactly where I am standing.

I push off one leg from the branch I was leaning against and join my father in the center of the ballroom.

“The dancing will begin shortly for all eligible matches. There will be three rounds of dances until we get to the final selection, in which Leaf will make his decision for who he wishes to share the Hollow with.” Father gestures to a wall of vines known as “the Hollow.”

Of all the places in the palace, I haven’t yet been inside the Hollow—a dark, hollowed out section of the tree. Some rumors say it leads up to above the canopies themselves, while others say it’s an enchanted room of pleasure.

All I know is that most that go in the Hollow come out changed.

“Let the dancing begin!” my father announces, and suddenly, the ballroom clears save fifteen or so Elves around my age.

And Ramona.

“What are you doing?” I whisper to her.

“I want to play.”

“This isn’t a game.” If only she knew, this isn’t just a dancing game. It’s a claiming.

Practically a betrothal to whomever I select.

“Maestro!” my father calls to the musicians, and everyone forms a circle around me.

Ramona, to her credit, is doing well following the steps of the participating Elves around her. Mostly females and a few males.

The first song is a pleasant tempo, matching the dance style. The circle presses around me until I’m hand to hand with someone, weaving around them to catch the hand of the next person. We continue this pattern until the song ends.

My father and the crowd await my decision. This is when the prince narrows his selection.

So I do, until only ten remain. I should have let Ramona go at that point. But I have to be honest with myself. I’m supposed to select the people I felt the most connection with while dancing.

I should have let her go, but my hands heat at the memory of her touch.

The next dance is slower, gentler. Each of the participants start with the same opening steps, but then move in variance to their own accord afterward. It’s meant to be sensual, alluring.

Ramona is the third to dance, and I cannot peel my eyes from her. Her hips sway side to side, like a cobra luring its prey. I’m so fucking helpless with her.

I adjust my stance, attempting to hide the way my cock thickens in my pants.

She spins, slowly, until her back is facing me, arms raised high above her head. She watches me, her face turned to the side, green eyes sparkling in the dim lighting with an emotion I cannot quite place. Like she’s toying with her food before eating it.