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I nodded, as if I would like nothing better. It wasn’t too difficult. If this were really my life, I would enjoy having these ladies visit and the Balik sisters too. Sadness threatened to overwhelm me, so when a knock came at the door, I felt relieved.
Saga’s maid rushed to open the door. She fell into a deep curtsey. “Lord Lisika.”
“I’ve come to escort my fiancée to the ball.” Roar’s voice came from the door. “Is she ready?”
“I am,” I said when the servant glanced at me while keeping the door mostly closed so that the lord could not peek in and spy on the ladies. “I’ll be right there.” The maid relayed the message to Roar. While she did so, I turned to Saga. “See you there?”
“We’re about to leave. I only need to put on my necklace and crown.” She gestured to a table where her crown and other jewelry lay. “I’ll find you and we can all dance!”
“Perfect.” I smiled.
I did not know what sorts of dances a group of females might do—Clemencia had only instructed me in couples dances, but my new friends would teach me. The idea made my heart soar, and the smile remained on my face as I went to the door and found Roar on the other side.
Then, remembering what he’d done, how he’d slipped a potion into my drink, my smile fell.
“Hi.” I shut the door behind me, tense from wings to toe to head.
“Neve,” Roar whispered. “We need to talk.” He offered his arm, and I took it, albeit stiffly. Roar led me away from Saga’s chambers. When we came a fair distance from the princess’s door, he turned to me. “I owe you an apology.”
“Yes, you do,” I said the words with confidence, when in reality, Roar’s words struck me.
I hadn’t expected him to say that so quickly, if ever. Warden Roar was kind but proud, and he had an agenda just like I did. If we continued to succeed in this farce, he would justify his actions as something he needed to do for us to succeed.
“I apologize, Neve. I should have told you about the potion and that I wished for you to take it.”
I nodded, saying nothing.
“And of course, I should have given you a real chance to say no,” he added.
An exhale parted my painted lips. “Thank you for saying that. Given my past, choice is important to me.”
“I realized that after you left.” His hand dropped and gripped my own. “You’re simply so different from anyone I’ve ever met, and yet you play this part so well. Sometimes I forget you’re not of this realm. That you are not the Lady Neve everyone else sees.” His emerald gaze locked with my eyes, searching.
I’d felt this from him before, as though he was trying to lure me in. When we first met, it had affected me more. Back then just the idea of being lavished upon by a fae of power, one who was undeniably attractive and powerful, had stunned me. Since coming here, however, I felt less attraction to Warden Roar. He was still a good fae, a friend, but I sometimes felt that he tried to force feelings between us. And I knew for certain that while he could not lie, that did not mean he told me everything that I deemed I needed to know. He hid things, even things that had to do directly with me. Now, I felt we were bound only by a contract.
I looked away. “Thank you, Roar. We should get going, I think?”
“Of course.” He released my hand and offered me his arm once again. “It is time for the show of our lives, my lady.”
Chapter 32
As we neared the throne room, the site of tonight’s ball, more fae than I’d ever seen in one place streamed through the halls. Lords and ladies had come from all over the kingdom for the Courting Festival and as tonight marked the opening night, they all wanted to be present. To stun.
And stun they did.
I’d been around much finery the last few days, and crafted elaborate gowns and suits for noble vampires in the past, but nothing could have prepared me for seeing so much of it in one place. Nor for being a part of the spectacle.
Furs, feathers, and beads adorned each gown, cape, and headdress. Jewel tones appeared to be the most popular, which I found surprising. In daily life, most fae of this court did not usually dress so colorfully, favoring muted tones that suited a winter palette. Of course, there were exceptions, like the princess, who seemed to love anything pink. Bell sleeves and voluminous skirts lined with fur also appeared to be in fashion. I made a note of that for when I made Marit’s dress.
My head was still spinning from all the finery when we came to a stop at the threshold of the throne room to find it full of fae.
I cast Roar a confused glance, but guards on either side of us lifted horns to their lips and blew.
Ah, right, as a member of the Sacred Eight, Roar would be announced as he entered the ball.
Adhering to the custom, the fae in the room stopped whatever they were doing. The music ceased to play, and everyone turned. Already, there had to be at least three hundred fae in attendance, and the ball had only just begun.
I swallowed. Trying to keep my heart from racing, I glanced up at the ceiling
